OPENINGS: The box office for TWISTERS (Warners/Universal) was paradoxical. In the US, the movie strongly outperformed expectations with $80.5M. However, it showed much less appeal overseas, with $27.1M in 76 territories this weekend ($42.7M to date including some revenue from markets that opened last week). Twisters is also about to lose virtually all its Imax and other premium-ticket screens to the arrival of Deadpool and Wolverine. A $350-400M worldwide total might be enough for success on $250M in production/marketing costs, but below blockbuster status.
The low budget horror entry ODDITY (IFC) earned $550K at 790 theaters, a low $700 weekend per-theater average.
HOLDOVERS: DESPICABLE ME 4 (illumination/Universal) dipped 45% to $23.8M in its 3rd weekend, and will pass Despicable 3‘s $264.6M total in the next few days, although it will probably end up about 10% below Despicable 2‘s $368.1M. The international total is $315M after a $52M weekend in 79 markets, and may only pass the original Despicable.
INSIDE OUT 2 (Pixar/Disney) lost 36% to $12.8M in its 6th weekend, and will pass The Incredibles 2‘s $608.6M to become the highest-grossing animated film in US history. However, it’s unlikely to match the worldwide $1.66B of the CG The Lion King, with an overseas total of $846.9M after a $34.2M weekend in 51 territories.
LONGLEGS (Neon) had a solid hold for the horror genre, down 48% to $11.7M, and possibly on track to hit $75M in the US. It has $2.7M in early international release.
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (Paramount) dropped 46% to $6.1M in its 4th weekend. A $140M US total would put it 10-20% below its predecessors. The international total is $113.8M.
The bottom fell out for FLY ME TO THE MOON (Apple/Columbia/Sony), which plunged 65% to $3.3M, and may not get past $25M in the US on $150M+ in costs. Things were no better overseas, with $14.3M to date.
BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE (Columbia/Sony) was down 37% to $2.7M in its 7th weekend, still pacing to end slightly below $200M in the US. It also has $198.7M internationally.
LIMITED RELEASE: The Indian-language BAD NEWZ (Moviegoer) brought in $1.1M in a near-wide 477 theaters, a $2200 weekend per-theater average. THE WIDOW CLICQUOT (Vertical) averaged $1900 at 102. DADDIO (Sony Classics) expanded to 140 with a $200 average. CRUMB CATCHER (Music Box) had a $400 average at 55. CROSSING (MUBI) averaged $8100 at 2.
NEXT WEEKEND: DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE (Marvel/Disney) is expected to have the biggest opening of the summer, if not the entire year. An attempt at counterprogramming will come from THE FABULOUS FOUR (Bleecker Street). Limited releases include DIDI (Focus/Universal).
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