MORNING GLORY

Paramount financed the $40 million Morning Glory and distributed in the US and Paramount split most of the overseas territories with UIP (which is a joint distribution arm between Paramount and Universal).  Paramount opened Morning Glory on Wednesday, hoping word of mouth would boost weekend ticket sales after poor tracking, but it tanked with $1,067,685 on its first day.  It grossed just $9,203,266 at the US box office opening weekend — when Megamind and Unstoppable led the weekend.  The pic declined 43.5% in its second frame to $5,200,233 and saw a modest 24.8% drop over the Thanksgiving frame with $3,910,058, but it fizzled out of theaters with just $31,011,732.  Paramount would see back about $17 million after theaters take their percentage of the ticket price — leaving part of the P&A spend in the red and leaving the budget at a loss.  Overseas, Morning Glory pulled in weak numbers in every market, grossing just $29 million.  Australia posted the highest numbers with a modest $5.8 million for Paramount.