The good news for co-producers Disney and Summit Entertainment: their tween-targeted sequel "Step Up 3-D" debuted to the highest 3D-to-2D ratio in the modern era, with 84 percent of its opening box office coming from primo 3D ticket sales.
This reverses a downward trend in which 3D-to-2D gross had been steadily declining over the course of the year, bottoming out at around 45 percent for Universal animated hit "Despicable Me" last month.
The higher 3D uptake was influenced, at least to some degree, by 3D screen count: "Step Up 3-D" enjoyed "Avatar"-level of 3D-to-2D exhibition, with 1,826 out of 2,435 (75 percent) of the U.S. and Canadian theaters it was in able to show the film in the format.
Out of the 3,476 North American theaters "Despicable Me" opened in, only 1,551 were 3D-equipped.
Not so great is that the $30 million Disney-distributed sequel debuted to only $15.8 million total, which was less than the $18.9 million start for 2008's part-two "Step Up" franchise installment, despite the 3D up-charges.
