WORLDWIDE STUDIO SCORECARD.  Updated look at 2016 by studio.   YEAR TO DATE BOX OFFICE. Looking at North American box office, 2016 to date is still -2% below last year and now +2% above the average for this point the past four years ($4.838 billion).  Over the same period, Hollywood films have grossed $12.9 billion worldwide when we […]

  The underperforming spectacle of the week is INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (20th), which found out that not all that many people cared to see a sequel to a two-decade old hit without its original star.  According to preliminary numbers at Deadline, opening day was $17.5M (including $4M from Thursday evening), 33% below the already not-great […]

Weekend #26 of 2016 forecasts for films opening wide and major returning films: NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND June 24-26, 2016 Critics Positive ($ millions) Opening Weekend Forecast Domestic Total Projection Overseas Total Projection Worldwide Total Projection Independence Day: Resurgence Fox PG13 44% 56.5 150 375 525 The Shallows Sony PG13 n/a 12.0 25 25 50 […]

  OPENINGS:  FINDING DORY (Pixar/Disney) had a 17% Saturday drop, which is on the high side for an animated blockbuster (Inside Out fell 10% on its 2d day, Monsters University was down 6%, and Minions 16%).  That suggest that the overall multiple from opening weekend may not reach the heady heights that Pixar is used […]

WORLDWIDE STUDIO SCORECARD.  Updated look at 2016 by studio.   YEAR TO DATE BOX OFFICE. Looking at North American box office, 2016 to date is now -2% below last year and still +1% above the average for this point the past four years ($4.577 billion).  Over the same period, Hollywood films have grossed $12.2 billion worldwide when we […]

  In its time of need, Hollywood looked to Pixar for salvation, and FINDING DORY (Pixar/Disney) is delivering.  According to preliminary numbers at Deadline, its opening day was $53M (including $9.2M from Thursday evening), more than any animated film has ever made in a single day, ahead of the $47.1M that Shrek The Third earned […]

Weekend #25 of 2016 forecasts for films opening wide and major returning films: NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND June 17-19, 2016 Critics Positive ($ millions) Opening Weekend Forecast Domestic Total Projection Overseas Total Projection Worldwide Total Projection Finding Dory Dis PG 93% 127.5 395 625 1,020 Central Intelligence WB PG13 n/a 36.5 110 115 225 Note: […]

  OPENINGS:  The only new arrival this weekend certain of profitability is THE CONJURING 2 (New Line/RatPac/Warners).  It’s already earned $40.4M in the US (just lightly behind the first Conjuring‘s $41.9M opening) and $50M in 44 overseas markets, and although horror movies and sequels are usually frontloaded, even in a worst cast scenario it will […]