OPENINGS: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (Sony) won’t arrive in the US for almost 2 weeks, and so far it’s in only 14 international markets–and it was still the biggest story of the weekend, pulling in $47M in those territories, which included portions of Europe as well as Australia and Mexico. Amazing 2 is following a different release pattern than its predecessor, which opened in a several Asian markets and Germany to start and earned $51.1M. For now, Sony is staying away from a comparison with the first Amazing, instead pushing the spin that the new spectacle is 30% ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in its territories–but those movies aren’t apples-to-apples. One point to keep in mind: Amazing 2 cost much more than the first in its series (in the neighborhood of $425M with worldwide marketing costs included), and that extra spend was meant to boost the franchise into the mega-land of Iron Man, if not The Avengers. So merely matching or slightly beating the $752M worldwide box office of the first Amazing would be something of a disappointment. Amazing 2 adds 21 more territories next weekend.
Back in the US, nothing was nearly as exciting. HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (TriStar/Sony) is a tidy hit considering its low costs, with $21.5M for the weekend and $28.5M since Wednesday. It should end up in the same $60M-ish territory of the recent Son of God and God’s Not Dead.
TRANSCENDENCE (Warners) made slightly more in China ($11.4M) than it did here ($11.2M), but that was in spite of a full-court press for the Chinese market (special 3D release, Johnny Depp promotional tour), and won’t even come close to bringing the $225M (including worldwide marketing) sci-fi adventure anywhere near breaking even–and its $6M in 26 other international territories this weekend was even worse. It seems certain to be an expensive loser everywhere it plays.
A HAUNTED HOUSE 2 (Open Road) had a $9.1M weekend, half the $18.1M start of the first Haunted House. That picture ended up with $40M in the US and $60M worldwide, so you do the math.
BEARS (Disney) made a pit stop on its way to video with a $4.8M weekend, well below the starts for Chimpanzee ($10.7M), African Cats ($6M) and Oceans ($6.1M). and unlikely even to earn back its marketing costs.
HOLDOVERS: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (Disney/Marvel) dropped just 36% in its 3rd US weekend to $26.6M, a better hold by far than the 3rd weekends for the first Captain (49%), The Avengers (46%), Iron Man 3 (51%) or Thor 2 (61%)–and even better than the original Iron Man (38%). Captain 2 is already at $201.5M in the US and could reach $250M, and it has $385M overseas after a $35.3M weekend. It will pass $650M worldwide, and might even reach $700M.
RIO 2 (20th/Blue Sky) had a decent hold, down 43% to $22.5M in the US for a $75.4M total so far. It’s doing better overseas, with $47.3M this weekend, but still may not reach the $484.6M worldwide total of the first Rio–although animation-happy Japan is still to come.
DIVERGENT (Summit/Lionsgate) continues to be strong in the US (down 22% for a $5.8M weekend and $133.9M total) but flat overseas, where it made $18.1M this weekend for a $75.3M total, with only 2 more major territories (Japan and Spain) to open. It probably won’t reach $300M worldwide, making it a success but not a mega-franchise.
Last weekend’s openings didn’t show much stamina, as DRAFT DAY (Summit/Lionsgate) fell 40% to $5.9M ($19.5M total) and OCULUS (Relativity) dropped 57% to $5.2M ($21.2M total). Both are headed for around $30M in the US.
NOAH (Paramount/Regency) led the longer runs with a 34% decline to $5M, giving it $93.3M in the US, plus $197.4M overseas after a $21.6M weekend. It should get to $350M worldwide, not a giant amount above its $275M production/marketing costs, but a win considering how risky the project was. GOD’S NOT DEAD (Freestyle) thrived despite the arrival of Heaven Is For Real, down just 13% on Easter weekend to $4.8M and a $48.3M US total. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Fox Searchlight) slipped only 16% to $3.4M and a $45M total in the US, with a real chance of becoming Wes Anderson’s biggest US hit and moving past The Royal Tenembaums and its $52.4M. (It’s already by far his biggest hit overseas with $73.9M.) FROZEN (Disney) is now the biggest-ever animated movie internationally with $729.3M, as well as the biggest worldwide with $1.129B. (It’s still in 4th place in the US, behind Shrek 2, The Lion King and Toy Story 3.)
LIMITED RELEASE: FADING GIGOLO (Millenium) got off to a very nice start at 5 NY/LA theatres with a $40K average. There were a few OK expansions, as UNDER THE SKIN (A24) widened to 176 theatres with a $2600 average, THE LUNCHBOX (Sony Classics) went to 158 theatres with a $2500 average, THE RAILWAY MAN (Weinstein) grew to 26 stations with a $6800 average, and ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (Sony Classics) spread to 18 with a $7500 average. DOM HEMINGWAY (Fox Searchlight), though, is DOA with a $1100 average at 129.
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