OPENINGS: ALIEN: ROMULUS (20th/Disney) became the latest franchise product to hit big this summer, arriving at the high end of expectations with $41.5M. That was higher than 2017’s Alien: Covenant ($36.2M), although below 2012’s Prometheus ($51.1M). The film was also solid overseas, with a $66.7M start sparked by $25.7M from China. Romulus was budgeted moderately for big-studio sci-fi, with production/marketing costs around $150M, so it has a clear route to profit.
A re-release of CORALINE (Fathom) surprised with $8.4M for the 3-day weekend ($11.3M with Thursday), not too far below the $16.9M for its original opening in 2009.
The Indian-language STREE 2 (Parth) earned $2.1M for the 3-day weekend ($2.6M with Thursday) at just 666 theaters.
MY PENGUIN FRIEND (Roadside) barely passed $1M at 1080 theaters, a low weekend per theater $900 average.
SKINCARE (IFC) fared even worse with $300K at 768, a lousy $400 average.
ROB PEACE (Republic) launched at a barely-wide 526 theaters with $250K, a $500 weekend per-theater average.
HOLDOVERS: DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE (Marvel/Disney) continued to have solid holds, down 46% to $29M in its 4th weekend. It’s on pace to pass The Avengers‘ $626.4M as the #4 MCU title in the US. Overseas, it has $596.8M after a $32.9M weekend in 52 markets.
IT ENDS WITH US (Wayfarer/Columbia/Sony) proved not to be front-loaded, down 52% to $24M and headed toward $150M+ in the US. It’s also hitting big internationally, with $82.2M after a $33.1M weekend.
TWISTERS (Warners/Universal, also on VOD) dipped 35% to $9.8M in its 5th weekend, on its way to $265M in the US. However, overseas remained comparatively paltry with $95M.
After 7 weeks, DESPICABLE ME 4 (Illumination/Universal) had the best hold in the Top 10, down 25% to $6M as it prepared to top $350M in the US, although it may not reach Despicable 2‘s $368.1M. The international total is $507M.
TRAP (Blinding Edge/Warners) dropped 48% to $3.4M, and may get to $45M in the US. It has $27.1M overseas.
INSIDE OUT 2 (Pixar/Disney) lost 34% to $3.2M in its 10th weekend, on its way to $650M in the US. The international number is even higher at $983.8M. The global total of $1.63B is about $37M below the all-time animation leader, 2019’s CG The Lion King.
BORDERLANDS (Lionsgate) plunged 73% to $2.4M, and won’t get much past $20M in the US. Things were no better overseas, where the total is $5M to date.
HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON (Columbia/Sony) fell 67% to $1M, and may run out of gas before reaching $20M in the US. It has $5.1M overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: DIDI (Focus/Universal) expanded to 427 theaters with a meh $1600 weekend per-theater average. SING SING (A24) widened to 112 and averaged $2200. GOOD ONE (Metrograph) averaged $3500 at 13. THE GOOD HALF (Fathom) averaged $700 at 53.
NEXT WEEKEND: The dog days of August are a festival of thrillers: BLINK TWICE (MGM/Amazon), THE CROW (Lionsgate) and STRANGE DARLING (Miramax). Christian audiences will have an alternative with THE FORGE (Affirm/Sony).
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