OPENINGS: HAPPY DEATH DAY (Blumhouse/Universal) opened so well at $26.5M that inevitably, despite the fact that it appears to tell a completely closed-end story, talk of a franchise has started. You can’t blame them: Death Day isn’t quite at the blockbuster level of Blumhouse’s Split ($40M) or Get Out ($33.4M), but it’s starting better than The Visit ($25.4M), and that ended up at $65.2M in the US, and $98.5M worldwide, making this another big win on a low (reportedly $5M) production budget. In early international release (11 markets), it earned $5M.
THE FOREIGNER (Sparkle Roll/Wanda/H Brothers/STX) was soft at $12.8M, although its older audience and surprisingly plot-heavy storyline might give it some traction over the next couple of weeks. It’s at $88.4M overseas, of which $66.8M is from China.
MARSHALL (Open Road), which was financed with Chinese funding, arrived with a mild $3M at an awkward 821 theatres. It will also be aiming at older audiences, although it seems unlikely to make an awards run despite its great-man hero.
PROFESSOR MARSTON & THE WONDER WOMEN (Annapurna) had no superpowers at all with $700K at 1229 theatres, an awful $600 per-theatre average for the weekend. (And that was with a 19% Saturday bump.) After Detroit, Brad’s Status and now this, Annapurna may want to reconsider whether it’s better off as a financier and creative producer than as a distribution entity.
A pair of upcoming US releases began their runs overseas. THE SNOWMAN (Universal) took in $9M in 27 territories, and GEOSTORM (Warners) was at $9.1M after opening in a few Asian markets (not including China or Japan).
HOLDOVERS: BLADE RUNNER 2049 (Alcon/Sony/Warners) continued to disappoint, down 54% to $15.1M in the US, and unlikely to get past $90M. Although China and Japan are still to come, the international results aren’t anything to celebrate either, with $98M after a $23.4M weekend in 64 markets. With $300M in production/marketing costs, it will need to be a blockbuster in its remaining territories just to keep losses to a minimum.
IT (RatPac/New Line/Warners) withstood the arrival of Happy Death Day, down 39% in its 6th weekend to $6.1M, and likely to exceed $325M in the US. It’s a monster overseas, too, with $315.7M so far (and that’s without a run in China).
THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US (20th) had an OK hold, down 47% to $5.1M, and will likely run out of road around $30M in the US.
AMERICAN MADE (Cross Creek/Universal) held well, down 36% in its 3rd weekend, but that still meant $5.4M for the weekend, and a US total that won’t get much beyond $50M. it’s at $71.9M overseas, which won’t be enough to earn back its costs.
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (MARV/20th) has stabilized with a 39% Weekend 4 drop to $5.3M, and may stretch to $100M in the US, still a blah result for an expensive franchise. Overseas, it’s at $197.1M after a $15.6M weekend in most of the world, with China (a huge $74.7M market for Secret Service) opening next week.
THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (Warners Animation) slowed by 39% to $4.3M as it heads to $60M in the US (and has $45.4M overseas). MY LITTLE PONY (Lionsgate) fell 55% in Weekend 2 to $4M and might reach $25M in the US; it also has $10.6M overseas.
VICTORIA & ABDUL (Focus/Universal) added some theatres for a total of 900, and maintained a fair $3500 per-theatre average, and as other awards contenders are dropping away, it will hope to continue a steady run through the season.
LIMITED RELEASE: Neither of the high-profile openings of the weekend had an impressive start, as GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (Fox Searchlight) averaged $6200 at 9, and BREATHE (Bleecker Street) averaged $6600 at 4. The documentary HUMAN FLOW (Magnolia) fared better with a $16K average at 3. THE FLORIDA PROJECT (A24) expanded well to 33 theatres with a $12K average. LOVING VINCENT (Good Deed) widened to 55 with a $5800 average. MARK FELT (Sony Classics) managed a $1400 average at 89. FACES PLACES (Cohen) averaged $1800 at 25.
NEXT WEEKEND: Aside from Geostorm and The Snowman, openings include firefighting saga ONLY THE BRAVE (Columbia/Sony), the inspirational SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME (Pure Flix), and Tyler Perry’s BOO! 2: A MADEA HALLOWEEN (Lionsgate). THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (A24) and WONDERSTRUCK (Amazon/Roadside) lead the awards contenders.
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