OPENINGS: TRAP (Blinding Edge/Warners) had the unenviable task of facing the 2nd weekend of Deadpool and Wolverine and wasn’t up to the task, emerging at the low end of expectations with $15.6M. That’s in between the results for M. Night Shyamalan’s last 2 releases, Old ($16.9M) and Knock At the Cabin ($14.1M), but like Cabin, Trap was low internationally with $4.4M in 38 territories. None of that bodes well for a film with likely production/marketing costs around $75M.
There were no takers for HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON (Columbia/Sony), which even in a summer season loaded with family hits could only muster $6M. Overseas was more meager yet with $3M in 32 markets.
The week’s Christian-audience arrival was THE FIRING SQUAD (Atlas), with $1.6M at 702 theaters.
The largely-subtitled Irish import KNEECAP (Sony Classics) had a terrible start with under $500K at 703 theaters, a $700 weekend per-theater average.
HOLDOVERS: Without any meaningful new competition, DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE (Marvel/Disney) had no problem once again dominating the box office, down just 54% to $97M. That’s a better hold than either of its predecessors (down 57%/65% respectively), and it suggests a US total that might surge to $550M+, which would make it the #6 entry in MCU history. Overseas, it had $428.5M after a $110M weekend.
TWISTERS (Warners/Universal) held very well in the US, down 35% to $22.7M in its 3rd weekend and on its way to $250M. However, it continued to lag badly in international markets, with only $78.8M to date.
DESPICABLE ME 4 (Illumination/Universal) slipped 23% to $11.3M in its 5th weekend, and may get past Minions‘ $336M total. That would leave it behind only Minions: The Rise of Gru ($370.3M) and Despicable Me 2 ($368.1M) in the franchise. It’s not quite as strong overseas, where its $438.3M is only ahead of the original Despicable.
INSIDE OUT 2 (Pixar/Disney) was down 22% to $6.7M in its 8th weekend, with a chance of reaching $650M in the US. It also has a huge $928.2M overseas, although its $1.56B worldwide total is still currently behind the CG Lion King‘s $1.66B as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, as much as Disney and some other pundits would like to pretend otherwise.
LONGLEGS (Neon) dropped 39% to $4.1M in its 4th weekend, and should pass $75M in the US. Overseas release is still limited, with $12.5M to date.
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (Paramount, also on VOD) lost almost half its theaters and fell 55% to $1.4M, perhaps with enough gas left to pass $140M in the US. The international total is $121.4M.
LIMITED RELEASE: DIDI (Focus/Universal) expanded to 47 theaters with an OK $9400 weekend per-theater average. SING SING (A24) widened to 18 with a $9600 average. THE WIDOW CLICQUOT (Vertical) averaged $1300 at 97. SEBASTIAN (Kino Lorber) averaged $4K at 3.
NEXT WEEKEND: An assortment of genres, with sci-fi adventure BORDERLANDS (Lionsgate), best-seller adaptation IT ENDS WITH US (Columbia/Sony), and thriller CUCKOO (Neon).