Transformers Destroys the Box Office!

DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures’ co-production “TRANSFORMERS” set an industry record for a non-sequel of $155.4 million in its opening week, surpassing the previous record held by the original “Spider Man” in 2002. In addition, during its first full day of release on Tuesday, July 3, “TRANSFORMERS” grossed $27.8 million, the biggest Tuesday in industry history, surpassing the second “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure. The following day, July 4^th, the Michael Bay-directed action adventure posted another industry best for the holiday of $29 million, outstripping “Spider-Man 2” in 2004.

For DreamWorks and Paramount, “TRANSFORMERS” three-day debut of $70.5 million was the top non-sequel and top live-action film ever. This propelled Paramount over the $1billion mark in domestic gross in 189 days, the earliest any studio has reached that benchmark in a calendar year. The year 2007 will be Paramount’s highest grossing since 1998, when it reached $1.046 billion, a figure that will be surpassed by the end of the coming weekend.

Over the past week, Paramount reclaimed its status as the #1 studio in market share, which it held earlier in the year, from April 21 to May 3. In addition, “TRANSFORMERS” was DreamWorks’ fourth straight #1 opening film following “Norbit,” “Blades of Glory” and “Disturbia.”  Other records established by “TRANSFORMERS” include:

• Top July 4^th weekend ($70.5 million) for a non-sequel, surpassing the studio’s own “War of the Worlds” in 2005 ($64.9 million).
• Best July opening weekend ($70.5 million) for a non-sequel, surpassing 2001’s “Planet of the Apes” ($68.5 million).
• Top daily gross in July ($29.073 million) for a non-sequel, besting “Planet of the Apes” ($24.6 million).
• Top Wednesday gross of all time ($29.073 million) for a non-sequel, beating the previous record holder 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ” ($26.6 million).
• Top Thursday gross ($19.177 million) for a non-sequel, beating 1996’s “Independence Day” ($17.3 million).
• Best live action movie debut ($70.5 million) for Paramount or DreamWorks, with the previous personal bests being “War of the Worlds” ($64.9 million) and 2005’s “The Ring 2” ($35.1 million) respectively.