The Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opened number one this week at the box office earning $65 million domestically. The film’s victory made it the fourth highest grossing August opening ever.
"The X factor was that families turned out in a really big way," said Megan Colligan, Paramount's president of domestic marketing and distribution during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "Certainly with the hit [animated] TV show and a very popular property, kids were enthusiastic. The key for us was getting parents to be as enthusiastic. And they were."
Although some silly critics weren’t too enthusiastic, with many panning Turtles, The Shadow League gave a thumbs up.
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"I think the 'Turtles' movie was sort of marginalized from the beginning, and people didn't understand how powerful that brand is, particularly with older audiences," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at the entertainment data firm Rentrak told the LA Times. "Families and kids have been underserved this entire summer, and this movie offered a fun action-adventure romp."
The film exceeded opening expectations which were made even before the film’s release as analysts predicted it would make between $40 million and $50 million. Data also showed that at least 55% of the audience who went to see the film, which itself was a reboot of the 1980’s and 1990’s cartoon and live action adaptations of the comic book series, were 25 years of age.
Ninja Turtles managed to knock last week’s number one film Guardians of the Galaxy from first place. Guardians dropped 56% since its opening weekend.
Paramount has already made plans for a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which they’ve scheduled to release in June 2016.
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles $65 million
2. Guardians of the Galaxy, $41.5 million
3. Into the Storm $18 million
4. The Hundred-Foot Journey, $11.1 million.
5. Lucy $9.3 million
6. Step Up All In $6.5 million
7. Hercules $5.7 million
8. Get on Up $5 million
9. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes $4.4 million
10. Planes: Fire & Rescue $2.4 million.
