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March 1, 2020
 

Behind the US/Worldwide Weekend Box Office – 3.1.2020

 

OPENINGS:  THE INVISIBLE MAN (Blumhouse/Universal) had a 12% Saturday bump, evidence of extremely strong word of mouth in the horror genre (among recent uncommonly leggy horror releases, Get Out rose 17% on its 2nd day of release, and A Quiet Place was up 1%).  That brought it to a strong $29M weekend, and with a reported $7M production budget (although the big-studio marketing campaign will have cost considerably more), the thriller should be very profitable with $75M+ in the US.  It was a bit slower overseas with $20.2M in 47 markets.

MY HERO ACADEMIA: HEROES RISING (Funimation) had an impressive $5.1M weekend at only 1260 theatres, putting it at $8.5M since its Wednesday opening with minimal costs.  The animated feature also has $15.1M overseas.

IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: THE MOVIE (Tru) expanded into wide release, and inevitably a theatre count that was more than 5x last week’s resulted in a weekend bump to $3.5M, but the 36% total increase belied a per-theatre result that was down 75% from last week.  Nevertheless, a $10M total should result in plenty of profit on a project that had tiny production and marketing costs.

HOLDOVERS:  SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (Paramount) had a solid hold, down 39% to $16M in its 3rd weekend, and on track for $160M in the US, although it will likely be dented by next weekend’s arrival of Pixar’s Onward.  Overseas, it has $132.7M after a $26.8M weekend in 62 territories, with its potential unclear until the situation in China resolves.

THE CALL OF THE WILD (20th/Disney) dropped 47% to $13.2M from last week’s premiere, and may reach $75M in the US.  It’s slower overseas with $33.4M after an $11M weekend in 50 markets.  Neither of those numbers will get it near recoupment of its high costs.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (Columbia/Sony) continued to be an audience favorite, down just 26% to $4.3M in its 7th weekend, and ready to pass $200M in the US next week.  It also has $208M overseas after a $4.9M weekend in 55 markets.

BIRDS OF PREY (DC/Warners) lost 40% to $4.1M in its 4th weekend, and it won’t get much past $85M in the US.  Overseas, it’s at $109.6M after a $4.6M weekend in 78 territories.  It may reach breakeven.

1917 (DreamWorks/Reliance/Universal) dipped 37% to $2.7M, on its way past $160M in the US.  Overseas, it’s at $206.5M after a $5.3M weekend in 60 markets.

BRAHMS: THE BOY 2 (STX) had a typical horror movie 2nd weekend, down 55% to $2.6M, and it’s unlikely to get past $15M in the US.  It also has $6.4M overseas.

FANTASY ISLAND (Blumhouse/Columbia/Sony) dropped 45% to $2.3M in its 3rd weekend, and it may get to $30M in the US.  Its quiet overseas total is $19.4M after a $1.9M weekend in 41 territories.

LIMITED RELEASE:  There were slow starts for WENDY (Searchlight/Disney) with a $7500 weekend per theatre average at 4 NY/LA arthouses, and GREED (Sony Classics), which averaged $7100 at 4.  Even worse was BURDEN (101), with a $4100 average at 5.  EMMA (Focus/Universal) expanded to 97 theatres with a solid $12.1K average.  PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (Neon) widened to 268 with a $2700 average.  After that, things got ugly:  THE LODGE (Neon) averaged $650 at 395, SEBERG (Amazon) averaged $550 at 373, and THE ASSISTANT (Bleecker Street) averaged $700 at 155.  ORDINARY LOVE (Bleecker Street) expanded to 70 with a $1200 average.

NEXT WEEKEND:  ONWARD (Pixar/Disney) will dominate, with adult-oriented counterprogramming from THE WAY BACK (Warners).  Limited releases include FIRST COW (A24), THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY (Sony Classics), and HOPE GAP (Roadside).

 



About the Author

Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."