Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson drew a solid crowd for their romantic drama Water for Elephants which premiered in third place with an estimated $17.5M. Based on the best-selling novel, the PG-13 film averaged $6,212 from 2,817 locations and played heavily to female audiences, lovers of the book, and Twilight fans that follow Pattinson religiously. Critics had mixed feelings but the built-in audiences came out anyway giving Fox the best opening for an adult drama this year so far. Mature-skewing thrillers and comedies have done exceptionally well this year, but regular dramas have seen more modest numbers on the first weekend. An A- CinemaScore suggests a good run ahead as counter-programming to a steady diet of testosterone flicks about to attack multiplexes.
The opening box-office for Robert Pattinson’s new film “Water for Elephants,” a romantic drama that’s set amid a traveling circus during the 1930s, shows the young heartthrob may have reach beyond his blockbuster vampire franchise “Twilight.” Based on Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel of the same name, the film adaptation earned a better than expected $17.5 million, according to early estimates from distributor 20th Century Fox. Industry insiders believed the film would draw in the low-to-mid teens.
“It really over-performed,” said Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston, citing the film’s “old-time filmmaking” as one of the movie’s strongest assets, as well the popularity of the source material. “It’s a book that was on the bestseller list twice, so people had two chances to read it,” he said.
While reviews were decidedly mixed–it averaged a 54 out of 100 on review aggregation site Metacritic.com–the film scored a solid A- Cinemascore rating and strong positive word-of-mouth.
Based on the studio’s demographic exit polls, however, Pattinson’s “Twilight” fans were not big supporters of the movie: 70% of ticket-buyers were over 25.
“Pattinson batted in his wheelhouse, given the storyline and his character,” said Box Office Mojo president Brandon Gray. “Then again, Pattinson is still a relatively unproven draw, and this movie did co-star the more established Reese Witherspoon.”
If Pattinson’s followers may not have turned up in force, the studio is touting the sales numbers as evidence of a strong showing from older audiences, who are often less consistent moviegoers. “Adults don’t come out early for a movie–they take their time,” said Livingston. “So to open this strong is really a good sign for us. This movie will play a long time.”
Pattinson’s previous attempt at non-”Twilight” dramatic acting, 2010′s “Remember Me,” fared poorly at the box office, with an $8 million opening and a $19 million U.S. gross.
The passionate words of author Sara Gruen are beautifully envisioned by director Francis Lawrence’s (“I Am Legend,” 2007) adaptation of her best-selling novel “Water for Elephants.” The film paints a canvas of a depression-era landscape, a lavish circus production and an unrequited romance.
With a gifted cast, stunning visuals, a moving story, and, yes, a lovable elephant, Lawrence and screenwriter Richard LaGravenese (“The Bridges of Madison County,” 1995) have crafted the year’s first great film.
“Twilight” superstar Robert Pattinson breathes life into the character of Jacob Jankowski whose extraordinary life is told as a flashback by the great Hal Holbrook.
Jacob is a charming, bright young student studying veterinary medicine at Cornell University. Before he’s able to secure his license, tragedy ensues with the death of his two Polish-immigrant parents.
He is left orphaned and homeless, carrying his possessions in a briefcase and traveling down an isolated railroad track. He hops on the first train that approaches and, conveniently enough, finds it is a majestic circus train with a myriad of colorful and eccentric characters.
However, Jacob’s concentration is on the show’s star attraction — Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). This poses a dilemma for Marlena’s husband, the sadistic ringmaster August (Chistoph Waltz) who attempts to throw Jacob off the train until he learns of his skills with animals.
These skills come in handy when he and Marlena are assigned to train the show’s newest member, a four-ton, middle-aged elephant named Rosie. As the two tackle this task, they form a romantic bond. Now, cast into the effervescent world of entertainment, Jacob has the life he’s always dreamed of.
The only thing missing is a ravishing partner to share it with, an aspiration the menacing August will stop at nothing to dismantle.
The movie is a work of passion full of energy and emotion. Gruen’s tale of a once-crumbling economic world splashed with vibrant colors and the prospect of hope makes for a tasty treat.
However, the film is not merely eye candy. Waltz is as bloody brilliant as August, charming and pleasant on the outside but cruel and rotten at his core.
Twi-hard fans will adore their beloved Pattinson proving he has more range and depth than his beastly alter-ego permits him to explore. He and Witherspoon make an electric romantic duo.
Though in all fairness, the true scene-stealer of the film is the enormously talented Rosie. The four-ton beauty has more brains and personality than her co-stars combined.
This sweeping romantic spectacle has something special to offer everyone.
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