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April 9, 2008
Cloverfield No. 1 at the Japanese boxoffice!
Monster Japan bow for 'Cloverfield'
Paramount thriller tops box office with $2.6 million
By MARK SCHILLING
TOKYO -- Monster pic "Cloverfield" hit No. 1 at the Japanese weekend B.O., following its April 5 bow on 235 screens. The pic earned 26.4 million yen ($2.6 million) Saturday and Sunday. This was 30.2% more than "Dreamgirls," which opened on 287 screens and finished with $19.3 million and only 1.2% less than "Babel," which bowed on 351 screens and ended with $20 million.
Helmer Matt Reeves, producer J.J. Abrams and members of the pic's cast and staff came to Japan to tubthump for the pic. Also distrib Paramount mounted an intensive campaign centered on the Web, which succeeded in drawing the target teens and twenties demo, as well as dating couples.
Paramount accordingly expects "Cloverfield," which was inspired by "Godzilla" and other Japanese monster epics, to hit the $20 million mark.
For comparison, here are some other opening weekends in Japan from BoxOfficeMojo: (cloverfieldclues.blogspot.com)
The Golden Compass . $8,001,868
Jumper ............. $4,618,372
Enchanted .......... $4,423,304
Sweeney Todd ....... $3,729,116
Cloverfield ........ $2,580,377
American Gangster .. $1,702,284
Vantage Point ...... $1,482,229
The Water Horse .... $510,516
28 Weeks Later ..... $344,374
Posted by dschnee at April 9, 2008 10:57 PM
