So much for projections that “Ted” and “Magic Mike” would only deliver “sleeper” caliber totals at the box office this weekend.
After topping expectations for their midnight screenings, both films ended up blowing Friday forecasts out of the water. “Ted” topped the box office with a whopping $20.2 million on Friday, and “Magic Mike” was very close behind with $19.4 million.
Most analysts were not giving either film a chance of going higher than $25 million for the entire weekend, so the two represent a rare case of overperformance for the summer 2012 box office. Both films should cross $45 million by the end of the weekend.
“Brave,” which many figured would take the crown for a second week, dipped to third with $10.3 million, besting newcomer “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection,” which also earned $10.3 million after rounding. “Madagascar 3” claimed fifth with $3.6 million.
“People Like Us,” meanwhile, was only good for $1.4 million in its seventh place debut.
