Behind the US/Worldwide Weekend Box Office – 5.15.2022

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OPENINGS:  No one, including its studio, expected much from the remake of FIRESTARTER (Blumhouse/Universal, also on Peacock), and it delivered a weak $3.8M that suggests an eventual $10M US total.  Economics become murky when films also premiere on streaming, but that certainly isn’t good.  Things were no better overseas, where Firestarter limped to $2.1M in 40 markets.

The Christian-aimed comedy FAMILY CAMP (Roadside) launched in 854 theaters with $1.4M, a low number even for the genre.

HOLDOVERS:  Despite the lack of meaningful new competition, DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (Marvel/Disney) flamed out quickly with a 68% dive to $61M.  That’s considerably worse than the 59% drop for Age of Ultron and the 62% for Eternals, and it’s uncomfortably close to the infamous 69% plunge for Batman v. Superman.  Multiverse of Madness will still probably top $400M in the US, making it the year’s top-grossing movie thus far, but the MCU is so critically important to the movie industry at this point that this Weekend 2 fall is drawing a fair amount of throat-clearing and theorizing from pundits.  For now, the heavy drop seems attributable to an installment that was tonally different from other MCU entries and not a model of narrative clarity, and things will likely look different when Thor: Love & Thunder arrives in July.  But any shakiness in the culture’s premier franchise will inevitably lead to scrutiny.  Multiverse of Madness held somewhat better overseas, where it lost 60% of last week’s total to $83.5M in 49 territories for $396.2M to date.

The market’s family movies continued to hold well.  THE BAD GUYS (DreamWorks Animation/Universal, also on VOD) dipped 28% to $6.9M in its 4th weekend, and should reach $85M in the US; it also has $99.3M overseas.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (Paramount) was down a mere 24% to $4.6M in its 6th weekend, on its way to $185M+ in the US, and with $179.5M overseas.

The phenomenon of the box office year continues to be EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME (A24), which miraculously slipped just 6% in its 8th weekend to $3.3M, and is on track to pass $50M in the next week or so, making it A24’s biggest hit.  The film is taking its time with international release, at $4.7M thus far.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (Warners) fell 43% in its 5th weekend to $2.4M, and seems likely to run out of railway before hitting $100M in the US.  It has a more robust $286M overseas, although that won’t be enough for profit.

THE LOST CITY (Paramount, also on Paramount+) lost 37% to $1.8M in its 8th weekend, and despite its availability on streaming, it appears set to pass $100M in the US.  Overseas is more subdued with $68.4M.

THE NORTHMEN (Focus/Universal, also on VOD) fell 41% to $1.7M in its 4th weekend, and won’t get much beyond $35M in the US.  With $27M overseas, it’s going to generate a fair amount of red ink.

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (Lionsgate) lost 34% to $1.1M in its 4th weekend, and will barely exceed $20M in the US.  It has $5.7M overseas.

LIMITED RELEASE:  The adult film PLEASURE (Neon) debuted at 2 NY/LA arthouses with a $17.3K weekend per-theater average.  MONTANA STORY (Bleecker Street) opened at 4 and averaged $5K.  THE INNOCENTS (IFC) averaged just $400 at 32.  The French abortion drama HAPPENING (IFC) widened unsuccessfully to 186 with a tiny $300 average.

NEXT WEEKEND:  One more relatively free stretch for Doctor Strange.  DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW AGE (Focus/Universal) will provide another test of whether the older audience is willing to return to theaters, coming off a $31M opening for the first Downton movie in 2019.  Alex Garland’s MEN (A24) is in the elevated horror niche.