Box office update: 'Gravity' blasts off with $17.5 million Friday

Warner Bros.’ $80 million thriller Gravity demonstrated some major pull on its opening day at the box office. The film, which stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as stranded astronauts, scored a tremendous $17.5 million on its first day, which puts the film on pace for a weekend in the $50 million range.

Gravity will almost certainly become the best opening weekend ever for both of its stars, surprassing Bullock’s $39 million start for The Heat earlier this year and Clooney’s $42.9 million debut for Batman & Robin in 1997. It looks like Warner Bros.’ bold, stylish ad campaign has paid off.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 held up alright in second place, dipping 49 percent from its first Friday. The former box office champion grossed $4.7 million, which puts it on pace for a $20 million sophomore frame and a $59 million total by Sunday night.

Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake’s crime drama Runner Runner didn’t inspire many crowds to run to the theater. Fox’s $30 million film grossed an awful $2.8 million from 3,026 theaters, yielding a sad $909 location average. The poorly reviewed title will finish the weekend with about $7.5 million.

Prisoners and Don Jon rounded out the Top 5, grossing $1.7 million and $1.4 million respectively. Prisoners may add another $5.5 million to it’s cume, while Don Jon may have to settle for an underwhelming $4.2 million.

1. Gravity – $17.5 million

2. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 – $4.7 million

3. Runner Runner – $2.8 million

4. Prisoners – $1.7 million

5. Don Jon – $1.4 million

Check back tomorrow for the full box office report.