Daredevil topped the Presidents Day weekend box office, taking in record-breaking
$47.3 million over the four-day period beginning Feb. 14, the Hollywood
trade papers reported. The figure easily tops that of the previous record-holder,
John Q, which grossed $23 million during the period last year. It also
represents the second-highest February opening of all time, falling behind
2001's Hannibal at $58 million.
The film's distributor, Twentieth Century Fox, had originally predicted
a $50 million opening for the comic book adaptation, but was forced to
lower its expectations due to an East Coast blizzard. Daredevil marks
the third consecutive Marvel property to reach the top spot at the box
office after the 2002 releases, Spider-Man and Blade II, the trade papers
reported.
The animated sequel Jungle Book 2 opened in fourth place, with $15.1
million. Buena Vista Pictures distribution president Chuck Vianne told
the trades that the weather was "probably a $2 million hit"
on the film's final gross. Still, the opening total was comparable to
last year's Peter Pan II: Return to Neverland which grossed $15.6 million
in its initial four-day period.
