OPENINGS: LONGLEGS (Neon) captured the zeitgeist, successfully delivering the marketing message that it was the scariest horror movie in recent memory. The result was a$22.6M weekend, which set a new Neon record by a wide margin, and also marked the year’s highest non-franchise start for the genre. Production and marketing costs for Longlegs reportedly totaled just $20M, so it’s primed for substantial profit. The film hasn’t yet opened overseas.
If Longlegs set a new milestone for Neon, FLY ME TO THE MOON (Apple/Columbia/Sony) continued Apple’s streak of expensive box office failures, with a $10M opening that didn’t even meet low expectations (and that studio estimate assumes an extremely strong Sunday hold). The international result was similar with $9M in 52 markets. With estimated production/marketing costs of $150M+, there’s virtually no chance of avoiding heavy losses, and although Apple has several more high-profile theatrical releases to come (including F1, which reportedly has a production budget in the neighborhood of $300M), one has to wonder how long even such a gigantic company will continue to bear these kinds of losses as promotion for its streaming division.
TWISTERS (Warners/Universal) began its international launch in advance of next week’s US opening, with $11.5M in 38 territories.
The Indian-language INDIAN 2 (FDN) earned a very front-loaded $2M in 525 theaters (roughly 2/3 of the total came from Friday).
HOLDOVERS: DESPICABLE ME 4 (Illumination/Universal) held very well, down 41% to $44.7M. By comparison, Despicable 2, which also opened on a Wednesday July 3, dropped 48% in its 2nd weekend, and the new entry should finish in hailing distance of that chapter’s $368.1M. Overseas, Despicable 4 has $226.7M after an $88M weekend in 78 markets and may have a tougher time matching Despicable 2‘s $602.7M, let alone the franchise-high $823.4M for Minions.
INSIDE OUT 2 (Pixar/Disney) showed no sign of tiring, down 32% to $20.7M in its 5th weekend and on its way to becoming the highest-grossing animated film in US history once it passes The Incredibles 2‘s $608.6M, now just $36M away. The overseas total is $777.5M after a $50.2M weekend in 47 territories, and probably won’t reach the CG Lion King‘s $1.12B.
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (Paramount) lost 43% to $11.8M in its 3rd weekend, and should end up near Quiet Place 2‘s $160.1M. It also has $104.5M overseas.
BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE (Columbia/Sony) dipped 34% to $4.4M in its 6th weekend, and may not get to $200M in the US, although it will still be very close to the $206.3M total for Bad Boys For Life. The international total is $193.1M.
The failure of HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA – CHAPTER 1 (Territory/New Line/Warners) was more or less acknowledged with last week’s announcement that Chapter 2 has been yanked from its scheduled August opening, with no new date scheduled. The hope is that VOD/streaming will juice up some enthusiasm for the follow-up. As to Chapter 1, it fell 55% to $2.4M in its 3rd weekend, and may not get past $35M in the US. Overseas, it’s managed a mere $2.5M thus far.
MAXXXINE (A24) plunged 61% to $2.1M, and may not reach $20M in the US. It has $2.9M internationally.
SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT (Angel) sank 57% to $1.3M, and may finish under $15M in the US. (That compares to $184.2M for the studio’s Sound of Freedom.) It hasn’t opened overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: SING SING (A24) had a sturdy $34.3K weekend per-theater average at 4 in NY/LA. TOUCH (Focus/Universal) averaged $1500 at 316. NATIONAL ANTHEM (LD) had a $10.6K average at 4. DANDELION (IFC) averaged a dreadful $150 at 446, matched by ROBOT DREAMS (Neon), which expanded to 300 with a $150 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: Twisters isn’t facing any wide-release challengers. Limited releases include THE WIDOW CLICQUOT (Vertical).
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