Universal will be relying on “The Grinch” for good box office news this Christmas, as the studio released a second straight bomb in as many weeks with DreamWorks’ “Welcome to Marwen.”
Made on a reported $40 million budget, “Marwen” opened to just $2.4 million from 1,911 screens this weekend, well below tracker projections of a $7-10 million opening. It’s tied with Paramount’s “Action Point” for the worst wide opening from a major studio this year, and it is the worst career wide opening for lead star Steve Carell and director Robert Zemeckis.
The movie is based on the true story of Mark Hogancamp, who was severely beaten by white supremacists and suffered brain damage and amnesia.