'Contagion' goes viral

Warner Bros.' 'Contagion' nabbed $22.4 million last weekend.The last weekend's domestic B.O. race will be a mixed bag of fine and -- let's be genuine -- abysmal performances from wide releases. Beginning while using good, Warner Bros.' "Contagion" acquired $22.4 million, which was in line with last year's hearty publish-Labor Day photos "The CityInch ($23.8 million) and "The Social MediaInch ($22.4 million). Even Lionsgate's "Warrior," getting a $5.2 million opening, has possible ways to grow, due to the film's positive critical and audience reactions. Now for the bad. Some wide releases -Body studio pic, one independent -- flatlined throughout opening weekend: Sony's "Bucky Larson: Born to become Star" was one of the least expensive-grossing debuts in recent memory for just about any studio wide release, with only $1.4 million, while indie distrib Bubble Factory needed an abnormally aggressive wide-release approach having its monster movie "Creature," which continued 1,507 locations for just about any paltry $327,000 -- the worst wide release ever. It is not uncommon for review-challenged films striking theaters throughout late August or early fall that period features a status to become a drop zone as students go back to school. But adult-skewing counterprogrammers (i.e. "Contagion") could also find success throughout the timeframe, and people trying to find early honours buzz can beat the hurry of fourth-quarter product. "We grown the seed a couple of days ago,Inch states Lionsgate distribution topper David Spitz, "which we simply hope that audiences still respond." Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com