OPENINGS: In what Hollywood hopes will be the last weekend of drought for a while, the TV episodes packaged as DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA – TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING (Crunchyroll/Sony) led the newcomers with $11.6M, a bit better than the $10.1M for last year’s Demon Slayer episodes. In addition, the film earned $13.7M from 42 international markets for a $16.7M total to date.
The casting of Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson suggests that ORDINARY ANGELS (Lionsgate) was intended to attract an audience beyond the standard Christianity-based inspirational crowd, but instead the result was mediocre even among the core audience, with $6.5M.
The one-Coen-only DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS (Focus/Universal) flopped hard with $2.4M. International release thus far has been negligible.
HOLDOVERS: The weekend-to-weekend drops for last week’s openers were cushioned by the fact that their Fridays were their third days of release. In that light, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE (Paramount) had an unimpressive hold, down 53% to $13.5M. Nevertheless, it should easily pass $100M in the US. Somewhat surprisingly, given that its subject was a worldwide star, the international results have comparatively been a bit sluggish, with $49.4M after a $15M weekend in 59 markets. (Rocketman earned more than half its worldwide total overseas.)
No one expected MADAME WEB (Columbia/Marvel/Sony) to hold well, and it didn’t, down 61% to $6M, and on track to barely scrape past $50M in the US. International isn’t helping with $42M so far.
MIGRATION (Illumination/Universal, also on VOD) continued to co-own the family audience, down 22% to $3M in its 10th weekend and headed for $130M in the US. It also has $148.3M overseas.
ARGYLLE (Apple/Universal) fell 43% to $2.8M in its 4th weekend and and may reach $50M in the US. It’s no more popular internationally with $44.9M.
WONKA (Warners, also on VOD) took the rest of the family crowd, down 28% to $2.5M in its 11th weekend, and likely to pass $220M in the US. Overseas, it has $402.7M.
THE BEEKEEPER (MGM/Amazon) dropped 39% to $2M in its 7th weekend, on its way to $70M in the US. The international total is $86.5M.
The other Christian-aimed title in the market (and also the other release comprised of TV episodes), THE CHOSEN (Fathom) fell 49% to $1.8M, and probably won’t reach $15M in the US.
ANYONE BUT YOU (Columbia/Sony) lost 48% to $1.3M in its 7th weekend, and may hit a remarkable $90M in the US. It’s even stronger overseas with $112.8M.
LIMITED RELEASE: PERFECT DAYS (Mubi) expanded to 253 theaters with a $2600 weekend per-theater average. STOPMOTION (IFC) averaged $900 at 384. DRUGSTORE JUNE (Utopia) had a $9300 average at 2. ABOUT DRY GRASSES (Sideshow) averaged $4800 at 3. THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER (Sony Classics) averaged $4K at 2.
NEXT WEEKEND: The industry’s hopes are pinned on DUNE: PART TWO (Legendary/Warners), and the other studios are giving it a clear path.
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