The "Watchmen" pot never boiled.
Warner Bros.' much-watched release of the epic-length actioner "Watchmen" wound up topping the domestic boxoffice with a weekend haul estimated at $55.7 million for an opening in the far lower end of pre-release projections.
Directed by Zack Snyder, there had been much speculation over whether "Watchmen" would bow higher than the helmer's ancient Greece actioner "300," which debuted with $70.9 million in March 2007. "Watchmen" had a field free from other wide openers following a high-profile courtroom battle between Warners and Fox for the right to release the cult comic-book adaptation.
Fox will share in up to 8.5% of boxoffice under terms of a court-supervised settlement. Co-financier Paramount holds foreign rights on the pic.
(Original post www.hollywoodreporter.com)
