"Divergent" took home the box office crown ending the YA curse while "The Muppets: Most Wanted" failed to register with audiences.
The film adapted from the Veronica Roth novel took in an estimated $56 million. The total was a bit less from the originally expected $60 million but good enough for a sequel. One of the biggest surprises was that half of the audience was made up of people who had not read the book. The film faces competition within the next few weeks from "Noah" and "Captain America" but with audiences enjoying it, "Divergent" could still continue its solid run.
In second place "The Muppets" bombed making an estimated $16.5 million. Pundits had estimated the movie would make $20 million but with competition from "The Lego Movie" and "Mr. Peabody & Sherman," the film could not get the audience necessary to rack up solid numbers. The opening was far below the $29 million the 2011 film made in its opening three days and with lots of competition, this new entry will end its theatrical run quickly.
"Mr. Peabody & Sherman" took third place with $11.7 million. The film dropped 46.4 percent from last weekend. The film has already made $81 million and is still on track to get past the $100 million.
In fourth place "300: Rise of an Empire" took in another $8.6 million and brought its gross to $93.7 million. The film is $68 million behind the 2006 installment which ended its run with $210 million.
In fifth place "Gods Not Dead" debuted to solid numbers. The film which is playing in 780 theaters made $8.5 million with an estimated $10,979 per theater average. The film is the latest Christian-based film to open better than expected. Distributor Freestyle Releasing will expand the film next week.
"Need For Speed" continued its terrible run as it made $7.7 million. The film has only taken in $30 million and Disney will most likely scrap any plans of a sequel.
Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" continued making headlines as it brought in $6.7 million in 304 theaters. That equals an average of $22,204 per theater. The movie has already brought in $12.9 million without a wide opening and Fox Searchlight plans on opening the film in 800 theaters next weekend. With good word of mouth the film is likely to continue its solid run and become one of the breakout indie films of the year.
At number eight "Non-Stop" made $6.3 million and has already brought in $78 million. Meanwhile "The Lego Movie" brought in $4 million and has already made $243 million.
Among the films to debut in limited release was "Nymphomaniac Volume 1" which bombed. The film made $175,000 in 25 theaters for an average of $7,000 per theater. The total was below recent Lars Von Triers films "Melancholia" and "Antichrist."
Meanwhile Jason Bateman's "Bad Words" expanded to 87 theaters and made an estimated $500,000. Focus Features will expand it into wide 600 theaters next week.
Meanwhile A24 expanded the Jake Gyllenhaal starrer "Enemy" into 96 venues. The film brought in a disappointing $206,000 and has only brought in $554,099 at the moment. The movie looks like it will become the lowest grossing Gyllenhaal film of all time.