Oh No He Didn't! Yep, He Did: Brüno Tops Box Office

Since Sacha Baron Cohen's over-the-top mockumentary Brüno was the only "big" film debuting on Friday, it's not too surprising that it was able to claim box-office victory.  Nor is it surprising that -- because of Brüno's controversial nature -- its victory was by no means a landslide.  In fact, in terms of ticket sales, just a mere $2 million separated the flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter from a group of characters residing on the polar opposite end of the Offensive Scale: the lovable, animated critters from Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.  (Brüno made $30.4 million while IA3 brought in $28.5 million.)

Transformers 2 picked up another $24.2 million, bringing its domestic total to $339 million (which is now nearly equal to its foreign total of $333 million; that's right, this movie has made over $672 million worldwide so far...).  In fourth and fifth place were Public Enemies ($14.1 million) and The Proposal ($10.5 million).  The weekend's other wide release, I Love You, Beth Cooper, came in seventh place with $5 million.

Of course the bigger story over the past three days wasn't how Brüno was faring against its currently-in-theaters competition, but rather how its performance stacked up against SBC's other fiction-meets-reality comedy, Borat.  In 2006, most moviegoers were not familiar with the British funnyman, his characters or his antics, unless they'd watched his BBC series Da Ali G show (which moved to HBO in its second season).   So when buzz started building around the seemingly naïve Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev, people naturally wanted to see what the fuss was about.  Borat opened in 837 theaters and made $26.5 million, and as word of mouth spread and its run in cineplexes expanded, its second-weekend earnings actually grew to $28.3 million.  When all was said and done, the bumbling foreigner took in $261.6 million worldwide -- on just an $18 million budget.  However, now everyone's in on the joke, the novelty of laughing at those who still aren't has worn off, and -- despite the switch in main characters (or maybe because of it?) -- Brüno does not seem to be poised for the same kind of success; its tickets sales dropped nearly 40% from Friday to Saturday, and industry analysts think the film's chances of hitting the $100 million mark domestically are slim. 

So, Brüno better enjoy the party while he can, because come Wednesday when The Boy Who Lived and his posse of wizards and witches grace theaters again for the first time in two years, I dare say they're going to run everyone else out of town.

Comments

[Ally Jay (iareally)]

I was going to go see this movie if someone else paid for my ticket. As it happens, I didn't try to find someone and no one offered so... thats that lol

I might redbox it, but thats probably it.

[movielover]

Bruno is the worst movie ever, it's gross, disgusting if you have a sick-mind go but I don't recommended to anyone. We had to leave after a few minutes, I felt sick. DISGUSTING!!
Very sad to see so many teenagers at the movie and it is rated R?
someone should suit the movie theaters. I give it a -F

[SICKOFITALL]

viva la REDBOX!

[alex]

can't wait to see it is going to be one of the best this summer

[JUles]

I agree with Ally !!! I feel sorry for sacha daughter when she grows up and watches her dad in this sick porno!!!

[Danielle C]

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004722.cfm

It's a non-biased review on the contents (whether good or bad) on this movie.

DO NOT SEE MOVIE W/O REVIEWING THIS!!!

[Todd]

This movie tries way too hard to be over the top. Unfortunately, it succeeds only in that. While there are a few funny points, it's mostly stupid or disgusting. Borat was MUCH funnier. I don't think I would even recommend renting it at Redbox prices.

[Steve K]

I loved the movie, couldnt stop laughing, but I am sure there are many who would be offended or not have the same sense of humor. Know who and what you are going to see and if you then go...you will enjoy.

[Suzanne H.]

The film really did deserve the NC17 rating it was originally given in spite of so-called "editing" to bring it to R status. Close up frontal male nudity, scenes involving various dildos and a frequently featured sex machine, hard-core sex scenes edited by a small black box filmed at a swingers' party... while I realize some are comfortable with such "humor", I am definitely NOT. I deeply regret having viewed this film. Had I known the film makers had gone this far, I would have never wasted money on a ticket.

[tony]

This was the worst movie I have ever seen. one of the major thing was that the trailer scenes aren't even in the movie. there were a few very funny parts, but did not last because of the [sex toys] and over the top sick humor. please don't spend your money. if anyone knows how i can get my money back i would like to know.
Thanks

[Mr. Com On Cents]

I'm glad there is such a thing as free will and the ability for everybody to make a decision for themselves. The open minded people will find it outrageous and funny. The parochial minded and conservative will find it offensive. Such as most things in life. So if you want to laugh and maybe be disgusted also, go catch it. If you don't want to offend your sensibilities, then go see Ice Age. Enough said.

[sonia]

The movie is extremely nasty but funny!!! people need to read reveiws before seeing a movie though!

[shell]

If you find HARDCORE GAY SEX, SEX TOYS, SWINGERS funny then watch this movie... Otherwise DO NOT watch it!!! The funny parts that are shown in the commercial do not reflect how vulgar the movie really is! I certainly wish I would have know... I would NOT have spent a penny on it. I do not think this movie should be available at the redbox- just in case a young one were to rent it (no one is there to monitor or check I.D. for age.

Two thumbs down!!!

[Some Dude]

Yes it was funny. Yes it was a bit too much.
It's an over the top social commentary...

I'm sure Sacha Baron Cohen knows this won't be a hit. Maybe that's the biggest joke of all?... It's like he baked a cake with salt and is giving us a generous slice... ha ha jokes on us...

my advice is have a few drinks before you go.

[kreess]

if you looking to watch a "GAY PORN" BRUNO is the perfect movie!! i do have a sense of humor but that movie was just bad bad bad it was porn!! i would not recommend you waste your money like i did!!

[Noreen]

DO NOT take children to see this rediculous "movie!"... not appropriate for any young people. Even Barbara Walters told people to beware of this movie... don't waste your money!!! Borat was funny... this is just disgusting and a waste of money to make or see!!

[Mr. B]

For a laugh, read the "totally unbiased" review at http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004722.cfm mentioned by another commenter. Just keep in mind that it is as unbiased as its fundamentalist Christian sponsor, Focus on the Family, can pretend to be (which ain't much, Josephine!)

If nothing else, Bruno has allowed the self-righteous to turn their attention away from their own hypocritical philanderers for a moment and focus on an external "threat" to morality.

Knowing how little they like this movie is incentive enough for me to look forward to seeing it.

[kay]

terrible moviee......might as well watch a porn

[gatorade]

I love how so many people are so very offended by this movie. I find it funny that you go to watch a movie about a gay Austrian which happens to be one of sacha's ridiculous characters and expect it to not show something gay in the film. I loved this movie and what was porn about this movie, the only sex in the film is covered up.

[Erik K.]

I was appalled, but also, I LOL'd.

[Jesse]

I went and saw Bruno with my brother thinking it would be funny but it turns out that this movie is by far the worst movie I haver seen. Compaired to this movie borat was amazing. No joke.

[RON]

IT IS AMAZING - AMERICA IS VERY UPTIGHT. BRUNO IS OVER THE TOP,BUT ITS A WINDOW INTO OUR UPTIGHTEDNESS - AT TIMES- HEART ATTACK, UPTIGHTEDNESS. HE IS OFFERING US A WINDOW - HE IS BRILLIANT AND BRAVE. BORAT WAS A GREAT WINDOW INTO SOME OF AMERICAS SOUL, THIS MOVIE WAS A BIT OF A MONEY GRAB, LACKING A BIT, BUT FUNNY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF-NOT GREAT , BUT FUNNY.

[Sandra Scott]

This movie was the FUNNIEST I've seen in a VERY long time! I laughed so hard I was begging them to stop, my stomach was cramping I was laughing so hard. My husband went with me - begrudgingly - and was prepared to hate it. He laughed as much as I did! And THAT is a feat unto itself, because it is HARD to make him laugh! I think it was funnier than Borat, by far! I can't wait for the DVD so I can see the UNCUT version! Way to go, SCB!!!!

[Daryl]

Thanks everyone, we won't waste our money on it.
Too bad Hollywood thinks this is what America wants to buy. Google top movies ever made, top money making movies, and see what titles come up.

[Bridgette]

This was defiantly not a family movie. I must say it was great though! A lot better than the movie "Hangover". My boyfriend and I think it is the best movie of the year. Sick minded I guess, but who takes movies seriously anyway?

[Bo]

How can you rate a movie if you leave after 10 mins. of viewing. Some people are very dumb.

[Laima]

I LOVED Borat, but Bruno was such a disappointment!

[J031]

Let me start off by saying Bruno was HILARIOUS. But utterly disgusting as well. There was a lot of naked gay sex which wasn't very pleasing to frankly anyone. But I've never laughed so hard during a movie either. Idk it's your call if you choose to see it. Just be prepared for lots of penis on a huge screen.

[Michaelangelo Bisgotti]

Must be incompetent to pay for a ticket to BRUNO without knowing what it entailed. DUH its distasteful...DUH its dirty...DUH your children should not see it...DUH its straight up ridiculous. Those are the only reasons why I payed for it. If I wanted to see an oscar winning masterpiece I wouldn't have gone. Since you want to see how far this one man could go in his new personna, well then I would go see BRUNO. People are just too uptight. Look at 'Donnie' and his pals on the show. America needs to loosen the hell up and relax.

[Bender]

It's interesting that The Hangover, a movie with the identical appeal of Bruno, had the smallest devline despite Brruno entering theatres.

[Erika Olson]

Whoa, there, Bender! I'm going to have to disagree with your statement that The Hangover has "the identical appeal" of Bruno. Um... not for me! The Hangover is very similar to Old School, Wedding Crashers, etc: the laughs come from grown men behaving stupidly. Is there crude humor? Yes... but nothing along the lines of the stunts Bruno -- which mixes in unsuspecting real people and is specifically out to offend -- tries to pull. I couldn't wait to see The Hangover but had no desire to see Bruno in theaters, and I know of several people who feel the same way. So I don't really think you can consider the two as in the same genre.

- Erika

[lizco]

THIS MOVIE IS NOT A WINDOW FOR AMERICANS TO SEE HOW UPTIGHT WE ARE IT IS A MOVIE THAT DEPICTS HOW DISGUSTING OUR SOCIETY HAS BECOME. FILTH AND SMUT IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRESENT TO OUR CHILDREN IT'S OKAY TO PRANCE AROUND LIKE A FOOL. JOKE? WHAT JOKE, THE JOKES ON US THAT WE HAVE NO SENSE FOR DECENCY ANYMORE. ANYONE WHO LOVED THE MOVIE MOST DEFINATELY (I ASSURE YOU IS GAY OR STILL IN THE CLOSET) GROSS.