March 2011 was another month where the Box Office Slump continued in comparison to 2010. The ticket sales again came out on the lower end.
Even with these slumps March was one of the strong month in terms of staying power and long healthy runs over Box Office
Let's take a look at some of the hits and misses of the month

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RANGO
Pirates of the Carribean famed duo Gore Verbanski and Johnny Depp returned in animated western adventure that did cross the genre bounds opening as the tenth biggest March opening. Given the good reviews (88% at RottenTomatoes) and general praise for the animation and 3D, the legs weren't as expected. It ended as the third biggest westerner trailing behind Dances with the Wolves and last year's surprise hit True Grit. It was also a much needed hit for Producers Nickelodeon and stands as their second biggest movie trailing just behind the mishit The Last Airbender. Financially it was big success thanks to that big Worldwide number, but it failed to score big in either Overseas or Domestic. It was the BIGGEST Movie of the MARCH 2011, in Domestic as well as Worldwide Total.
Synopsis: Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.
Production Budget: $135 million
Opening Weekend: $38 million ($38,079,323)
Domestic Total: $123.2 million ($123,257,581)
Overseas Total: $119.3 million ($119,348,156)
WorldWide Total: $242.6 million ($242,605,737)
VERDICT: AVERAGE

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
Propelled by good reviews and excellent pairing of Matt Damon and Emily Blunt it saw the biggest opening for an Election or Political Campaign based movie, fifth biggest for a political thriller. The legs were good to great for the genre and it ended up the third biggest for Election genre trailing just behind The Manchurian Candidate and Dave. For a Political Drama though it ended up outside Top 10 (currently sits at fourteenth biggest). Financially as well the movie was a success both domestically and overseas.
Synopsis: The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.
Production Budget: $50.2 million
Opening Weekend: $21.1 million ($21,157,730)
Domestic Total: $62.5 million ($62,495,645)
Overseas Total: $64.6 million ($64,609,168)
WorldWide Total: $127.1 million ($127,104,813)
VERDICT: ABOVE AVERAGE

BEASTLY
Based on the novel by Alex Finn with the same title, CBS tried to make this the new Twilight, but the source wasn't as famous or appealing. Opening to a decent number it did show good legs, still that wasn't enough to find new audience. It sits well outside of Top 10 of both Teen Romance and Romantic Fantasy genre which is now dominated by none other than Twilight sequels. Even more disappointing was its Overseas run even though it was released in very few markets, overall it wasn't able to generate much interest outside domestic market.
Synopsis: A modern-day take on the "Beauty and the Beast" tale where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love.
Production Budget: $17 million
Opening Weekend: $9.8 million ($9,851,102)
Domestic Total: $27.8 million ($27,865,571)
Overseas Total: $0.9 million ($968,438)
WorldWide Total: $28.8 million ($28,834,009)
VERDICT: BELOW AVERAGE

TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
All the wrong moves by the movie makers right from the troubled production to skeptical release dates lead to a dismal box office. It opened on the wrong charts, currently in Top 50 worst openings (very wide). It was obviously difficult holding those 2000+ theaters so it saw a huge decline in its third weekend and never saw a weekend decline less than 50% and was taken out of theaters in just seven weeks.
Synopsis: Four years after graduation, an awkward high school genius uses his sister's boyfriend's Labor Day party as the perfect opportunity to make his move on his high school crush.
Production Budget: $19 million
Opening Weekend: $3.4 million ($3,464,679)
Domestic Total: $6.9 million ($6,928,068)
Overseas Total: Not Applicable
WorldWide Total: $6.9 million ($6,928,068)
VERDICT: FLOP

HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE
Winner of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, Dramatic category the movie opened quite big in just 2 theaters but wasn't able to maintain the same level during expansion. It was a given after second weekend that the movie wasn't going to have a big box office life and the producers clearly did not have enough to keep this floating in theaters. The budget was negligible with directing, writing and editing done by Josh Radnor himself. These movies generally find much better audience in Home Media and DVD sales.
Synopsis: Captures a generational moment - young people on the cusp of truly growing up, tiring of their reflexive cynicism, each in their own ways struggling to connect and define what it means to love and be loved.
Production Budget: Independant budget (Josh Radnor is the director, writer, editor [with a single camera] and actor)
Opening Weekend: $35,063
Domestic Total: $216,110
Overseas Total: Not Applicable
WorldWide Total: $216,110
VERDICT: SUCCESS

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES
One of the bigger movies of March 2011, the movie opened to a surprising good number though average for Sci-Fi Alien Invasion genre. The legs though weren't as good and the poor reviews (35% at RottenTomatoes) did not help that cause. It ended up just outside Top 10 of Alien Invasion Sci-Fi genre (currently at 13th position) which is dominated by Transformers. It still ended up being the second biggest movie of March 2011 and had the BIGGEST Overseas total of the month.
Synopsis: A Marine Staff Sergeant who has just had his retirement approved goes back into the line of duty in order to assist a 2nd Lieutenant and his platoon as they fight to reclaim the city of Los Angeles from alien invaders.
Production Budget: $70 million
Opening Weekend: $35.5 million ($35,573,187)
Domestic Total: $83.5 million ($83,552,429)
Overseas Total: $127.9 million ($127,891,951)
WorldWide Total: $211.4 million ($211,444,380)
VERDICT: AVERAGE

RED RIDING HOOD
Catherine Hardwicke (director of the movie : Twilight) planned to create the same charisma in this movie with a similar setup and single line story. The genre is not known for big numbers but the movie disappointed in opening as it failed to attract neither teens nor horror fans. It still ended up a respectable eight position on the Werewolf genre which is now dominated by none other than Twilight sequels. Financially the movie would be a success thanks to a good overseas total.
Synopsis: Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure.
Production Budget: $42 million
Opening Weekend: $14 million ($14,005,335)
Domestic Total: $37.6 million ($37,662,162)
Overseas Total: $51.5 million ($51,500,000)
WorldWide Total: $89.1 million ($89,162,162)
VERDICT: BELOW AVERAGE

MARS NEEDS MOMS
The signs of this movie not doing well were clear well before the release date but nobody expected this to be such huge flop. Not only this is the biggest money loser of the year it is potentially one of the biggest ever. Disney quietly made the budget $150 million but the initial numbers were close to $200 million. The poor reviews did not really help its cause (35% at RottenTomatoes). While the market wasn't empty of animation movies, this one opened to one of the worst openings for an animation movie and even though showed decent legs its fate was sure from the very first day of its release.
Synopsis: A young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after he rescues her from Martians that come to Earth and take her away.
Production Budget: $150 million (though few of the source had it as high as $200 million)
Opening Weekend: $6.9 million ($6,914,488)
Domestic Total: $21.3 million ($21,392,758)
Overseas Total: $17.6 million ($17,600,000)
WorldWide Total: $39 million ($38,992,758)
VERDICT: FLOP

JANE EYRE
Opened great in just 4 theaters, the mix of good reviews (86% at RottenTomatoes) and great acting carried to movie to a decent expansion after which it started to loose its steam. It continued its good run till the end of July. The film was anyways a financial success domestically it made almost the same in overseas markets as well (released in limited screens everywhere).
Synopsis: A mousy governess who softens the heart of her employer soon discovers that he's hiding a terrible secret.
Production Budget: Roughly $4 million
Opening Weekend: $182,885 (non-wide)
Domestic Total: $11.2 million ($11,242,660)
Overseas Total: $13.8 million ($13,798,942)
WorldWide Total: $25 million ($25,041,602)
VERDICT: SUCCESS

LIMITLESS
Opening impressively given the competition that same weekend, this movie had good not great reviews from critics but the general audience liked it. It staying power was very impressive and turned out as the biggest thriller of the month as well as first quarter of 2011. Given the competition among adults in coming weeks of its release the movie held its own slowly finding a way to find adult female audience as well. Its overseas run was also helping to its amazing Worldwide total on a very small budget, giving Relativity a big success
Synopsis: An action-thriller about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind.
Production Budget: $27 million
Opening Weekend: $18.9 million ($18,907,302)
Domestic Total: $79.2 million ($79,249,455)
Overseas Total: $78 million ($77,700,000)
WorldWide Total: $157 million ($156,949,455)
VERDICT: SUCCESS

THE LINCOLN LAWYER
Adult targetted movie opening the same weekend on Limitless shortened its prospects of opening big, but it showed even better staying power. Adapted from Michael Connelly's successful novel of the same title the movie should have some in-build audience but it wasn't able to excite many of them. The glowing reviews helped it a lot for its after opening run (83% at RottenTomatoes). The only minor problem was its budget and a poor overseas run that did nothing to help its Worldwide total.
Synopsis: A sleazy defense attorney has a crisis of conscience when he represents a wealthy client who has a foolproof plan to beat the system.
Production Budget: $40 million
Opening Weekend: $13.2 million ($13,206,453)
Domestic Total: $58 million ($58,009,200)
Overseas Total: $17 million ($17,000,000)
WorldWide Total: $75 million ($75,009,200)
VERDICT: ABOVE AVERAGE

PAUL
The competition for adult audience was very strong when it opened, still it opened decently. The cast and crew was not well known which limited its audience domestically, still though it did very well in overseas markets where it was released months before. Movies with CGI leads and Sci-Fi Comedies have done very well in the past specially with this same topic, which makes its run less impressive. Given to the fact that the budget was on the high-end and the legs weren't good makes its run less impressive.
Synopsis: Two travelling British comic-book geeks encounter an alien named Paul outside Area 51 who wants their help to escape government agents, that have held him captive for more than 60 years
Production Budget: $40 million
Opening Weekend: $13 million ($13,043,310)
Domestic Total: $37.4 million ($37,412,945)
Overseas Total: $60.1 million ($60,178,720)
WorldWide Total: $97.6 million ($97,591,665)
VERDICT: BELOW AVERAGE

WIN WIN
Opened impressively in just 5 theaters, it continued to show impressive holds in coming weeks which garnered it a good expansion. The reviews were great (94% at RottenTomatoes) which helped its run for impressive four consecutive weekends above $1 million. After that the theaters started to give away even when the droops were good. Given the Independent budget of the movie it was very successful for the studios. The only complain is the non-impressive Overseas total
Synopsis: A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach's chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he's double-crossed comes into his life.
Production Budget: N/A
Opening Weekend: $150,362 (non-wide)
Domestic Total: $10.1 million ($10,179,275)
Overseas Total: $0.65 million ($651,898)
WorldWide Total: $10.8 million ($10,831,173)
VERDICT: ABOVE AVERAGE 

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
Very similar to the original the movie opened decently, but unlike the former it didn't have enough gas left in it. In overseas as well it wasn't able to generate much spark from the last installment, though it was able to retain original audience which is impressive. Given the small budget and a very close Worldwide total to the original it is a success. These movies have become good money makers for Fox
Synopsis: Back in middle school after summer vacation, Greg Heffley and his older brother Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond.
Production Budget: $21 million
Opening Weekend: $23.7 million ($23,751,502)
Domestic Total: $52.7 million ($52,698,535)
Overseas Total: $19.2 million ($19,208,035)
WorldWide Total: $71.9 million ($71,906,570)
VERDICT: SUCCESS

SUCKER PUNCH
Zack Snyder wasn't quite able to attract the same crowd that he did with 300's impressive visuals and stylish design. The film did open well for its Female Action Lead genre though it was quite low over expectations. The poor reviews did not help its cause 23% at RottenTomatoes and it started to drop heavily thence forth. The results were quite obvious from the second weekend and it turned out to be one of the biggest money loosers of 2011.
Synopsis: A young girl is institutionalized by her abusive stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the mental facility.
Production Budget: $82 million
Opening Weekend: $19 million ($19,058,199)
Domestic Total: $36.4 million ($36,392,502)
Overseas Total: $53.4 million ($53,400,000)
WorldWide Total: $89.8 million $89,792,502)
VERDICT: FLOP

MIRAL
It had the worst fate that sometimes movies have to suffer when the studios do not pick you as their favorite for Oscar fame. The poor reviews did not help its fate anyways and TWC pushed it from the prime Oscar season and dumped it in March. The movie did not see an expansion past 30 theaters. It should do well in Telivision and Home Media sales.
Synopsis: A drama centered on an orphaned Palestinian girl growing up in the wake of Arab-Israeli war who finds herself drawn into the conflict.
Production Budget: $15 million (Source)
Opening Weekend: $66,244
Domestic Total: $373,420
Overseas Total: $527,227     
WorldWide Total: $900,647
VERDICT: FLOP
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March 2011's aggregated total was $682 million ($682,374,886) down 21.95% from March 2010's $832 million($832,265,884) haul. It ranks sixth among March totals behind 2010, 2007, 2002, 2004 and 2008 respectively.
Through March, 2011's total was $2.1 billion (2,095,667,390) which was whooping 26.29% behind 2010's total of $2.6 billion(2,646,629,824)
Check out more on my next one Box Office 2011 - April