Behind the US/Worldwide Weekend Box Office – 3.6.2022

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OPENINGS:  THE BATMAN (DC/Warners) was the first event movie to open in 3 months, and the market responded with a $128.5M weekend, the 2nd-highest of the pandemic era (although not close to Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s $260.1M start).  About $4M of that number is attributable to AMC’s new “variable pricing” policy, hiking the ticket price for the weekend’s most in-demand releases.  The Batman had a solid Friday-to-Saturday hold, down 24%, which is a moderate drop for a blockbuster and especially notable in this case because the “Friday” number included screenings over the previous 3 days.  Internationally, The Batman earned $120M from virtually all territories except Japan and China (where it will open over the next 2 weeks) and Russia (uncertain for obvious reasons).  That US/international split is more similar to The Dark Knight (53% US) than Batman v Superman (38% US).  The Batman is clearly on the road to profitability despite its high costs, especially because it faces little direct competition over the next month, and it will undoubtedly kick off a new incarnation of the franchise, but it’s worth noting that the one thing the film didn’t do was expand the current universe of ticket-buyers, which continued to be dominated by the 18-34 demo (and mostly males within it).

HOLDOVERS:  UNCHARTED (Columbia/Sony) lost its Imax and similar screens to The Batman, and consequently took a 52% hit to $11M in its 3rd weekend, on its way to $135M in the US.  It also has $171.3M overseas after a $17.4M weekend in 64 territories, with China soon to open.

DOG (UA/MGM) dropped 41% to $6M in its 3rd weekend, and should reach a profitable $60M in the US.  It has $4.9M in limited overseas release.

Despite the new superhero competition, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (Marvel/Columbia/Sony) dipped just 24% to $4.4M in its 12th weekend, still edging toward $800M in the US.  It’s reached $1.08B overseas.

DEATH ON THE NILE (20th/Disney) dropped 39% to $2.7M in its 4th weekend, and may see $45M in the US.  It has $68.4M overseas.  20th has said that it intends to make more more of the Agatha Christie adaptations with Kenneth Branagh, and it will be interesting to see whether those are produced for the big screen or streaming going forward.

SING 2 (Illumination/Universal) lost 33% to $1.5M in its 11th weekend, still heading toward $160M in the US, and with $206.7M overseas.

JACKASS FOREVER (MTV/Paramount), also with an audience firmly in the 18-34 demo, fell 51% to $1.4M in its 5th weekend, but should be well into profitability with $60M in the US.  It also has $17.2M overseas.

LIMITED RELEASE:  The Indian-language GANGUBAI KATHLAWADI (Paramount International) had a $2100 weekend per-theater average at 280.  HUDA’S SALON (IFC) opened with an average under $300 at 30.

NEXT WEEKEND:  The studios continue to steer clear of The Batman‘s wake, with no major openings scheduled.