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August 12, 2015
 

Weekend Box Office Predictions 8.14-16.2015

Weekend #33 of 2015 is looking like $124 million for the top 12 films this weekend, very close to the norm for this weekend (see comparisons below).

Straight Outta Compton from Universal should open with a $45.5 million three-day weekend. Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are widely supportive: 82% positive overall so far. Straight Outta Conpton is on track for around $140 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring in $70 million, giving it a worldwide box office target of $210 million.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. from Warner Brothers should open with a $18.0 million three-day weekend.  Critics are fairly supportive: 67% positive reviews so far. Man from U.N.C.L.E. is on track for around $57 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring in $85 million, giving it a worldwide box office target of $142 million.

NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND

August 14-16, 2015

Critics Positive ($ millions)
Opening Weekend Forecast Domestic Total Projection
Straight Outta Compton Uni R 82% 45.5 140
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. WB PG13 67% 18.0 57
Note: Although critic reviews are not related to the size of the opening weekend, they are significantly correlated with the size of the declines in the opening weeks of a movie. The Domestic Total is a very early ShowBuzzDaily projection of the total North American gross, based on the Weekend Forecasts.


Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation remains the sole significant holder at the box office.

RETURNING FILMS

August 14-16, 2015

Change vs Last Weekend ($ millions)
Weekend Forecast Fri-Sun Showbuzz Domestic Final Proj.
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Par -45% 15.7 168
Fantastic Four Fox -68% 8.2 61
The Gift STX -46% 6.4 39
Vacation WB -42% 5.2 58
Ant-Man Dis -43% 4.5 172
Minions Uni -41% 4.4 329
Trainwreck Uni -28% 4.4 111
Ricki and the Flash Sony -35% 4.3 23

 

Box Office Volume

For the past four years, the top 12 films this weekend have averaged $121 million total (Friday-Sunday), ranking 27th of 52 weeks. Last year, this weekend’s total was $129 million (while 2013 was $121 million, 2012 was $127 million and 2011 was $106 million). This Friday-Sunday is looking like a very typical $124 million, up a small +2% from the multi-year average for the comparable weekend and down -4% from the same weekend last year.

This Weekend Last Two Years ($ millions)

8.15.2014

The Expendables 3 LG/Sum PG13 Sylvester Stallone Jason Stratham
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $27 Actual: $16
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $40 Actual: $39
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $167

Let’s Be Cops Fox R Jake Johnson Damon Wayans Jr
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $19 Actual: $18
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $69 Actual: $82
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $55

The Giver Weins PG13 Jeff Bridges Meryl Streep
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $15 Actual: $12
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $38 Actual: $45
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $22

8.16.2013

Lee Daniels’ The Butler Weins PG13 Forest Whitaker Oprah Winfrey
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $17 Actual: $25
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $98 Actual: $117
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $60

Kick-Ass 2 Uni R Aaron Johnson Chloe Moretz
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $23 Actual: $13
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $30 Actual: $29
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $32

Jobs Open Road PG13 Ashton Kutcher Dermot Mulroney
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $9 Actual: $7
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $16 Actual: $16
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $20

Paranoia Rel PG13 Liam Hemsworth Gary Oldman
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $12 Actual: $4
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $4 Actual: $7
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $6

Check back throughout the weekend for box office updates as the actual numbers come in.

 



About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.