The Numbers: Surf's Up Opening Weekend

Sony's "Surf's Up" finished it's opening weekend in a respectable 4th place, behind a couple of huge summer blockbusters and a surprise comedy.



The film made $18 million dollars, being beat out by "Knocked Up," "Pirates 3," and "Ocean's Thirteen."

As far as an opening weekend for a CG film goes, "Surf's Up" had to be somewhat of a disappointment to Sony. Despite strong reviews, the film's opening was dwarfed by CG recent CG film openings like "Shrek the Third's" $122 million dollar opening and even "Happy Feet's" $42 million. Even when compared to Sony's previous CG Animated film, "Open Season," which made $24 million opening weekend, "Surf's Up!" just did not perform at the same level.

Was it the fact that moviegoers are still gunshy of CG after the avalanche of CG films last summer? Did they get their fill of penguins with "Happy Feet"? Is it because there are so many big blockbuster films at theaters right now? Was this seen as "another anthropomorphic animal film"?

To be honest, it's probably a combination of all of them, but it wasn't due to poor reviews. The film is actually doing quite well in that department.

I had a chance to see the film, and as much as I enjoyed it, I doubt the numbers are going up from here via word of mouth. In the crowded theater I was in, most of the kids were talking and running up and down the isles within the first 45 minutes. The adults generally seemed to enjoy it, and the visuals were nothing short of stunning, but kids seemed to get bored with it quickly. "Surfs Up!" has a very laid back vibe to it, much like a surfer, and it just didn't seem to hold the attention of the little ones.

It's really a shame, because I think "Open Season" and "Surf's Up" were actually both great films, and yet if Sony's animated flicks keep underperforming, it may be a short-lived venture.

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