Captain Jack is back! Come to rescue us all from Davy Jones’ Locker (a metaphor for this year’s dismal domestic box office or for the impenetrable plots of his last two sequels – you decide!). Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides already had $44.2 million in international swag going into its domestic debut on Friday. On these shores, Pirates 4 grabbed an estimated $35 million from 4,155 locations – 65% of which were 3D equipped. That is just a bit better than the $34.3 million Fast Five saw three weeks ago in its (non-3D) debut. But it’s also well under the $44.7 million At World’s End took in on its first Friday back in 2007. Right now it looks like Pirates 4 will run aground before reaching its predecessor’s $114.7 million weekend gross – though it’s still possible for the Disney film to become the first of 2011 to open above the $100 million mark. Details and analysis tomorrow.
| Title | Friday | Total | |
| 1 | Pirates 4 | $35,000,000 | $35 |
| 2 | Bridesmaids | $6,400,000 | $44.8 |
| 3 | Thor | $4,380,000 | $134.2 |
| 4 | Fast Five | $3,150,000 | $178.6 |
| 5 | Priest | $1,450,000 | $20.4 |