'HSM3' sets 2 Opening Day records

[ALIASd]

Posted: Sat., Oct. 25, 2008, 10:15am PT

'High School Musical' edges 'Saw'

Disney film on top Friday with $16.9 million

By Anthony D'Alessandro
Variety

Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" made the box office honor roll Friday clinching two opening day records for a live-action musical and G-rated pic. However, moviegoers also screamed for "Saw V" giving the Lionsgate horror franchise its third highest opening day of all-time.

Playing at 3,623 theaters, "HSM3" raked in a boffo $16.9 million, while "Saw V" at 3,060 earned $14 million. Despite the current recession, both pics provided a further jolt to the current stellar autumn box office and played to a wide demographic: "HSM3" lured girls while "Saw V" attracted older teens.

Directed by Kenny Ortega and starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, the bow for "HSM3" beat the first day records set by 2007's "Hairspray" ($11 million) for a big screen tuner and Disney's February 3-D pic "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Tour" ($8.7 million) for a live-action G-rated film. "HSM3" will no doubt remain the popular choice through Sunday and is set to outstrip the $31.1 million opening weekend posted by "Hannah Montana."

'High School Musical' edges 'Saw' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

[RocketRodRider88]

Dang I was hoping that movie would flop

[spaceworlder]

:-(

EDIT:

On the bright side, Saw V can't claim the top spot in America. More than HSM, I wish they'd stop making those things. Scary movies need to be fun again.

[wec]

I must admit that I do like the High School Musical movies. And I'm a 45 year old male. Basically I like them because my daughter likes them. The films have been somewaht of a boon to the school where the films were made: East High School, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They do offer tours for a nominal fee and you can rent the facility for events. See east.slc.k12.ut.us

[wec]

Originally Posted by wec

I must admit that I do like the High School Musical movies. And I'm a 45 year old male. Basically I like them because my daughter likes them. The films have been somewaht of a boon to the school where the films were made: East High School, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They do offer tours for a nominal fee and you can rent the facility for events. See east.slc.k12.ut.us

Spaceworlder, I must agree with you regarding scary films. Like I said in my post, I do like the HSM films. Although I do admit that the story lines are flimsy at best. Actually my reason for liking them pertains to my daughter who happens to have autism. Anything that she reacts positively too is OK with me. Hope you have a great day,

[Romba]

Man... not the grand opening I was hoping for though. There goes my hopes of toping The Dark Knight

[spaceworlder]

@wec:

To each their own. At least we can agree that they don't make scary movies like they used to. (I hear Trick R Treat is pretty good, though, but it naturally won't see a theatrical release.)

@romba:

TDK was a monster. Only Pirates 4 could have a chance at topping those records.

[Romba]

Not only was TDK a monster, but it was a great movie as well... unusual in hollywood these days, imo.

[ALIASd]

Originally Posted by Romba

Man... not the grand opening I was hoping for though. There goes my hopes of toping The Dark Knight

Close enough for a fiim that only cost around $20 million to produce:

High School Musical 3: Senior Year," the first big-screen adaptation of Walt Disney Co's popular TV movie franchise, rocked movie theaters around the world during its first weekend of release, the company said on Sunday.

The movie sold $42 million worth of tickets across North America for the three days beginning on Friday, and grossed $40 million internationally. It was No. 1 by both counts, becoming the first worldwide chart-topper since the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" in July, Disney said.

'HSM 3' graduates at top of class