Based on an obscure Marvel comic series and backed by a similarly omnipresent marketing campaign, “Big Hero 6” (Walt Disney Studios) took in an estimated $56.2 million at North American theaters, according to Rentrak, which compiles box office data. Disney spent $165 million to make the movie, which received reviews that were 91 percent positive, according to RottenTomatoes.com; audiences gave “Big Hero 6” an A grade, according to the CinemaScore exit polling service.
“Interstellar” (Paramount Pictures), which received softer reviews and a B-plus CinemaScore, apparently managed an even $50 million, for a domestic total since opening in limited fashion on Wednesday of $52.3 million. Mr. Nolan’s film, which also cost $165 million to make, was probably hurt by a nearly three-hour running time. Theaters could simply play “Big Hero 6” more often. But the space epic (unlike “Big Hero 6”) also had all of Imax’s up-charge muscle behind it. Imax contributed $13.4 million of the “Interstellar” weekend gross, or 26 percent. Warner Brothers, which is distributing “Interstellar” overseas, said the film’s foreign ticket sales contributed an additional $80 million, calling that figure “outstanding.”
Third place for the weekend went to “Gone Girl” (20th Century Fox), which sold about $6.1 million in tickets, for a hefty six-week total of $145.4 million. The horror film “Ouija” (Universal Pictures) was a close fourth, taking in about $6 million, for a three-week total of $43.5 million. Rounding out the top five by selling $5.7 million in tickets was the quirky Bill Murray comedy “St. Vincent” (the Weinstein Company). “St. Vincent” has now taken in $27.4 million over five weeks.
Of note at the art house: “The Theory of Everything” (Focus Features), an Oscar hopeful, arrived to solid interest at five locations, posting a per-theater average of $41,400 and total ticket sales of $207,000.