Behind the US/Worldwide Weekend Box Office – 5.22.2022

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OPENINGS:  Considering that DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW AGE (Focus/Universal) is something like a fresh MCU chapter for the older female audience, the fact that the sequel opened at $16M despite solid reviews–a painful 48% drop from the first theatrical entry in the franchise just 3 years ago–is a sobering sign that this demo just isn’t coming back to theaters anytime soon.  Notwithstanding the efforts of some pundits to spin these numbers somehow positively, the vanishing of half a target demo will inevitably have a ripple effect on what indies are financed and released, especially since the Downton international results are similarly diminished, with $35.7M after 4 weekends of release, compared to a $95.3M total for the first film.  Based on around $100M in production and worldwide marketing costs, A New Age may ultimately break even, but a third installment would likely require a slimmer budget.

The quasi-horror fable MEN (A24) was inevitably going to be divisive, and it found a narrow audience at $3.3M, below the studio’s other “elevated horror” openings like Midsommar ($6.6M) and The Witch ($8.8M).  It hasn’t yet opened overseas.

HOLDOVERS:  DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (Marvel/Disney) dropped 49% to $31.6M, and will hope to exceed the $426.8M US total of Captain Marvel.  Worldwide, a $1B total is still on the table, with $461.1M overseas after a $40M weekend in 49 territories.  However, the summer movie season is about to begin in earnest, which means Doctor Strange 2 will start losing its premium screens as competition rolls in.

THE BAD GUYS (DreamWorks Animation/Universal, also on VOD) dipped 15% to $6.1M in its 5th weekend, and may get past $90M in the US.  It has $107.8M overseas after a $6.6M weekend in 68 markets, with Japan still to come.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (Paramount) also held well, down just 15% to $3.9M in its 7th weekend, and on its way past $190M in the US.  It’s reached $194M overseas.

Remarkably, the 9th weekend of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (A24) almost matched the opening of the studio’s Men with $3.1M (down a tiny 6% from last week), despite showing at 25% fewer theaters.  Everything Everywhere hit twin milestones this weekend, passing $50M to date in the US (and well on its way to $60M+) and becoming the highest-grossing release in A24’s history.  There’s still no rush on the international release, with $4.7M in limited distribution to date.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (Warners) dropped 25% to $1.9M in its 6th weekend, and still might crack $100M in the US.  It has $249.9M overseas, which is certainly a better result, but still not enough to reach any profit.

FIRESTARTER (Universal, also on Peacock) fell 50% from last week to $1.9M, and probably won’t see $15M in the US.  It has $3.6M overseas.

THE LOST CITY (Paramount, also on Paramount+) shed 12% to $1.5M in its 9th weekend, and should pass $100M in the US next week.  Overseas is a bit lower at $76.6M.

THE NORTHMEN (Focus/Universal, also on VOD) lost 42% to $1M in Weekend 5 and won’t get much beyond $35M in the US.  It has $30.5M overseas.  None of this is good news on production/marketing costs above $100M.

LIMITED RELEASE:  The right-wing documentary 2000 MULES (D’Souza Media) averaged $1800 in 415 theaters.  PLEASURE (Neon) expanded to 44 and averaged $700.  MONTANA STORY (Bleecker Street) widened to 24 and averaged $800.  LUX AETERNA (Yellow Veil) spread to 19 with an $800 average.

NEXT WEEKEND:  The box office should perk up considerably with the arrival of TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Paramount), and the family market has its first new entry in several weeks with THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE (20th/Disney).