‘Ted’ acquires top spot in US box office

MARIA SAEED

 

 

KARACHI: While battling out with “Channing Tatum”, surprisingly, the stuffed animal proved the victor! This weekend at the box office the talking teddy comedy “Ted” led with a $54.4 million debut while the male-stripper tale “Magic Mike” opened at No. 2 with $39.1 million.

 

"Ted" also shattered the opening record for an original R-rated comedy previously held by "The Hangover." It wasn't a gargantuan figure like 2012 record-breakers "The Avengers" or "The Hunger Games," but the figures were big enough to fend off competition from "Magic Mike." The male-stripper tale itself over-performed as well, to the tune of $39.2 million.

 

Like "The Hangover" and its sequel, "Ted" is a bully of a comedy but a bully with just enough calculated heart to make it a hit. This is MacFarlane's feature debut as a director, and he co-wrote the script as well as producing and providing the voice of Ted. Ted sounds so much like Peter Griffin in MacFarlane's long-running Fox animated series "Family Guy".

 

Ted was financed and packaged by Media Rights Capital, the LA-based company with an approximate budget of $50 million. 

 

According to Universal's President of Domestic Distribution, Nikki Rocco, the successful advertising campaign is the reason behind Ted’s success. "Ted's" advertising campaign kick-off in April, when MacFarlane appeared in a 90-second TV spot during an episode of "Family Guy", pointed audiences to Ted's extra-buzzy red-band trailer online. 

 

Clearly, much of the loyal "Family Guy" audience turned out for the opening weekend.