The big box office news this weekend is happening far from these shores, as AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (Disney) opens in slightly over half the world in advance of its US launch next Thursday night. It had already racked up $44.5M just from Wednesday/Thursday results in some of those territories. Here, a soft pre-Avengers weekend allowed FURIOUS 7 (Universal) one last lap in 1st place, with a $4.9M Friday according to preliminary numbers at Deadline that should give it a $17M weekend. That would put it at $319M by Sunday, on track for a $350M+ US total.
Furious‘ only competition this weekend was THE AGE OF ADALINE (Lionsgate), which was close behind on Friday with $4.8M, but which with its frontloaded female-driven audience is expected to subside to $12M for the weekend, similar to the $13M start for The Longest Ride after its $5.5M opening day. Adaline has a modest $30M production budget and limited marketing costs, but without much evident overseas appeal, it may struggle to break even.
The other title expected to top $10M for the weekend is PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 (MGM/Sony/Columbia), down slightly over 50% from last Friday to $3.6M, and likely to reach $13M for the weekend, which would give it a $41M total, down about 37% from the first Blart at this point of its release.
With no other family movies around, HOME (DreamWorks Animation/20th) continues to hold well, down 26% from last Friday to $1.8M, with a $7.5M weekend ahead that puts it on track for $170M in the US, a solid but not outstanding result, especially considering its moderate strength overseas
UNFRIENDED (Blumhouse/Universal), like most low-budget horror, fell a sharp 70% from its opening Friday to $2M, on its way to a $6M weekend that will put it near $25M by Sunday, a shade ahead of Blumhouse’s recent The Lazarus Effect. Nature documentary MONKEY KINGDOM (DisneyNature) held better, down 32% from last Friday to $1M, which compared to last year’s Bears was much better in percentage (down 48%) if not dollars ($1.2M). It could bring in $3.5M for the weekend.
Two mid-size releases had OK results. EX MACHINA (A24) expanded to 1255 theatres after 2 weeks of limited release and should have a $4.5M weekend. It will look for word of mouth that can allow it to expand wider. LITTLE BOY (Open Road) pursued the religious audience at 1045 theatres and may reach a bit over $3M for the weekend, not much of a groundswell.
WOMAN IN GOLD (Weinstein) held well with a 33% drop from last Friday to $900K, on its way to a $3M weekend. It could hit $30M in the US, the same neighborhood as the similarly-aimed The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
TRUE STORY (Fox Searchlight) fell by over 50% on its 2d Friday to $330K, heading for a $1M weekend at 856 theatres, showing little potential.
In limited release, Russell Crowe’s directing debut THE WATER DIVINER (Warners) had a fair $400K opening dy at 320 theatres and may reach $1M for the weekend. Its numbers are boosted a bit by having grabbed 70 IMAX screens, with their premium ticket prices, for one week only, before that chain is invaded by Avengers next week.
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