"Oz: The Great and Powerful" gave the box office a boost this past weekend after scoring the best opening of the year.
The film starring, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, and Rachel Weisz, opened to an estimated $80.28 million. The film benefited from a strong marketing campaign, and 3D. However, it did not match 2010's Alice in Wonderland which opened with $116 million, and was compared to "Oz." The film is likely to make it to the $200 million by the end of its run and should be profitable worldwide. A sequel is in the works.
In second place, last weekend's "Jack and the Giant Slayer" plummeted 63 percent making an estimated $10.02 million. The $300 million budget film has grossed $43 million and could end up with $60 million making it one of the biggest flops in movie history.
"Identity Thief" continued its successful box office run. The picture earned $6.3 million down 35 percent from last weekend. "Thief" has now earned $116.5 million and continues to be 2013's highest grossing picture.
The weekend's other new release "Dead Man Down" took fourth place. Making $5.35 million, it followed "Bullet to the Head," "The Last Stand" and "Parker" as the latest action film to bomb at the box office. The film is likely to end with a $15 million total.
In fifth place "Snitch" added an estimated $5.1 million. The Dwayne Johnson starrer has already earned $31.8 million.
The last new release of the weekend "Emperor" starring Tommy Lee Jones earned $1.04 million for a solid $4,012 per theater average.
Academy Award winners continued to do good business. "Silver Linings Playbook" scored $1.7 million bringing its total to $120 million. "Life of Pi" also made $1.6 million for a total of $119 million. The film comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray on Tuesday.
In art house cinemas "Beyond the Hills" scored $18,000 in 3 theaters. The film will be expanding into 15 markets next weekend.