Transformers has now crept above Pirate of the Caribbean: At World’s End in domestic take. It’s only up by about half a million bucks, but presumably will inch up a few more million before it leaves theaters entirely. That makes it the third biggest domestic movie of the year, although enough behind Shrek 3 that it won’t surplant that. Spider-Man 3 was the biggest domestic film, but came in behind Pirates 3 and the fifth Harry Potter movie (although just barely) when foreign take is factored in.
Pirates made a lot more overseas ($650 million!) than Transformers ($367m). But then, Transformers cost half to make ($150m as opposed to $300m). I imagine both studios are happy enough with their respective results.
I saw Transformers when I was down in Knoxville (Joe Robin, working in a theater, set up a private screening for me. That was pretty frickin’ cool). To my surprise, I enjoyed it, the first time I’ve liked a Michael Bay movie. I never watched the cartoon, so I can’t say if that was a plus or a minus.
