OPENINGS: The opening day of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (Sony) was actually a touch behind the opening day of the first Amazing ($35.2M to $35.9M). However the earlier movie had a different trajectory, opening on the Tuesday of July 4th week and with only $850K in Monday midnight screenings (Amazing 2, in comparison, started with $8.7M on Thursday night). Sony is making no secret of the fact that the number it’s gunning for is the recent $95M opening weekend for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and although Captain 2 had a bigger Friday ($36.9M), tomorrow Sony will claim that win–even if only temporarily, until final numbers are released on Monday–if at all possible. Amazing 2 has also made about $155M overseas through Thursday, and on Sunday it opens in China. It should be noted that Amazing 2 is reportedly carrying a gigantic $450M in total production/marketing costs (incredibly, the worldwide marketing alone approaches $200M), so merely holding even with the $752.2M global total for the first Amazing would be considered a disappointment.
HOLDOVERS: THE OTHER WOMAN (20th) held onto its dignity as counterprogramming, falling 48% from last Friday to $4.8M. It should have a $15M weekend and be on its way to $75M in the US, a fine result if it can show some appeal internationally. HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (TriStar/Sony) is for fans of a different superhero, and they continued to buy tickets, providing a Friday that dropped just 41% to $2.4M, for what should be a $8M weekend and a US total of $80M+. Similarly, GOD’S NOT DEAD (Freestyle), although closer to the end of its run, slipped just 38% to $500K, as it heads to $60M in the US. Not surprisingly, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (Disney/Marvel) was harder-hit with the arrival of Amazing 2, dropping 53% to $2.1M and a likely $7.5M weekend. Nevertheless, it remains on track for $250M in the US. RIO 2 (20th/Blue Sky) fell 48% to $1.7M and a probable $7M weekend, on its way to $120M in the US.
Last weekend’s openings collapsed, as BRICK MANSIONS (Relativity) fell 69% to $1.1 M and may not get beyond $20M in the US, and THE QUIET ONES (Lionsgate) slumped 56% to $650K and may not crack $10M.
The best hold in the Top 10 went to THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Fox Searchlight), down just 28% from last Friday to $475K, and now squarely on target to become Wes Anderson’s biggest US hit (it’s already his biggest overseas) in the next week or so.
LIMITED RELEASE: BELLE (Fox Searchlight) had an OK start, heading for a $25K weekend average in 4 NY/LA theatres. The well-reviewed IDA (Music Box), with much less marketing, is holding its own with a likely $15K weekend average at 3.
NEXT WEEKEND: The other studios are basically giving next weekend as well to Amazing 2, with the only major opening aimed as counterprogramming: the R-rated Seth Rogen/Zac Efron comedy NEIGHBORS (Universal). LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY’S RETURN (Clarius) will provide a different, and lower-level, kind of counterprogramming, and the comedy MOMS’ NIGHT OUT (TriStar/Sony) is having a mid-level release at 1000 theatres. It’ll be a busy weekend for indies, though, as Jon Favreau’s CHEF (Open Road), THE DOUBLE (Magnolia), and PALO ALTO (Tribeca/IFC) all make their appearances.
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