Computer-animated “Shrek 2” debuted earlier this week as the only major nationwide release, and it expands Friday to over 4,100 theaters, giving the film a clear path to the top of the box office charts and maybe a chance to set a few records.
DreamWorks said the film about the big green ogre, Shrek, and his blushing green bride, Princess Fiona, had already brought in a record $11.8 million on its first day, Wednesday.
That figure broke the previous best for a mid-week debut by an animated movie held by Warner Bros.’ 1999 animated “Pokemon The First Movie” which opened at $10.1 million, according to Los Angeles-based box office tracker, Exhibitor Relations Inc.
DreamWorks managed to put “Shrek 2” in 4,163 theaters for Friday, marking the first time a film has opened in over 4,000 venues. The count topped the previous record by last year’s ”X2: X-Men United” at 3,741, according to Exhibitor Relations.
At online ticket service Fandango.com, “Shrek 2” made up 77 percent of advance ticket sales as of late Thursday.
“There is a lot of excitement for the movie. I think it’s going to have huge weekend,” said Fandango.com Chief Executive Officer Arthur Levitt.
Supported by solid reviews and audience applause at early screenings, “Shrek 2” should reap big profits for its backers at privately held DreamWorks movie studio.
Industry sources put the film’s cost at $70 million, although published reports have the figure up at $95 million. Regardless, if “Shrek 2” comes close to matching the $267 million U.S. and Canadian ticket sales ($455 million globally) posted by the original, there is no question about the movie’s money-making potential.
Bellwether debutsBenchmarks to watch will be whether “Shrek 2” can beat the five-day record for a Wednesday domestic debut held by 2003’s ”The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” at $124.1 million or the three-day record of 2002’s “Spider-Man” at $114.9 million.
Top animated film debuts are 1999’s “Toy Story 2” with a five-day haul of $80.1 million and last year’s “Finding Nemo,” with a three-day take of $70.3 million.
So far, “Shrek 2” has played well to fans and critics. The Los Angeles Times writes: “Can an Oscar-winning animated success generate a successful sequel? ... 'Shrek 2’ is happy to answer yes.” Premieres at the Cannes film festival in France and in Los Angeles generated wild laughter and applause.
In 2001’s “Shrek,” the antennae-eared monster (voice of comedian Mike Myers) and his sidekick Donkey (Eddie Murphy) saved the beautiful Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a fire-breathing dragon. Shrek and Fiona, who turned into an ogre herself when the sun went down, got married.
The movie poked fun at about every fairy tale written, but the film’s rather sweet message of love transcending boundaries — even the big, green, ogre kind — hit home with audiences.
In “Shrek 2,” the honeymoon is over and the fairy-tale world of happy endings clashes with real life. It’s time for Shrek to meet his in-laws, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) who live in the land of Far Far Away.
But Fiona’s parents have no idea their daughter has married an ogre or decided to live as one, too. This discovery leads King Harold to plot Shrek’s demise, but when hired assassin Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) befriends Shrek and Donkey, the king’s scheme is all but ruined.
Add in a manipulative Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) and her suave son Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), who was to have wed Fiona himself, and “Shrek 2” becomes a laugh-out-loud send-up of our culture’s obsession with looks and image.
“Shrek 2” is rated PG for some crude humor, a brief substance reference and some suggestive content.