OPENINGS: Jordan Peele’s NOPE (Universal) premiered on the lower end of expectations at $44M. That’s a significant number for a project that isn’t based on preexisting IP, but down 38% from Peele’s US, and Nope reportedly cost about $40-50M more than US to produce. Add the fact that Peele’s films haven’t performed particularly well overseas, contributing around 31% of the global total for both Get Out and US (Nope won’t begin international distribution until next month), and it isn’t clear how much past breakeven Nope can expect to find.
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (A24) expanded to barely-wide release at 590 theaters, and its $850K weekend total gave it a per-theater average of $1400, suggesting that it may be nearing the limits of its accessible audience.
HOLDOVERS: THOR: LOVE & THUNDER (Marvel/Disney) fell 53% to $22.1M in its 3rd weekend, on its way to around $335M in the US, which would be up 7% from Ragnarok, but considerably lower than the $411M earned by Doctor Strange 2. Overseas, Love & Thunder has $322M after a $31.8M weekend in 48 territories, and won’t come close to Ragnarok‘s $538.9M (which included $112.2M from China, where Love & Thunder isn’t scheduled to open).
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (Illumination/Universal) dipped 34% to $17.7M in its 4th weekend, and may reach $350M in the US, which would be slightly above the $336M earned by the original Minions. It has $342.4M overseas after a $42.1M weekend in 79 markets, and has no chance of coming near the $823.4M international total of its predecessor (and China was only $68.5M of that number).
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (Columbia/Sony) had a solid hold, down 40% to $10.3M from last week’s opening. It may top $60M in the US, although its international appeal is unclear with $4.1M in early release.
The weekly “TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Paramount) is a phenomenon” update has it well on its way to surpassing Titanic‘s $659.4M to become the 7th highest-grossing movie in US history. In its 9th weekend, it slipped just 19% to $10M. Overseas, it has $647.1M after a $16.4M weekend in 65 territories.
ELVIS (Warners) held very well in its 5th weekend, down 21% to $6.3M and on track for $140M in the US. The very American subject matter is less appealing overseas, where the film has $91.8M after a $6.7M weekend in 73 markets.
PAWS OF FURY: THE LEGEND OF HANK (Paramount) dropped 39% to $3.9M from last week’s opening, and may reach $25M in the US. It’s only had a token international release thus far.
THE BLACK PHONE (Blumhouse/Universal, also on VOD) lost 36% to $3.5M, and might get as high as $90M in the US, an excellent result for low-budget horror. It also has $52.5M overseas.
JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION (Universal, also on VOD) is nearing the end of its run, down 43% to $3M for a likely final US total around $375M, down about 10% from Fallen Kingdom. Internationally, it has $555.1M after a $7M weekend in 85 territories, and should wind up down a heavier 35% from Fallen Kingdom‘s overseas total.
MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (Focus/Universal) was down 31% to $1.4M, on its way to $10M in the US. It hasn’t yet opened overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: FIRE OF LOVE (Neon) expanded to 99 theaters with a $1300 weekend per-theater average. HALLELUJAH (Sony Classics) widened to 64 with a $1K average. MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I (Greenwich) opened at 57 with a $600 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: The literal dog days of summer arrive for Hollywood arrive with LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS (DC/Warners). Other arrivals include VENGEANCE (Focus/Universal) and A LOVE SONG (Bleecker Street).
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