OPENINGS: HUNTER KILLER (Millenium/Summit Premiere/Lionsgate) had a weak $6.7M start, and probably won’t reach $20M in the US, not even enough to pay for the costs of its US release, and a low for a Gerard Butler action movie. Its international campaign has a sluggish $4M so far, with $3.2M this weekend in 16 territories.
MID90S (A24) jumped from a 4-theatre release to 1206, and is claiming an OK $3M weekend. However, that studio estimate incorporates a very optimistic Sunday number, so it may well come down in finals.
JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (Universal) begrudgingly opened in 544 theatres, where it earned $1.6M with a minimum of marketing. The US release is a token run, as the vast majority of the franchise’s fans are overseas, where this installment has taken in $107.7M ($7.1M this weekend in 57 markets), making it quite profitable.
The Christian-themed INDIVISIBLE (Pure Flix) didn’t get beyond the core of its core audience, with $1.6M at 830 theatres.
HOLDOVERS: HALLOWEEN (Blumhouse/Miramax/Universal), with no serious challengers, had a solid hold with a 58% Weekend 2 drop to $32M. It should reach $175M in the US before it’s done. Things are a bit subdued overseas, although still successful, with a total thus far of $45.6M after a $25.6M weekend in 62 territories.
A STAR IS BORN (MGM/Warners) continues to reflect great word of mouth, down 26% in its 4th weekend to $14.1M, as it heads to $175M. Overseas, it’s at $104.6M after a $17.6M weekend in 75 markets, with Japan to come in December.
The lack of strong openings helped almost all holdovers. VENOM (Tencent/Columbia/Sony) dropped 40% to $10.8M, on its way to $210M in the US. It’s making the bulk of its revenue overseas, where it’s at $321.1M after a $17.3M weekend, in 65 territories, and still has China and Japan on deck.
GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN (Sony Animation/Columbia/Sony) slipped just 23% in its 3rd weekend to $7.5M, and might get to $55M in the US. It’s at $62.5M internationally as it continues its gradual rollout, with a $10.3M weekend in 41 markets.
THE HATE U GIVE (20th) held well with a 33% drop in its 2nd wide weekend to a still-modest $5.1M, and it will hope to hang around for a while for awards purposes as well as box office. It’s just started overseas, with $1.3M in 7 markets (almost all the revenue from the UK).
FIRST MAN (DreamWorks/Perfect World/Universal) lost 41% in its 3rd weekend to $4.9M, and it’s still going to need a stretch to reach $50M in the US. It’s showing little life overseas, where it’s at $36.6M after a $6.3M weekend in 50 territories.
SMALLFOOT (Warners Animation), like Goosebumps 2, is benefiting from the lack of new family product, down 28% in its 5th weekend to $4.8M, with a hope of reaching $85M in the US. Overseas, it’s at $95M after a $17.3M weekend in 75 markets.
NIGHT SCHOOL (Perfect World/Universal) was down 33% in its 5th weekend to $3.3M, on its way to $75M in the US. It has $19.1M overseas after a $900K weekend in 22 territories.
THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (Fox Searchlight) widened by 30% to 1042 theatres, but still dropped 16% for the weekend with $1.8M, a slim $1700 per theatre weekend average.
LIMITED RELEASE: Whether it was a strategic decision or not, SUSPIRIA (Amazon) opened in just 2 NY/LA theatres (including the big Cinerama Dome in LA) instead of the usual 4+, and that helped boost the per-theatre average to an impressive $90K. BORDER (Neon) opened at 7 with a $10K average. BURNING (Well Go) averaged $14K at 2 NY houses. VIPER CLUB (YouTube/Roadside) averaged $4700 at 3. FREE SOLO (NatGeo) expanded to 394 theatres with a $2700 average. BEAUTIFUL BOY (Amazon) had a lackluster expansion to 192 with a $3100 average. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (Fox Searchlight) averaged an OK $15K at 25. WILDLIFE (IFC) widened to 18 with a $6200 average. THE HAPPY PRINCE (Sony Classics) averaged $1100 at 71. WHAT THEY HAD (Bleecker Street) expanded to 25 with a soft $2300 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: The holiday movie season more or less begins with the arrival of THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS (Disney), while adults get BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (20th) and Tyler Perry’s NOBODY’S FOOL (Paramount). Limited releases include BOY ERASED (Focus/Universal) and A PRIVATE WAR (Aviron).
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