The cash has started pouring in for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Warners/MGM).  In 3100 theatres, the film earned $13M in midnight screenings last night.  That was considerably higher than the $8M earned by the midnights for Return of the King, but King was in2003, before the phenomenon of midnight releases had really taken hold […]

  KONG: SKULL ISLAND (Legendary/Tencent/Warners) had a $20M opening day according to preliminary numbers at Deadline (that’s at the high end of numbers reported elsewhere earlier in the day), including $3.7M from Thursday night.  Even if that number holds, it’s little more than half the $38.4M opening day for Godzilla 3 years ago.  Godzilla had […]

  After last weekend’s misfired The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, THE GRINCH (Illumination/Universal) is kicking off the family holiday movie season in a bigger way.  Early numbers at Deadline have opening day at $18.3M (including $2.2M from Thursday night), which should mean a $64M weekend, plus more on Monday, since many schools are closed […]

  It wasn’t even a contest, let alone a drag race. FAST & FURIOUS 6 (Universal) had a sensational $36M Thursday night/Friday, according to preliminary numbers at Deadline.  That’s better than the $34.4M opening for Fast Five, and thanks to the holiday weekend, 6 should have a far better 4-day start that Fast Five‘s $92.4M.  […]

  Combine 2 big movies aimed at perfectly divergent demos, add 3D premium ticket prices, and shake well–the recipe for a strong weekend at the boxoffice. Based on preliminary Friday numbers at Deadline, both PROMETHEUS (20th) and  MADAGASCAR 3 (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) had $21M Fridays, but with the benefit of weekend matinee business, the latter is […]

> THE HELP continues to have a strong head start on the weekend boxoffice.  The Hollywood Reporter says the film grossed $4.3M on Thursday, down only around 20% from its opening day on Wednesday, which gives it almost $10M for the 2-day period.  This suggests the picture isn’t particularly front-loaded, and may foretell a solid […]

  It’s not going to be close, and it doesn’t deserve to be.  Based on preliminary numbers at Deadline and elsewhere, the much-better-than-you’d-expect NEIGHBORS (Universal) trounced THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (Sony) on Friday, $18M to $10M, and although Spider-Man will recoup some of that with stronger Saturday and Sunday matinees, Neighbors should hold on with […]

  Box office years typically start slow, with strong holds for holiday openings, and that’s proving to be the case for 2019 as well.  AQUAMAN (DC/Warners) will retain its crown, as early numbers at Deadline indicate a 46% decline on its 3rd Friday to $9.1M, which should mean a $30M weekend, and a path that […]