The Lion King in 3-D Takes U.S. Box Office Crown
By rdemott2
Created 09/19/2011 - 12:04
files/pictures/picture-35.jpgDisney's THE LION KING, this time in 3-D, returned to claim the U.S. box office crown for the weekend of Sept. 16-18, 2011. The re-release blew the rest of the competition away, earning $29.3 million. This release of The Lion King marks the fifth biggest September opening in industry history, the second biggest September opening in Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures history, and the first re-issue to open #1 in 14 years. The film will remain in theaters for a limited engagement ahead of its Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D premiere on Oct. 4.
Warner Bros. CONTAGION fell from second, coughing up $14.5 million. With vfx from Method Studios, the worldwide outbreak drama has a cume of $44.2 million.
FilmDistrict's stylish actioner DRIVE rode into third in its debut. The Ryan Gosling starrer made $11 million.
Buena Vista's THE HELP placed fourth with $6.44 million. The hit drama has amassed $147.4 million to date.
Screen Gem's STRAW DOGS premiered in fifth with $5 million.
The Weinstein Company's romcom I DON"T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT debuted in sixth, taking in $4.5 million.
Focus Feature's THE DEBT shot into seventh with $2.95 million. The thriller has a cume of $26.5 million.
Lionsgate's WARRIOR fell from third to eighth, earning $2.77 million. The mixed martial arts drama has a cume of $9.91 million.
Fox's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES arrived in ninth, adding $2.63 million to its $171.6 million cume. Weta Digital, Halon Ent. and Pixel Liberation Front provided the visual effects.
TriStar's COLOMBIANA closed out the top ten with $2.3 million. With vfx from Special FX International and Wolf Stuntworks, the assassin actioner has a box office total of $33.3 million.
Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.
