Box Office Report: 'Transformers' Now on Track to Earn $180 Million Domestically Through July 4th

Paramount’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon may be trailing the last film in the franchise, but it continued to rock the July 4th box office on Friday, grossing roughly $32.9 million and upping its domestic cume to $97.5 million.

Michael Bay’s threequel is now on track to gross $180 million in its seven-day domestic debut (that includes special 3D sneaks on Tuesday night), and possibly $350 million worldwide.

The same glow isn’t extending to the Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts starrer Larry Crowne, which grossed $4 million on Friday to come in No. 4 in its first day of play at the domestic box office, behind Dark of the Moon, and holdovers Cars 2 and Bad Teacher.

REVIEW: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

A full 71% of the audience for Larry Crowne was over the age of 50, and 93% over the age of 25. The film, directed by Hanks and receiving a B CinemaScore, is one of the oldest-skewing wide releases box office observers can remember, even for a movie targeting adults.

Universal is distributing Larry Crowne on behalf of Hanks’ Playtone and Vendome Pictures, which fully financed the $30 million drama-comedy.

Larry Crowne is on track to gross $15.4 million for the four-day holiday weekend.

REVIEW: Larry Crowne

The third new film debuting nationwide over the holiday is 20th Century Fox’s tween girl pic Monte Carlo, which opened to $3.1 million on Friday to place No. 5. 

The niche pic, toplining Selena Gomez, received an A- CinemaScore, with 61% of those buying tickets under the age of 25. Of the audience, 82% were females. It’s expected to gross $10 million to $11 million for the four-day weekend.

REVIEW: 'Monte Carlo'

Dark of the Moon got a jump on the long holiday weekend by opening Tuesday night.

Sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed $200.1 million in its six-day debut, while the first Transformers earned $155.4 million in its first six days (that film also debuted over the July 4th holiday).

Dark of the Moon is earning the majority of its grosses, or 60%, from 3D theaters, bucking the recent downturn in 3D attendance in North America.

If Dark of the Moon is pacing behind Revenge of the Fallen domestically, it’s making up for it overseas, where it’s tally through Thursday was $66 million.

Back at the domestic box office, Disney’s Cars 2 placed No. 2 on Friday, grossing $7.9 million for a cume of $98.8 million in its first eight days.

Sony’s raunchy Cameron Diaz comedy placed No. 3, grossing $4.3 million for a cume of $49.9 million in its first eight days.