OPENINGS: THE WILD ROBOT (DreamWorks Animation/Universal), aided by strong reviews, started above expectations with $35M. It has the family audience almost to itself until mid-November, and should pass $100M in the US. It’s thus far in only 29 international territories, and has $18.1M after a $9.9M weekend. Since the source material is a series of books, there’s every reason to expect Wild Robot to become a new animation franchise.
The Indian-language DEVARA PART I (Prath) was massively front-loaded, with a 76% plunge from Friday to Saturday. Nevertheless the weekend brought in $5.6M from a relatively slim 1040 theaters.
The portents have been bleak for Francis Ford Coppola’s MEGALOPOLIS (American Zoetrope/Lionsgate) since its unveiling at Cannes, and it’s well known that no studio wanted to contribute to the production or marketing costs, so Coppola is bearing the full $120M+ himself. (Lionsgate is distributing for a flat percentage of revenues.) Battered by the critics (49% on Rotten Tomatoes), it barely scraped the bottom of low projections with $4M, a number that might not hold in finals tomorrow. There are no reported overseas openings yet, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Coppola doesn’t lose nearly his full investment.
MY OLD ASS (MGM/Amazon) expanded to wide release at 1390 theaters with a soft $2.2M, an even lower weekend per-theater average than Megalopolis ($2157 vs $1600). It’s US-only for now.
A revival of HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (Fathom) earned $1.6M at 1400 theaters.
The purported documentary VINDICATING TRUMP (SDG) managed just $750K from the faithful at 813 theaters, a $900 average.
LEE (Roadside) has been sitting on the shelf for a year, and finally arrived with $700K at 854 theaters, an $800 average.
The low-budget horror entry AZRAEL (IFC) had a $300K weekend at 750, a $400 average.
HOLDOVERS: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (Warners) dipped 38% to $16M in its 3rd weekend, and has a chance of reaching $300M in the US. The overseas numbers are less robust with $123.2M after a $13.6M weekend in 77 markets.
The arrival of The Wild Robot was terrible news for TRANSFORMERS ONE (Paramount), which sank by 62% to $9.3M and may not get much past $65M in the US. The international total is $32.8M after a $16.6M weekend, with a few major European territories still to open.
SPEAK NO EVIL (Blumhouse/Universal) is holding beautifully for a genre item, down 26% to $4.3M in its 3rd weekend and on its way to $40M in the US. It also has $29.6M overseas.
DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE (Marvel/Disney) is still selling tickets, down 30% to $2.7M in its 10th weekend. Placing as #5 in the MCU is probably as far as it can go, though, since Avengers: Infinity War is the next milestone at $678.8M, currently $47.5M away. The international total is $690M.
NEVER LET GO (Lionsgate) fell 51% to $2.2M, and might hit $15M in the US. It’s barely opened overseas.
Considering what a strange and extreme film THE SUBSTANCE (MUBI) is, a 44% drop to $1.8M isn’t bad, and if it can hold onto its theaters, it should get past $10M in the US. It also has $3.2M internationally.
AM I RACIST (SDG) dropped a steep 56% to $1.1M in its 3rd weekend, and might get to $15M in the US. It hasn’t ventured to other territories.
LIMITED RELEASE: SATURDAY NIGHT (Columbia/Sony) had a solid start in 5 NY/LA theaters with a $53K weekend per-theater average. A DIFFERENT MAN (A24) expanded to 23 with a dull $2800 average. FAITH OF ANGELS (Purdle) widened to 324 and averaged $500. IN THE SUMMERS (Music Box) averaged $800 at 25.
NEXT WEEKEND: The major studios kept the way clear for JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX (DC/Warners), although after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, expectations have dropped. WHITE BIRD (Lionsgate) will hope that leaves some crumbs available.
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