'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Passes Box Office Expectations With $65 Million

Movie

The franchise reboot earned $15 million more than movie analysts predicted it would take in its opening weekend.

August 11, 2014

AceShowbiz -

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" surpassed expectations by opening to approximately $65 million in the North American box office this weekend. The Paramount reboot of the 1980s classic franchise was initially predicted to take between $40 to $50 million. Turns out the crime-fighting-turtles appeal to more people above 25 years old.

"The X factor was that families turned out in a really big way," Megan Colligan, Paramount's president of domestic marketing and distribution, said. "Certainly with the hit [animated] TV show and a very popular property, kids were enthusiastic. The key for us was getting parents to be as enthusiastic. And they were."

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak, commented, "I think the 'Turtles' movie was sort of marginalized from the beginning, and people didn't understand how powerful that brand is, particularly with older audiences. Families and kids have been underserved this entire summer, and this movie offered a fun action-adventure romp."

Editors' Pick

"TMNT" became the fourth biggest August opener on record. Paramount has announced the sequel, which will hit theaters summer 2016 and once again be produced by Michael Bay.

"Guardians of the Galaxy" slid to number two, taking in an estimated $41.5 million and dropping 56 percent from its all-time biggest August opening of $94 million. Thriller "Into the Storm (2014)" opened to a disappointing $18 million and landed at number three, followed by another new entry "The Hundred-Foot Journey" with approximately $11.1 million. "Lucy" rounded up the top 5 with an estimated $9.3 million.