'The Purge' Major Opening Weekend Stuns
by Shannon Keirnan
It topped film numbers with $36.4 million for its opening… approximately double what was anticipated.
Since “The Purge” was filmed on just $3 million, that’s a pretty hefty gain for Universal.
Produced by Jason Blum of “Paranormal Activity,” it’s looking like another low-budget horror hit.
"Never did we expect it to open at this level," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal. "This result could not have been forecasted by anybody."
The film, which is written and directed by James DeMonaco,is set in the United States in the near future—2022—when unemployment is just 1% and crime is at an all-time low.
Why? Because one night a year law enforcement officials close up shop, and the country goes into a mad, cathartic crime spree.
After letting in a man asking for help into their fortress of a home, the Sandin family finds themselves targeted by a threatening group in masks, who will kill the whole family if they don’t give up their intended mark for the evening.
"This is exactly the kind of film that stumps all the analysts," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "It proves that R-rated horror films, no matter the budget, always have a place with audiences."
Weekend Numbers:
1. "The Purge," $36.4 million.
2. "Fast & Furious 6," $19.8 million.
3. "Now You See Me," $19.5 million.
4. "The Internship," $18.1 million.
5. "Epic," $12.1 million.
6. "Star Trek Into Darkness," $11.7 million.
7. "After Earth," $11.2 million
8. "The Hangover Part III," $7.4 million.
9. "Iron Man 3," $5.8 million.
10. "The Great Gatsby," $4.2 million.