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).