Weekend Box Office Report: March 28-30, 2014

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Noah floats to the top!

The great animal-filled ark constructed by doomsday prepper Russell Crowe survived the box office waters this weekend as NOAH opened with $44 million!

Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's epic interpretation of the well-known biblical apocalypse tale seemed to cause some controversy for its artistic liberties, and while critics were generally pleased by the scope and performances (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), paying crowds showed less appreciation with a chilly 'C' CinemaScore.

With a cost of at least $125 million, the faith and FX filled spectacle was Aronofsky's most ambitious project, and marked his best opening to date (although that's unsurprising as most of his previous films started in limited release rather than immediately washing onto 3500 screens). NOAH has also already made an additional $51.1 million internationally, but that massive boat needs to maintain structural integrity in order to reach the $329 million worldwide total of Aronofsky's previous release BLACK SWAN.

Last week's winner, the young-adult adaptation DIVERGENT, lost around half its opening business and slipped to second place with $26.5 million as its ten-day total approaches the $100 million mark (it doesn't arrive in key foreign markets until next week). It pushed MUPPETS MOST WANTED down to third with $11.3 million (a decent 33% loss), and MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN also goes down a notch to fourth with $9.5 million as it approaches the $100 million mark domestically (it already crossed $200 million worldwide).

GOD'S NOT DEAD (he's at the multiplex) continued spreading its message to almost the same numbers as last week — the religious indie again landed in fifth place with $9 million. Wes Anderson's acclaimed THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL continues to draw visitors, rising to sixth with $8.8 million as it added another 673 theaters this week.

Opening way down in seventh place was the R-rated SABOTAGE with just $5.3 million. The latest comeback attempt by former box office superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger got an even worse start than last year's THE LAST STAND ($6.2 million) and his team-up with fallen blockbuster chum Sly Stallone in ESCAPE PLAN ($9.8 million).

The violence and profanity-packed action flick by David Ayer (END OF WATCH) definitely didn't blow away critics (22% on Rotten Tomatoes), and audiences gave it a middling 'B' CinemaScore. Looks like Arnie's best bet for former glory now is his intended return to established material like TERMINATOR and CONAN.

The vehicular videogame adaptation NEED FOR SPEED slowed to eighth place with $37.7 million. Although it may be running on fumes domestically, it's made over $130 million from international crowds, which could actually justify putting fuel in the tank for a sequel (NEED FOR SPEED reportedly cost $66 million). At the bottom of the list, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (another overseas hit) plunged from fourth but crossed $100 million this weekend, and Liam Neeson's NON-STOP is now in the landing pattern.

Outside the chart, THE LEGO MOVIE and TYLER PERRY'S THE SINGLE MOMS CLUB fell away as the biopic CESAR CHAVEZ opened on 664 screens for $3 million. Jason Bateman's R-rated comedy BAD WORDS rolled out to 842 locations and made another $2.6 million, while the limited release of THE RAID 2 kicked up a per-screen average of $25k. And the Disney powerhouse FROZEN became the tenth highest-grossing worldwide movie as well as the all-time biggest animated release, snatching that title from TOY STORY 3.

And North America ironically won't get CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER until after its international opening, but Marvel's first Avenger has been slinging his shield overseas already for a heroic $75 million.

CAP gets the run of theaters next weekend, but limited releases include Jude Law's DOM HEMINGWAY, the Scarlett Johansson sci-fi movie UNDER THE SKIN, and the Gina Carano actioner IN THE BLOOD.

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