OPENINGS: After last week’s Fall Guy stumble, KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (20th/Disney) arrived at the high end of projections with $56.5M. That was roughly on par with the starts for 2011’s Rise ($54.8M) and 2017’s War ($56.3M), although a bit lower than 2014’s Dawn ($72.6M). The franchise has reliably done better overseas than in the US, and it launched with $72.5M in 52 markets. The film carries production/marketing costs in the neighborhood of $250M, and should be on a road to profitability.
The only other wide arrival of the weekend, NOT ANOTHER CHURCH MOVIE (Briarcliff) barely made its presence known with just $360K at 1108 theaters, a wretched $300 weekend per-theater average.
WICKED LITTLE LETTERS (Sony Classics) widened to the lowest end of wide release with 520 theaters and averaged $300.
HOLDOVERS: THE FALL GUY (Universal) was among the films to assume a strong Mother’s Day in its weekend estimate. Even with that bump, it dropped 51% to $13.7M, and may not reach $100M in the US. It’s also missing the mark internationally, where it has $54M after a $9.4M weekend in most major markets other than China and Japan.
CHALLENGERS (MGM/Amazon) eased by 38% to $4.7M in its 3rd weekend, and may be able to get past $50M in the US. It’s quieter overseas with $30.6M after a $4.2M weekend in 63 territories.
TAROT (Screen Gems/Sony) dropped 47% to $3.5M, and might reach $25M in the US. It has $8.2M overseas after a $3M weekend in 35 markets.
In its last weekend before VOD availability, GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE lost 44% to $2.5M, as it continued to inch toward $200M in the US. Internationally, it has $366.9M after a $3.8M weekend in 78 territories.
UNSUNG HERO (Lionsgate) is assuming its target Christian audience will show up in force on Mother’s Day, projecting that its 3rd weekend will be down 25% to $2.3M, with a Sunday higher than Saturday. It hasn’t opened overseas.
KUNG FU PANDA 4 (DreamWorks Animation/Universal, also on VOD) was down a scant 21% to $2M in its 10th weekend, and it has a chance of climbing to $200M in the US. The international total is $338.1M after a $3.4M weekend in 82 markets.
CIVIL WAR (A24) shed 49% to $1.8M in its 5th weekend, and may reach $70M in the US. It’s low overseas, with $42.5M to date.
ABIGAIL (Universal, also on VOD) fell 53% to $1.1M in its 4th weekend, and probably won’t hit $30M in the US. Overseas has been grim, with $12.8M after a $400K weekend in 68 territories.
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (Columbia/Sony) dropped 46% to $1M in its 8th weekend, on its way to $115M in the US (about 15% below Afterlife). The international total is $87M after a $1.1M weekend in 52 markets.
LIMITED RELEASE: I SAW THE TV GLOW (A24) expanded to 21 theaters with an OK $9300 average. POOLMAN (Vertical) opened at 162 and averaged $800. EVIL DOES NOT EXIST (Janus/Sideshow) widened to 34 theaters with a $3K average. WILDCAT (Oscilloscope) averaged $12K after an expansion to 6 theaters. AGGRODR1FT (EDGLRD) averaged $2300 at 20.
NEXT WEEKEND: The tentpole is the original family comedy IF (Paramount), with counterprogramming from BACK TO BLACK (Focus/Universal) and THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 (Lionsgate). Limited releases include BABES (Neon).
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