OPENINGS: TRANSFORMERS ONE (Hasbro/Paramount) underdelivered vs projections by about 20%, and its dim $25M start didn’t even give it the weekend’s #1 ranking at the box office. Paramount was taking a calculated risk by rebooting the franchise via PG-rated animation, and it doesn’t seem to have worked out. It faces direct competition next weekend from The Wild Robot, which will likely hold back any word-of-mouth momentum. Transformers One was also quiet overseas, where it brought in $14M in 50 territories. The studio can console itself with the likelihood that the relatively low budget (around $150M with worldwide marketing) will limit its exposure.
NEVER LET GO (Lionsgate) tanked with $4.5M and may not pass $15M in the US. It hasn’t opened overseas.
THE SUBSTANCE (MUBI) managed $3.1M, which isn’t good, but it faced a considerable number of challenges, including a studio launching its first wide release, a 141-minute runtime, limited marketing, and a polarizing mix of graphic horror and satire. That $3.1M start was slightly above Late Night With the Devil‘s $2.8M, and that reached $10M in theaters before it was done. The Substance is US-only for now.
JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL (Trafalgar) earned $1.4M from only 769 theaters ($2.6M since its Wednesday opening). It also has $5.6M overseas.
HOLDOVERS: With less competition than expected from Transformers One, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Warners) held onto the top slot, down 49% to $26M in its 3rd weekend. It could reach $300M in the US, although like this summer’s Twisters, it’s proving to be much weaker internationally, with $103M after a $17.2M weekend in 76 markets. To be sure, Warners will be very happy with $400M+ worldwide on a film that cost around $150M including marketing.
SPEAK NO EVIL (Blumhouse/Universal) dropped 48% to $5.9M, a good hold for the horror genre. It might reach $35M+ in the US. Overseas, it has $20.9M after a $7.2M weekend in 77 territories.
After 9 weeks, DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE (Marvel/Disney) had the smallest drop in the Top 10, down a mere 25% to $3.9M and on its way to $640M in the US, where it’s already the #5 MCU title. The international total is $689.4M
AM I RACIST? (SDG) continued to find its target audience, down 44% to $2.5M, and likely to reach $15M in the US. It hasn’t ventured overseas.
REAGAN (ShowbizDirect) lost 43% to $1.7M in its 4th weekend, on track for $30M in the US. It’s barely been distributed internationally thus far.
ALIEN: ROMULUS (20th/Disney) was down 45% to $1.3M in its 6th weekend, and may not quite reach $110M in the US. It’s much bigger overseas with $237.9M, $104.2M of that from China.
THE FORGE (Affirm/Sony) dipped 39% to $1.3M in its 5th weekend, and may have enough gas to hit $30M in the US. It has $1.2M in limited international release.
THE KILLER’S GAME (Lionsgate) fell 63% to $1M and probably won’t reach $10M in the US. It’s had a very limited overseas release thus far.
IT ENDS WITH US (Columbia/Sony) is at the tail end of its very profitable run, down 51% to $1M in its 7th weekend and edging toward a $150M US total. It has a remarkable $188M overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: A DIFFERENT MAN (A24) opened with a mild $14K weekend per-theater average at 4. MY OLD ASS (MGM/Amazon) expanded to 33 with a $9K average. IN THE SUMMERS (Music Box) averaged $5K at 2.
NEXT WEEKEND: Francis Ford Coppola’s MEGALOPOLIS (American Zoetrope/Lionsgate) finally reaches theaters, and as noted THE WILD ROBOT (DreamWorks Animation/Universal) starts its release. Awards hopeful SATURDAY NIGHT (Columbia/Sony) launches with a limited run before going wide.
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