Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
December 1. 2012 - Brad Pitt's Killing Them Softly is getting killed harshly at the box office.
The crime drama did a disappointing $2.4 million on Friday, according to studio estimates, which could put it well below its $13 million weekend projection when figures come in Sunday.
While critics remain entranced by Pitt - the movie scored a thumbs-up from 78% of reviewers, says amalgam site Rottentomatoes.com - fans turned on the star in this film. Just 65% of audiences liked the movie, Rottentomatoes.com says, and it scored a rare F from audience pollsters CinemaScore.
Both are troubling news for the film's long-term prospects.
With the weak start out of the gate, theaters were ruled by hold-overs. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 was No. 1 with $5.6 million, followed by the Bond installment Skyfall with $4.8 million and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln with $4 million.