October 13, 2007–Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” topped the box-office on Friday with an estimated gross of $7.1 million from 2011 locations.
The strong opening of Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” follows the success he enjoyed when starring in and directing “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” which had a Friday opening of $7.4 million in 2005, and “Madea’s Family Reunion,” which had a Friday opening of $10.5 million in 2006. In February of this year, “Daddy’s Little Girl”–which Perry directed but didn’t star in–grossed $4.6 million in its Wednesday debut.
The Lionsgate comedy, directed by and starring Perry, is easily expected to win the weekend, beating out new releases, “We Own the Night” and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age.”
No. 2 on Friday was “Own the Night,” Sony’s crime drama toplining Mark Whalberg and Joaquin Phoenix. Picture grossed an estimated $3.7 million from 2,362 locations. That put it in a close race with George Clooney starrer “Michael Clayton,” which grossed $3.3 million as it expanded from limited runs in New York L.A. to 2,511 locations.
Universal’s sequel “Golden Age,” with Cate Blanchett, was unable to place among the top five films on Friday as it grossed an estimated $2 million from 2,001 runs for the No. 6 spot. The original 2001 “Elizabeth,” was a limited release.
Disney’s holdover “Game Plan” continued strong, coming in No. 4 on Friday with an estimated gross of $3 million from 3,128 screens as it entered its third frame and crossed the $50 million mark with a cume of $50.9 million.
In its second frame, DreamWorks’ Ben Stiller comedy “Heartbreak Kid” placed No. 5 on Friday with an estimated gross of $2.3 million from 3,229 locations for a cume of $20.9 million. That’s a 51% decline from its Friday opening.
Among limited bows, Ryan Gosling starrer “Lars and the Real Girl” posted the strongest per screen average among new players. Opening in seven locations, MGM-Sidney Kimmel Entertainment pic grossed an estimated $26,000 for a per screen average of $3,643.
Sony Pictures Classics’ “Sleuth” grossed an estimated $13,000 from 9 locations as it opened Friday for a per screen average of $1,448. Remake was directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Michael Caine and Jude Law.
