Cloudy 2 Beats Out Prisoners & Rush

Sony Picture’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 led the way last weekend (Sept. 25-27) with $34.02 million. The 3D computer animated sequel beat the $30.30 million debut of 2009’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by 12 percent, although it also opened in 882 more theaters than the original. Cloudy 2 is likely to hold up well in the weeks ahead, thanks in part to there being no new options for family audiences until Relativity Media’s Free Birds opens Nov. 1.

In Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, the food comes alive and takes over. (Photo: Sony Pictures)

It was a close race for second place, with Warner Bros. Studios’ Prisoners edging out Universal Picture’s Rush. The thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal fell 48 percent from its opening weekend’s first place debut to gross $10.87 million. Despite good word of mouth, new competition from four new wide releases took a toll on Prisoners. Competition for adult moviegoers will become even more crowded next weekend with the release of Warner Bros. Gravity and Fox’s Runner Runner. Prisoners has grossed $38.55 million in 10 days.

In its first weekend of wide release, Rush placed in third with $10.01 million. The Ron Howard directed racing film starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl debuted on the lower end of its modest expectations, which were held in check in part by the lack of popularity of Formula 1 racing in the United States. Including last week’s limited release, Rush has grossed $10.28 million through 10 days.

It also proved to be a close race for fourth place this weekend, with Fox Searchlight’s Baggage Claim edging out Relativity’s Don Jon. Baggage Claim starring Paula Patten took in $9.03 million, while Don Jon starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson grossed $8.68 million. Baggage Claim opened in line with its pre-release expectations, while Don Jon opened just below its modest expectations.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight’s Enough Said romantic comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini grossed $2.099 million from just 227 locations. Its 10-day total stands at $2.47 million.