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Hollywood Box Office Report: ‘Identity Thief’ at #1 takes $36.6-M

The R-rated comedy beats expectations despite Nemo, the Super Snow Storm, in the Northeast; Steven Soderbergh’s “Side Effects” Opens # 3 takes $9.4-M, while “Argo” back strong in its 18th frame.

Melissa McCarthy’s new comedy Identity Thief, co-starring Jason Bateman and directed by Seth Gordon, beat all expectations to score a $36.6-M debut, one of the Top 5 openings of all time for an original R-rated comedy and the best opening so far of Y 2013, beating the $28-M scored four weeks ago by fellow Universal pic Mama.

Universal estimates that Nemo, the Winter storm that paralyzed New England, took 10% off the box office grosses and that without Nemo, Identity Thief would have cleared $40-M. The pic marks Ms. McCarthy’s first starring role since Bridesmaids.

Receiving a B CinemaScore, Identity Thief stars Bateman as a guy whose identity is stolen by a woman Ms. McCarthy. Mr. Bateman originally pitched producer Scott Stuber on the idea of the 2 leading characters being men, but after seeing McCarthy in Bridesmaids, they adapted the role for her.

The comedy’s supporting cast includes Amanda Peet, Jon Favreau and Tip “T.I.” Harris. Elliot Inc. co-financed the $35-M film with Universal.

Even with the success of Identity Thief, the overall box office revenues were down 45% from the same weekend last year when The Vow debuted to $41.2-M and Safe House, took in $40.2-M.

Also opening Friday was Steven Soderbergh’s independently financed Side Effects, starring Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum. The psychological thriller opened to $10-M, in line with expectations, it too received a B CinemaScore.

Open Road Films is distributing Side Effects, the film explores the perils of anti-depressants and the pharmaceutical industry. Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones also star. Next week, the film, Soderbergh claims to be his last makes its international debut at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Side Effects came in # 3 after Identity Thief and Warm Bodies, which fell a relatively narrow 44% in its 2nd weekend, grossing $11.5-M for a domestic take of $36.7-M.

Silver Linings Playbook continued to enjoy an impressive hold, coming in # 4 and falling only 11% from the previous weekend. The Oscar Best Picture contender, from The Weinstein Co., has now earned $90-M.

Among other best picture nominees, Argo made news in its 18th wk in release, grossing $2.5-M to reclaim a spot in the Top 10. The film, coming in # 8, has grossed $123.7-M in North America.

Debuting in 300 IMAX locations across the country was Paramount’s Top Gun 3-D. The classic Tom Cruise pic, directed by the late Tony Scott, grossed a respectable $1.9-M for a location average of $6,333.

The Chinese blockbuster Lost in Thailand did not do well in its US debut, grossing just $29,143 from 29 AMC theaters across the country, AMC Entertainment is now owned by Chinese conglomerate Wanda. Lost in Thailand has grossed nearly $200-M in China.

Have some fun, see a movie this week.