'Rings' Brings $51.5M in 2 Days Domestically
HOLLYWOOD (Box Office Mojo) - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King pulled in $17.0 million on Thursday, down 50.6% from its record-breaking $34.5 million Wednesday (revised upward from the previously reported $34.1 million estimate).
That brings the two-day haul to $51.5 million, or about the same amount that The Last Samurai has grossed after two weeks.
Though losing 50% may seem like a precipitous drop, it's common for a highly anticipated Wednesday opener, especially when late night preview screenings are involved. Both The Two Towers and The Fellowship of the Ring fell 47% each, and they had burnt off less of their audience with more modest midnight screenings than Return of the King. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace tumbled 56.9% on its second day to $12.3 million after its then Wednesday-record-breaking $28.5 million start.
The Two Towers took in $13.9 million on its second day for a $40.0 million two-day tally, while The Fellowship of the Ring earned $9.7 million and $27.9 million after two days.
Fellowship's Wednesday-Thursday gross accounted for 37.2% of the $75.1 million it made in its first five days, while Two Towers' was 39.2% of its $102.0 million five-day start.
If Return's pattern is similar, it could climb to around $121 million to $125 million by Sunday. That would stand as the fifth biggest 5-day bow of all time, behind The Matrix Reloaded's $144.4 million and Spider-Man's $135.8 million.
For the Friday-Saturday-Sunday frame, Return of the King looks to reap about $70 million to $74 million, breaking Two Towers's December opening weekend record of $62.0 million.
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That brings the two-day haul to $51.5 million, or about the same amount that The Last Samurai has grossed after two weeks.
Though losing 50% may seem like a precipitous drop, it's common for a highly anticipated Wednesday opener, especially when late night preview screenings are involved. Both The Two Towers and The Fellowship of the Ring fell 47% each, and they had burnt off less of their audience with more modest midnight screenings than Return of the King. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace tumbled 56.9% on its second day to $12.3 million after its then Wednesday-record-breaking $28.5 million start.
The Two Towers took in $13.9 million on its second day for a $40.0 million two-day tally, while The Fellowship of the Ring earned $9.7 million and $27.9 million after two days.
Fellowship's Wednesday-Thursday gross accounted for 37.2% of the $75.1 million it made in its first five days, while Two Towers' was 39.2% of its $102.0 million five-day start.
If Return's pattern is similar, it could climb to around $121 million to $125 million by Sunday. That would stand as the fifth biggest 5-day bow of all time, behind The Matrix Reloaded's $144.4 million and Spider-Man's $135.8 million.
For the Friday-Saturday-Sunday frame, Return of the King looks to reap about $70 million to $74 million, breaking Two Towers's December opening weekend record of $62.0 million.
Related Stories
12/18 'Return of the King' Rakes in $57.6M Worldwide on Opening Day
Related Links
All Time - Fastest to $300 Million
All Time - Widest Releases
All Time - Top Wednesday Bows
All Time - Top Opening Days
All Time - Domestic Grosses
All Time - Worldwide Grosses
ROTK vs. TTT vs. FOTR
Other Trilogies
'The Matrix' Daily Showdown
'Back to the Future' Daily Showdown
'Terminator' Daily Showdown
'American Pie' Daily Showdown
>>> MORE
