wow it is very big money,Shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. inched lower Monday after its latest production, "Megamind," opened No. 1 in movie theaters over the weekend with $47.7 million in estimated ticket sales, below what some analysts were expecting.
"Megamind," a 3-D animated film featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt and Tina Fey, did better than Dreamworks' 3-D/Imax release of "How to Train Your Dragon," which grossed $43.7 million on its offseason opening weekend.
Even so, some analysts were looking for more. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan had expected $55 million, and noted that the movie opened at more 3-D venues than any other previous DreamWorks release.
Matthew Harrigan, an analyst with Wunderlich Securities, called the opening a "touch light," saying it was more than $10 million short of expectations. He said the movie cost about $140 million and should show "strong legs" even though it will lose Imax screens when the new Harry Potter movie comes out on Nov. 19.
Shares of DreamWorks fell 83 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $34.59 in midday trading. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $26.61 and $44.77.
