One Direction made history when Up All Night debuted at #1 last year. Now, the first British group to have their first album debut at the top of the Billboard charts has their sights set on #1 somewhere else: the box office.
Fresh off their Best Song of the Summer win for "Best Song Ever" at last weekend's Video Music Awards, the boys from 1D have debuted "One Direction: This is Us" in North American theaters. The film blends backstage moments and concert footage, captured by "Supersize Me!" documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and produced by Simon Cowell, who put 1D together.
Sixty-eight percent of Fandango's ticket sales were for "This Is Us" on Thursday, with 98 percent of those going to females. Industry analysts are predicting a four-day weekend in the neighborhood of $22 million for the 3-D flick, less than the $31.1 million three-day opening for Miley Cyrus' 2008 3-D concert movie, "Best of Both Worlds." It should also trail behind concert films from the late Michael Jackson and 2011's "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
However that $22 million (ish) should be enough to swipe the #1 spot, unless two-time champion "Lee Daniels' The Butler" edges out Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis and Harry. The historical drama debuted at #1 and held onto the top spot during its second weekend, fending off the likes of horror flick "You're Next" and franchise wannabe "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones."
If "The Butler" had the $15.1 million four-day weekend projected by BoxOfficeMojo.com and the Los Angeles Times, it should be smooth sailing for ...
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