U.S Box Office Report - 28th - 30th October 2011

1. Puss in Boots - $34M - $34M
2. Paranormal Activity 3 - $18.5M - $81.3M
3. In Time - $12M - $12M
4. Footloose - $5.4M - $38.4M
5. The Rum Diary - $5M - $5M
6. Real Steel - $ 4.7M - $73.8M
7. The Three Musketeers - $3.5M - $14.8M
8. The Ides of March - $2.7M - $33.4M
9. Moneyball - $2.4M - $67.4M
10. Courageous - $1.8M - $27.6M
(14). Anonymous - $1M - $$1M

As we get ready to enter November, Hollywood once again starts to fire up the big guns. With the exception of the first weekend in December, we'll see at least one major, potential blockbuster every week from now until the end of the year. While we've had a vast number of releases in the last month or so, only a couple of them have had the potential to break out. After Puss in Boots this frame we'll have Immortals and Jack & Jill. A week later and we have the fourth Twilight film and Happy Feet 2, followed closely by Arthur Christmas, The Muppets and Hugo. And that's just November. December holds almost as many potential big hitters with Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, Mission: Impossible 4, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and War Horse being just four of them. Last weekend brought us the record breaking Paranormal Activity 3, alongside poor performers The Three Musketeers and Johnny English Reborn. With four new films out this weekend, three of them opening wide, how would they shape up against the horror film over Halloween?

U.S Box Office Report - 21st - 23rd October 2011

1. Paranormal Activity 3 - $54M - $54M
2. Real Steel - $11.3M - $67.2M
3. Footloose - $10.8M - $30.8M
4. The Three Musketeers - $8.8M- $8.8M
5. The Ides of March - $4.9M - $29.1M
6. Dolphin Tale - $ 4.2M - $64.3M
7. Moneyball - $4M - $63.7M
8. Johnny English Reborn - $3.8M - $3.8M
9. The Thing - $3.1M - $14M
10. 50/50 - $2.8M - 28.8M
(15. The Mighty Macs - $1M - $1M)

This weekend four new releases join the fray, joined by a further four next frame as things start to hot up as we approach Thanksgiving. Last weekend Footloose narrowly missed out on the top spot as Real Steel made it two in a row. The other releases, The Thing and The Big Year failed to light up the box office, with the latter being an outright disaster and the former disappointed greatly. This frame we've got two wider openers alongside two smaller releases. With Halloween just around the corner we see the return of the Paranormal Activity franchise while Paul W.S Anderson leaves the Resident Evil series to bring his 3D interpretation of The Three Musketeers to the big screen. And, having been something of a smash abroad, Johnny English Reborn joins the sports drama The Might Macs at between 1000 and 1500 locations.

U.S Box Office Report - 14th - 16th October 2011

1. Real Steel - $16.3M - $51.7M
2. Footloose - $16.1M - $16.1M
3. The Thing - $8.7M - $8.7M
4. The Ides of March - $7.2M - $22.1M
5. Dolphin Tale - $6.3M - $58.6M
6. Moneyball - $5.5M - $57.7M
7. 50/50 - $4.3M - $24.3M
8. Courageous - $3.4M - $21.3M
9. The Big Year - $3.3M - $3.3M
10. The Lion King 3D - $2.7M - $90.4M

[Some figures may be subject to minor alteration]

After just the two new releases last frame, things ramp up again this weekend with three new releases. There'll be a further eight releases in the following fortnight too, as we head into and beyond Halloween, and towards the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday frame. Real Steel opened on the lower end of expectations last weekend and would be looking to this frame for a decent hold, while hoping the new releases don't impact its potential market too much. Of the new releases we once again have a remake, alongside a prequel and a novel adaptation.

U.S Box Office Report - 7th - 9th October 2011

1. Real Steel - $27.3M - $27.3M
2. The Ides of March - $10.4M - $10.4M
3. Dolphin Tale - $9.1M - $49M
4. Moneyball - $7.5M - $49.2M
5. 50/50 - $5.5M - $17.3M
6. Courageous - $4.6M - $15.8M
7. The Lion King - $4.5M - $85.9M
8. Dream House - $4.5M - $14.4M
9. What's Your Number? - $3M - $10.3M
10. Abduction - $2.9M - $23.3M

Dolphin Tale surprised many last weekend by moving up to the top spot, leaving Moneyball in second place for the second weekend in a row. The new releases didn't amount to much, with only one of them making over $9M. That film was Courageous, the faith based drama that was out to only 1,100 or so locations and already in profit by Friday night. The film actually finished fifth last frame but moved up a spot when actual weekend figures were issued on Monday evening (the Sunday boost is being accredited to churchgoers attending screenings of the film post-Sunday worship). This week things quieten down a little after the glut of new films in the past month. Hugh Jackman returns to the big screen in his first starring role since 2009's Wolverine with the family action drama Real Steel while George Clooney directs and stars in the political drama, The Ides of March.

U.S Box Office Report - 30th September - 2nd October 2011

1. Dolphin Tale - $14.2M - $37.5M
2. Moneyball - $12.5M - $38.4M
3. The Lion King (in 3D) - $11M - $79.6M
4. 50/50 - $8.9M - $8.9M
5. Courageous - $8.8M - $8.8M
6. Dream House - $8.2M - $8.2M
7. What's Your Number - $5.6M - $5.6M
8. Abduction - $5.6M - $19.1M
9. Contagion - $5M - $64.7M
10. Killer Elite - $4.8M - $17.4M

With the announcement last Sunday that The Lion King 3D would not be pulled from theatres after two weeks on release, as had originally been planned, four new films join the current releases in an attempt to usurp the Disney classic from the top spot. Last weekend's Moneyball and Dolphin Tale both performed well, while Abduction and Killer Elite disappointed. This frame brings us a comedy drama, a psychological thriller and a romantic comedy. There's also Courageous, a faith based drama from the makers of 2008's Fireproof.