X-Men: First Class Tops US Weekend B-O But...

JUNE 6, 2011 - Wolverine's absence was felt as X-Men: First Class's attendance hit a franchise low in its debut. Hangover Part II crashed after a wild opening, while Kung Fu Panda 2 didn't save face.

X-Men: First Class squeaked by with a passable estimated US$56 million on approximately 6,900 screens at 3,641 locations, and it's looking more like the fanboy fantasia it sounded like when first announced than something that will advance the franchise. Sure, the first X-Men movie opened to US$54.5 million, but US$56 million in 2011 is far less impressive than US$54.5 million in 2000. The first X-Men's start was the equivalent of over US$79 million adjusted for ticket price inflation. More telling, though, is that First Class marked a sizeable step down from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which made US$85.1 million in its opening weekend.

Hangover Part II tumbled 62 percent to an estimated US$32.4 million, which was less than the first movie's US$32.8 million second weekend. POTC: On Stranger Tides continued its descent: off 55 percent to US$18 million for a US$190.3 million tally in 17 days.

Here are the Top 5 North American B-O studio estimates for June 3-5, 2011 weekend, in terms of rank, (previous week ranking), Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo. (US$1=RM3)

1. (-) X-Men: First Class (Fox) $56.0 million ($56.0 mil) 1

2. (1) Hangover Part II (WB) $32.4 million ($186.9 mil) 2

3. (2) Kung Fu Panda 2 (UIP) $24.3 million ($100.4 mil) 2

4. (3) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (BV) $18.0 million ($190.3 mil) 3

5. (4) Bridesmaids (Universal) $12.1 million ($107.3 mil) 4