The film Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp as Scrooge, earned $6.7 million on Friday, including previews. The picture opened in 3,535 theaters across North America and is distributed by Paramount. Projections put the weekend opening at between $18 and $20 million, and the studio hopes to reach the $20 million mark. Final weekend figures have not yet been tallied, so the final results will only be known on Sunday.
The film is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic work A Christmas Carol. It is rated PG-13, which sets it apart from many previous adaptations aimed at a children's audience. The new version also includes a character who is rarely kept in interpretations of this story. The picture is being described as Depp's return to the big screen, so the box office results carry special significance for the actor.
According to reports, analysts on the competitors' side expect the opening to be lower than Paramount is forecasting. The studio is counting on family audiences, who may come to screenings on Saturday. At the same time, fans of genre cinema reportedly did not turn out en masse for Thursday night screenings, which could have affected the initial numbers. The director associated with genre works is reportedly named Ti West.
Meanwhile, the film How to Rob a Bank is also in release; it earned $2.2 million on Friday and, by estimates, is facing difficulties. Compared with Ebenezer, its initial box office figures are noticeably more modest. Thus, the coming days will show whether the family drama with Depp can secure the lead at the box office and come close to the expected $20 million opening.