> The Hollywood Reporter has the early numbers on Wednesday’s international opening days for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (PART 2), and they’re even more sensational than expected.  In only 26 markets (more will open today, and by tomorrow the film will be everywhere except China, where it opens August 4), the movie has […]

Weekend #36 of 2014 is looking like $54 million for the top 12 films this weekend, down 13% from the norm for this weekend, which is usually the weakest weekend of the year.  In the last two years, this weekend has produced Riddick, The Words and The Cold Light of Day.  But those look like […]

Based on Friday’s grosses, weekend #9 of 2014 looks like $109 million for the top 12 films Friday-Sunday, somewhat better than we forecast Wednesday ($100 million) but still 17% below the average for this weekend. Opening at 3,090 theaters Friday, Non-Stop from Universal grossed $10.0 million Friday, putting the film on track for a $30.0 million opening weekend […]

  By superhero movie standards, SHAZAM (DC/New Line/Warners) was moderately priced, with around $225M in production/marketing costs.  Preliminary numbers at Deadline put its opening day at $20M (including $5.9M from Thursday), and although that’s a cut below comic book blockbusters like Captain Marvel ($61.7M), Spider-Man: Homecoming ($50.8M) or Wonder Woman ($38.2M), it’s solidly in line with […]

WORLDWIDE STUDIO SCORECARD.  Here is an updated look at the 2019 film slates by studio. BOX OFFICE. Looking at North American box office, 2019 is still -6% below last year’s comparable span and now +1% above this point the past four years ($6.232 billion).  Over the same period, Hollywood films have grossed over $16.6 billion […]

  OPENINGS:  WONKA (Warners) kicked off the holiday movie season with $39M, at the upper end of expectations.  As a family entertainment, it can look forward to a high multiple into January, and could reach $200M+ in the US, against around $250M in production/marketing costs.  The IP musical is even stronger overseas, where it expanded […]

  OPENINGS:  In the world of family movies, the 33% Saturday bump for A WRINKLE IN TIME (Disney) was mediocre.  (By comparison, Peter Rabbit rose 97% on its 1st Saturday.)  That brought the weekend to a soft $33.3M.  Family movies sometimes enjoy lengthy runs and high multiples, and Wrinkle faces little direct competition in the […]

Weekend #26 of 2012 looks like another weak one: $157 million for the top 12 films, down 18% from last year’s comparable weekend and down 8% from the four-year average for the weekend.  Some of this decline can be attributed to the calendar.  July 4 fell on or close to the 26th weekend in previous […]