Weekend Box Office: 'Ender's Game' Grabs No. 1 Spot With $28 Million Despite Controversy
The weekend box office was dominated by "Ender's Game," the sci-fi drama in which a young prodigy trains to become Earth's savior from a swarming alien race. The film was based off of the 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card, and the movie adaptation managed to beat out "Bad Grandpa," "Last Vegas" and other contenders despite some controversy.
This weekend, the box office was topped by "Ender's Game," which brought in $28 million in its debut; "Jacka-- Presents: Bad Grandpa," which had $20.5 million in its second week; "Last Vegas," which featured older stars like Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas at $16.5 million; and animated film "Free Birds," which brought in $16.2 million.
Though "Ender's Game" was aimed at a similar demographic to "Twilight" and "Hunger Games," it failed to have as large an opening, which could prevent a sequel. Analysts predicted about what it made, but financially, the film could end up a failure- the sci-fi flick cost $100 million to make, but is projected to make back just $75 million.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Overseas profits were smaller, with international markets bringing in only $2 million.
Still, the outcome could have been much worse. Orson Scott Card, a practicing member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, has been vocal about his support of traditional marriage and his opposition to homosexuality. LGBT group "Geeks Out" started a petition called "Skip Ender's Game" which garnered 11,000 signatures, but many moviegoers- straight and gay- still went to see the film.
While the book has been widely lauded by readers and critics alike, the film wasn't as well-liked. Critics said the movie lacked the subtlety and depth of the book, giving it a 62 percent on RottenTomatoes.com, but audiences were a bit more kind, rating it a 78 percent.
"Ender's Game" features Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggin, Harrison Ford as Col. Hyrum Graff, Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham, Hailee Steinfeld as Petra Arkanian, Abigail Breslin as Valentine Wiggin and Viola Davis and Maj. Gwen Anderson.
