OPENINGS: MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE (Warners) was produced as an HBO Max original, and then the new Warners ownership decided to give it a mid-level theatrical release in 1500 theaters. The result was an $8.2M weekend, considerably below the $12.9M launch of Magic Mike XXL in 2015 (at 3355 theaters). XXL had a leggy run, ending up with 5x its opening, but Last Dance (45% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to 65% for XXL) may have a tougher time with that pace, although the film will hope for a bump over Valentine’s Day. Overseas, Last Dance opened in 41 markets with $10.4M.
TITANIC (Paramount) returned to theaters for a 25th-anniversary run that was also keyed to Valentine’s Day. The weekend brought in $6.4M, which in the US didn’t affect its all-time ranking (it would need another $13M to move past Avengers: Infinity War for the #7 slot). As was the case with its original release, international was much bigger than domestic, with $15.9M in 51 territories. That kept it slightly ahead of Avatar 2 on the all-time worldwide chart, but with a lead under $4M, Titanic will likely fall to its own director’s work and slide soon enough to 4th place.
The horror indie CONSECRATION (IFC) opened at the low end of wide release with 762 theaters and $365K.
HOLDOVERS: Even with the expected box office hit that will affect all films on Super Bowl Sunday, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (20th/Disney) dipped just 39% to $6.9M in its 9th week, still climbing toward $675M in the US (which will put it in a dead heat with Titanic). It’s hit $1.57B overseas after an $18.9M weekend in 52 markets.
80 FOR BRADY (Paramount) dropped 52% to $6M, and is hoping that its female audience will cushion the Super Bowl effect, despite the movie’s football theme. If it reaches $45M in the US, it’ll still need some help overseas to find a profit, and it hasn’t yet opened internationally.
KNOCK AT THE CABIN (Universal) fell 61% to $5.5M, and may not hit $40M in the US. Despite a relatively low production budget, breakeven will likely require some popularity overseas, where it currently has a $13.3M total.
After 8 weeks of release, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (DreamWorks Animation/Universal, also on VOD) dipped just 30% to $5.5M, on track for $175M in the US. Its overseas total is $235.2M after a $12.1M weekend in 80 markets.
A MAN CALLED OTTO (Columbia/Sony) lost 38% to $2.6M in its 7th weekend, on its way to $65M in the US. It has $34.8M overseas.
MISSING (Screen Gems/Sony) slipped 30% to $2.6M in its 4th week, and should hit $35M in the US, which would be 30% above its predecessor Searching. It hasn’t yet opened overseas.
M3GAN (Blumhouse/Universal, also on VOD) was down 38% to $2.4M and may not quite have the stamina to reach $100M in the US. Its international total is $74.7M.
PLANE (Lionsgate) declined 46% to $1.2M in its 5th weekend, and should settle at $35M in the US, about half of Gerard Butler’s Angel Has Fallen. International is at $12.3M.
LIMITED RELEASE: IMORDECAI (Greenwich) opened at 2 theaters with a $6300 weekend per-theater average. CLOSE (A24) expanded to 61 with a $2500 average. TURN EVERY PAGE (Sony Classics) widened to 34 with a $700 average. ONE FINE MORNING (Sony Classics) averaged $1K at 22.
NEXT WEEKEND: The 2023 Hollywood year really gets into gear with the release of ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (Marvel/Disney). The latest Liam Neeson vehicle MARLOWE (Open Road), with a Wednesday opening, will try to counterprogram.
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