OPENINGS: KUNG FU PANDA 4 (DreamWorks Animation/Universal), the first new all-ages animated release since the holiday season, arrived at the high end of projections with $58.3M, impressively above the $41.3M start for 2016’s Panda 3. (And at a reported production budget 40% lower than its predecessor.) It faces no direct competition for months, and with the same mulitple as Panda 3 it would exceed $200M in the US. Internationally, Panda 4 launched in 41 mostly smaller markets with $22.2M.
In the low-budget horror realm, IMAGINARY (Blumhouse/Lionsgate) was quiet with $10M, below the $11.8M for January’s Night Swim, and with only one clear week ahead before Immaculate comes for its audience. It hasn’t yet opened overseas.
The Christian biopic CABRINI (Angel) hailed from the same director and studio as the sleeper smash Sound of Freedom, but didn’t tempt its target audience with $7.6M. No international openings.
HOLDOVERS: DUNE: PART TWO (Legendary/Warners) continued in near-lockstep with the US box office track of Oppenheimer, down 44% to $46M, where Christopher Nolan’s likely Oscar winner dipped 43% to $46.7M in its 2nd weekend. That, of course, is a great neighborhood to be in. Internationally, Dune 2 is at $210.5M after an $81M weekend in 72 markets.
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE (Paramount) dropped 45% to $4.1M in its 4th weekend, and may be able to pass $100M in the US. The overseas total is $71.2M after a $4.9M weekend in 52 territories.
ORDINARY ANGELS (Lionsgate) lost 46% to $2M in its 3rd weekend, on its way to $20M in the US. It hasn’t opened overseas.
MADAME WEB (Columbia/Marvel/Sony) plunged 65% to $1.1M in its 4th weekend, and won’t reach $50M in the US. Things are almost equally awful overseas, where it has $54M after a $1.8M weekend in 64 markets.
MIGRATION (Illumination/Universal), finally facing family animation competition and down a chunk of its theaters, fell 56% to $1.1M in its 12th weekend, but may still reach $130M in the US. Internationally, it has $156.7M after a $2.4M weekend in 79 territories.
LIMITED RELEASE: The Chinese film YOLO (Sony), after having earned an astounding $482M at home, debuted in the US with a $4200 weekend per-theater average in 200 theaters. Even with performances pumped up by celebrity appearances, LOVE LIES BLEEDING (A24) averaged an OK $33.5K at 5 in NY/LA. PROBLEMISTA (A24) expanded to 20 theaters with a $10.3K average. ACCIDENTAL TEXAN (Roadside) averaged $1100 at 134. IO CAPITANO (Cohen Media) widened to 70 with an $800 average. SHAYDA (Sony Classics) averaged $1300 at 7.
NEXT WEEKEND: Love Lies Bleeding expands to wide release, and ARTHUR THE KING (Lionsgate) and ONE LIFE (Bleecker Street) arrive. Limited releases include THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES (Focus/Universal).
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