Alice in Wonderland, the classic Lewis Carroll tale re-imagined in 3-D by director Tim Burton, earned US$41 million on Saturday on its way to possibly posting US$100 million in receipts this weekend for Walt Disney Co.
The film may beat the best-ever opening for a movie in March and be the first to cross US$100 million in the January-to-March period, Hollywood.com Box-Office said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. The previous monthly mark is held by Time Warner Inc’s 300 with US$70.9 million in March 2007.
Studios traditionally hold off showing their blockbusters until at least May. No film has made US$100 million in its opening weekend in the first quarter, Hollywood.com said.
“Historically, these months don’t do well, because there isn’t the greatest available audience,” said Paul Dergarabedian, film analyst for Hollywood.com Box-Office in Los Angeles.
Alice opened in 3,728 US theaters with 2,063 3-D screens and 188 in Imax 3-D.
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