Adam Sandler’s “That’s My Boy” was more than a mere box office disappointment; it was his worst-performing signature comedy vehicle since 1996.
Excluding films like “Reign Over Me,” “Spanglish,” “Punch Drunk Love” and “8 Crazy Nights,” none of which fall into the usual “Sandler style” of live action comedy, the last Sandler starring vehicle to open worse than “My Boy” was 1996’s “Bulletproof.”
Yes, that means “My Boy” failed to even outpace 2000 flop “Little Nicky.” And though, at just $13 million, its opening weekend total takes Sandler back to the days before “The Wedding Singer” and “The Waterboy” made the actor a surefire box office draw, the film’s tepid fan and critical response suggests it is unlikely to rival mid-1990s box office disappointments like “Happy Gilmore” and “Billy Madison” in long-lasting acclaim.
As disappointing as “That’s My Boy”‘s fifth-place, $13 million debut might be, it was not the only letdown of the weekend. “Rock of Ages,” boasting a deep cast and aggressive hype, similarly flopped, delivering just $15.1 million for a third-place finish. Like “My Boy,” “Ages” finished the weekend with about half of the receipts experts projected it would accumulate this weekend.
Thanks to the incoming disappointments, “Madagascar 3” reigned supreme for a second week, earning $35.5 million to cross the $100 million barrier. Despite a big 60% drop-off, “Prometheus” was still able to claim number two on $20.2 million.
“Snow White and the Huntsman” split “Ages” and “My Boy” with $13.8 million for fourth place.
