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Tomorrowland has dissapointing debut

The future doesn’t look so bright for Tomorrowland.

Disney’s expensive fantasy adventure essentially had the USA’s Memorial Day weekend to itself, and still only pulled in a modest $US41.7 million ($A53.31 million) in its first four days in theatres, according to Rentrak estimates on Monday.

It’s a disappointing debut for a film that cost a reported $US180 million to produce. Disney put their full weight behind the Brad Bird-directed film with an ambitious George Clooney-led promotional campaign.

“It’s not ever ideal to be below your estimate before the weekend starts, but it feels like it’s too early to judge the run,“ said Disney’s Distribution EVP Dave Hollis.

Rentrak’s Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian said that the mystery behind Tomorrowland’s plot might have hurt the film.

“When audiences are spending their hard earned cash on a blockbuster or tent-pole movie, they kind of want to know what they’re getting going in, for better or worse,” he said.

Last weekend’s well-received holdovers Pitch Perfect 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road helped prop up the holiday weekend totals. Both films experienced modest drops and earned $38.5 million and $32.1 million respectively.

Avengers: Age of Ultron placed fourth with $US27.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Poltergeist remake debuted in fifth place, with an estimated $US26.5 million.

Overall, though, there wasn’t much to celebrate over the American holiday weekend. Memorial Day weekends are usually reserved for high-earning franchise fare.

The past two years saw the over $US100 million debuts of X-Men: Days of Future Past and Fast & Furious 6. When box office totals are finalised on Tuesday, this could prove to be one of the worst performing in recent years.

“The industry went into this weekend knowing we weren’t going to break any records,” said Dergarabedian. “This is more of a case of audiences, somewhat, turning their back on original content when it comes to big blockbusters.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at US and Canadian theatres, according to Rentrak.

1. Tomorrowland, $US41.7 million.

2. Pitch Perfect 2, $US38.5 million.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road, $US32.1 million.

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron, $US27.8 million.

5. Poltergeist, $US26.5 million.

6. Hot Pursuit, $US4.6 million.

7. Far From the Madding Crowd, $US3 million.

8. Furious 7, $US2.8 million.

9. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, $US2.5 million.

10. Home, $US2.4 million.