OPENINGS: ANNABELLE COMES HOME (New Line/Warners) had a $20.3M weekend, but it had opened on Wednesday, so its 5-day total was $31.2M. Even so, its 5 days were lower than the 3-day weekends for Annabelle ($37.1M) and Annabelle: Creation ($35M), and just a bit ahead of the Conjuring spin-off Curse of La Llorona ($26.3M) to narrowly avoid the worst opening of the franchise. On top of that, the Warners estimate assumes the best Sunday hold of any movie in the Top 10, presumably to hit that $20M round number, so it may come down in finals. Overseas was brighter with a $45M opening in 63 territories (17 still to come), which is in accord with the previous Annabelle titles, both of which at least doubled their US totals internationally. A $70M total in the US and $200M worldwide will keep the gears moving on the low-cost thriller franchise.
Expectations were low for YESTERDAY (Universal), and it mildly overperformed with a $17M weekend, although the 2% Saturday bump was unimpressive for a film aimed in part at older viewers and hoping for sustained word of mouth. Overseas business started soft with $7.7M in 30 markets ($2.8M from the UK), and even with a production/marketing investment moderate at around $85M, profit may be a struggle.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (Columbia/Sony) doesn’t hit the US until 12:01AM Tuesday morning, but it’s already on fire in China, where it had a $98M weekend (the weekend total was $111M with Japan and Hong Kong).
HOLDOVERS: TOY STORY 4 (Pixar/Disney) had a 52% Weekend 2 drop to $57.9M. That’s a bit better than the 56% drop for The Incredibles 2, but not as strong as the 46% for Finding Dory. It’s on track for $400M in the US, although Disney may well push it past $415M so that it can be the highest-grossing Toy Story title. Overseas, it’s at $259.6M after an $80.6M weekend in all major markets except Japan and Germany, and should reach $850-900M worldwide, without much apparent chance of catching Toy Story 3‘s $1.07B total at this point.
With relatively slim new product this weekend, most long-running holdovers were solid, and they continue to be led by ALADDIN (Disney), down just 29% to $9.3M in its 6th weekend, and now on the way to $325M in the US. It’s still impressive overseas as well, with $568.3M after a $24.5M weekend. It now seems capable of reaching $950M worldwide.
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (Illumination/Universal) dipped 31% to $7.1M in its 4th weekend, on its way to $145M in the US, down 60% from the first Secret Life. Overseas, it still has quite a few territories ahead including China and Japan, and will need some help from those markets, since it’s currently at a quiet $91.8M after an $11.8M weekend.
MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL (Tencent/Columbia/Sony) dropped 39% to $6.6M in its 3rd weekend, and might get to a poor $80M in the US. The overseas total is better at $154M, but it’s running out of steam there as well with an $11.5M weekend in all major markets except Italy. It probably won’t see $275M worldwide.
As everyone knows, Disney is determined to see AVENGERS: ENDGAME (Marvel/Disney) pass Avatar to become the world’s highest-grossing film ever, and in the US, it added some footage odds and ends and doubled the theatre count to increase its weekend to $5.5M, possibly able to get past $850M. That “new” version hasn’t been released overseas yet, and with a $2.3M weekend, the worldwide total is currently at $2.76B, with $26M to go for the title.
CHILD’S PLAY (Orion/UA/MGM) fell 70% from last week’s premiere to $4.3M, and will hope to see $35M in the US. It hasn’t yet opened overseas.
ROCKETMAN (BRON/Paramount) lost 31% to $3.9M in its 5th weekend, and might reach $95M in the US. Overseas, it’s at $81.4M after a $2.6M weekend in 47 territories.
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM (Thunder Road/Summit/Lionsgate) continues to hold splendidly, down 22% to $3.2M in its 7th weekend for a US total that could end up at $170M. It’s still slower overseas with $142.3M after a $6.6M weekend in 77 markets.
ANNA (Europa/Summit/Lionsgate) fell 60% from its dim opening to $1.4M, and its US ceiling may be $10M. It’s under $1M in early overseas release.
LIMITED RELEASE: MAIDEN (Sony Classics) had an OK start with a $8500 per-theatre weekend average at 6. The religious-aimed THE OTHER SIDE OF OF HEAVEN 2: FIRE OF FAITH (AAE) opened at 205 with a $2100 average. PAVAROTTI (CBS) expanded to 288 with a soft $1800 average. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24) widened to 155 and averaged $3100. ECHO IN THE CANYON (Greenwich) averaged $1800 at 141. WILD ROSE (Neon) spread to 16 with a $4K average. For reasons known only to its studio, THE WHITE CROW (Sony Classics) expanded to 98 with a wretched $262 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: Because July 4th falls on a Thursday, both of the week’s wide openings are arriving early, with Spider-Man: Far From Home on Tuesday, and its horror counterprogramming MIDSOMMAR (A24) on Wednesday. The limited release MARIANNE & LEONARD: WORDS OF LOVE (Roadside) opens on Friday.
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