‘Percy Jackson’ is a pleasant surprise for Fox

Impressive ‘Percy’ slays ‘Wolfman’ Two weeks out, the fate of the three big movies that opened over Presidents’ Day weekend has changed dramatically.20th Century Fox’s “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” has demonstrated solid staying power and now appears likely, on a worldwide basis, to closely match the final gross of the romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day,” which dominated the box office in its debut.Universal Pictures’ “The Wolfman,” meanwhile, has quickly faded and has gone from a so-so opening to bust. After declining 69% on its second weekend and 58% this weekend, the monster movie remake has brought in only $57.2 million domestically. Its foreign total of $63.3 million is also the lowest of the three pictures.”Percy Jackson” has had the smallest drop for two straight weekends and is now at $71.2 million domestically and has the biggest international gross, $95.4 million.It will likely end up with a little more than $200 million worldwide, close to the final total of “Valentine’s Day,” which has fallen quickly after a huge $56.3 domestic opening and is now at $100.4 million. Overseas it has brought in $87.4 million. Warner Bros.’ ensemble romantic comedy is still the stronger performer, however, since it cost $52 million to make, compared to $95 million for the special effects- laden “Percy Jackson.” -- Ben Fritz