Friday Analysis: 'Panda' headed for $60M+
Kung Fu Panda poster
By Lee Tistaert     Published June 7, 2008
Saturday could reach upwards of $25 million for Panda, with the weekend looking to be around $62 million.
Jack Black’s Kung Fu Panda topped Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess with the Zohan on Friday, grossing $20 million in 4,114 theaters for a $4,861 per-screen average. For DreamWorks, the debut for Kung Fu Panda is even bigger than Madagascar, which had a big cast lineup behind the voices and opened to $13.9 million ($3,376/screen) on Friday. Madagascar followed through with a $47.2 million weekend but also had Memorial Day weekend in 2005. Saturday could reach upwards of $25 million for Kung Fu Panda, with the weekend looking to be around $62 million, in line with Pixar's Cars.

Adam Sandler continued his streak of $12+ million opening nights with You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. The comedy came in with $15 million on Friday for a strong $4,333 average, which puts it ahead of last year’s Chuck & Larry ($12.6 million). Zohan could go up on Saturday like The Longest Yard (which was up 7%), but Chuck & Larry did fall 6% on Saturday, which is about what I would predict for this. A weekend of up to $40 million looks likely for Zohan, which should top Larry’s $34.2 million debut and possibly The Waterboy ($39.4) as well but could remain shy of Big Daddy’s ($41.5)’s opening.

Daily Breakdown Comparisons

Kung Fu Panda

Happy Feet (3,804 theaters)
Friday: $12.3
Saturday: $17.1
Sunday: $12.1
Weekend: $41.5

Madagascar (4,131 theaters)
Friday: $13.9
Saturday: $17.9
Sunday: $15.4
Weekend: $47.2

Shark Tale (4,016 theaters)
Friday: $12.9
Saturday: $21.1
Sunday: $13.6
Weekend: $47.6

Cars (3,985 theaters)
Friday: $19.7
Saturday: $23.3
Sunday: $17.1
Weekend: $60.1

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

Chuck & Larry (3,495 theaters)
Friday: $12.6
Saturday: $11.8
Sunday: $9.8
Weekend: $34.2

The Waterboy (2,664 theaters)
Friday: $12.9
Saturday: $16.3
Sunday: $10.3
Weekend: $39.4

Big Daddy (3,027 theaters)
Friday: $14.5
Saturday: $14.5
Sunday: $12.3
Weekend: $41.5

Anger Management (3,551 theaters)
Friday: $15.4
Saturday: $17.5
Sunday: $9.3
Weekend: $42.2

The Longest Yard (3,634 theaters)
Friday: $16.2
Saturday: $17.3
Sunday: $14.1
Weekend: $47.6
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