OPENINGS: Even among the mostly-sad legacy of Labor Day Weekend openings, OPERATION FINALE (MGM) was notably weak at $6M ($7.7M since its Wednesday launch), and that number incorporates a studio-estimated Sunday bump that would be the highest in the Top 10. The weekend number, which may get to $7.5M with Monday added, is considerably below the 3-day for The American ($13.2M), Lawless ($10M), The Debt ($9.9M), The Constant Gardener ($8.7M), and The November Man ($7.9M) even in the subcategory of Labor Day adult thrillers. With $50M+ in production/marketing costs, Finale would need considerable foreign success to break even.
SEARCHING (Sony/Screen Gems) expanded to semi-wide release at 1207 theatres with a $5.7M weekend ($7M including Monday), and with minimal costs might reach profit if it can hold onto its theatres. It’s also in 7 international territories, where it’s at $6.5M after a $5.8M weekend.
KIN (Summit/Lionsgate) was woeful with a $3M start ($3.6M with Monday) that didn’t get any better when combined with its $1.8M opening in 23 international territories.
HOLDOVERS: The strong holiday Sunday and lack of new competition was good news for many holdovers, and none more than CRAZY RICH ASIANS (SK Global/Warners), down just 10% in its 3rd weekend to $22.3M ($28M with Monday). That’s the #3 Labor Day weekend ever, below the opening of the 2007 Halloween ($26.4M) and the 5th weekend of The Sixth Sense ($22.9M), not adjusted for inflation. Crazy will reach $150M in the US, and could well go higher. Overseas, it’s at $19.9M after a $10.4M weekend in 24 markets, with much of the world still on the way.
THE MEG (Gravity/Warners) dropped 18% in its 4th weekend to $10.5M ($13.5M with Monday), and should defy expectations by reaching $135M in the US. Its overseas performance is more as expected, with $342.3M after a $17.7M weekend in 66 markets, $150.9M of that from China.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT (Skydance/Alibaba/Paramount) was down just 13% in its 6th weekend to $7M ($9M with Monday), and it should get past MI2‘s $215.4M (not adjusted for inflation) to become the franchise’s biggest US hit. Even better, Fallout finally opened in China, where it set a franchise record with $77.3M opening, part of an $89.1M weekend in 65 markets that put its international total at $442.7M to date.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (Disney) slipped 20% in its 5th weekend to $5M ($6.5M with Monday), and could reach $90M+ in the US. Overseas, it’s at $45.9M after a $4.7M weekend in 32 territories.
ALPHA (Studio 8/Sony/Columbia) dropped 25% to $4.5M in its 3rd weekend ($5.5M with Monday), and probably won’t reach $40M in the US. It’s at $18.3M overseas after a $6.6M weekend in 29 markets. It will need a big opening in China next weekend to get out of red ink.
Even the holiday and dim competition couldn’t help THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS (H Brothers/Black Bear/STX), down 54% in its 2nd weekend to $4.4M ($5.5M with Monday). It’s unlikely to see $25M in the US, and hasn’t yet opened overseas.
BLACKKLANSMAN (Focus/Universal) continues to hold well, down 19% in its 4th weekend to $4.1M ($5M with Monday), with a chance of reaching $50M in the US. It’s also hit $17.5M overseas after a $4.8M weekend in 18 territories, and should be one of Spike Lee’s most profitable projects.
MILE 22 (H Brothers/Hideaway/STX) fell 44% in its 3rd weekend to $3.6M ($4.5M with Monday), and might get to $40M in the US. International markets aren’t likely to save it, as it’s at $14.5M after a $6M weekend in 33 territories.
Last weekend’s flops didn’t improve. AXL (Global Road) plunged 52% to $1.4M ($1.7M with Monday), and won’t see $10M in the US. PAPILLON (Bleecker Street) collapsed by 68% to $350K ($450K with Monday), and may not get to $3M in the US.
LIMITED RELEASE: YA VEREMOS (Pantelion/Lionsgate) had an OK start for the Spanish-language market with $1.8M in 369 theatres, a $4900 (3-day) weekend per-theatre average. Dumped by its studio, THE LITTLE STRANGER (Focus/Universal) fared far worse with a $900 average at 474. JULIET, NAKED (Roadside) expanded to 318 with a $2500 average. THE WIFE (Sony Classics) widened to 78 and averaged $6700. THE BOOKSHOP (Greenwich), now at 60 theatres, averaged $3200. WE THE ANIMALS (Orchard) averaged $2K at 19.
NEXT WEEKEND: After last year’s post-Labor Day bonanza with IT, a horror movie in that slot was inevitable, and it’s the newest Conjuring spin-off THE NUN (New Line/Warners). It will face competition from action thriller PEPPERMINT (STX).
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