Is the bloom off the superhero movie rose, or is it just movies starring superheroines that founder? The Marvel comics-based Elektra starring Jennifer Garner got off to a disappointing start earning only an estimated $12.5 million and finishing fifth in the weekend box office derby -- two spots lower than the 'talking animal' movie Racing Stripes! The new Elektra film, which some observers thought might contend for the top spot, fared far worse than Daredevil, the movie in which Garner's character was introduced, which earned over $40 million during Valentine's Day weekend in 2003. Elektra even opened lower than the nearly universally panned Catwoman movie, which earned $16.7 million in its debut frame last summer and went on to accumulate a very disappointing box office total of just over $40 million. Bad reviews certainly contributed to Elektra's poor opening, but action films have demonstrated some immunity to dismal critical notices in the past and the Elektra film received a substantial advertising push on TV.
The inspirational sports film, Coach Carter, which opened in 700 fewer theaters than Elektra captured the weekend box office crown with an estimated $23.6 million, while the comedy juggernaut, Meet the Fockers declined only 33% during its fourth weekend of release and earned a solid $19 million, bringing its total to over $230 million.
The anime feature Appleseed opened in 31 theaters and averaged $2,538 per screen, while the martial arts film House of Flying Daggers came in at #14 earning $1.7 million to bring its total to $7 million.
