Articles

April 25, 2015
 

EARLY FRIDAY BOX OFFICE: “Furious 7″” Roars Past Mild “Age of Adaline”

 

The big box office news this weekend is happening far from these shores, as AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (Disney) opens in slightly over half the world in advance of its US launch next Thursday night.  It had already racked up $44.5M just from Wednesday/Thursday results in some of those territories.  Here, a soft pre-Avengers weekend allowed FURIOUS 7 (Universal) one last lap in 1st place, with a $4.9M Friday according to preliminary numbers at Deadline that should give it a $17M weekend.  That would put it at $319M by Sunday, on track for a $350M+ US total.

Furious‘ only competition this weekend was THE AGE OF ADALINE (Lionsgate), which was close behind on Friday with $4.8M, but which with its frontloaded female-driven audience is expected to subside to $12M for the weekend, similar to the $13M start for The Longest Ride after its $5.5M opening day.  Adaline has a modest $30M production budget and limited marketing costs, but without much evident overseas appeal, it may struggle to break even.

The other title expected to top $10M for the weekend is PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 (MGM/Sony/Columbia), down slightly over 50% from last Friday to $3.6M, and likely to reach $13M for the weekend, which would give it a $41M total, down about 37% from the first Blart at this point of its release.

With no other family movies around, HOME (DreamWorks Animation/20th) continues to hold well, down 26% from last Friday to $1.8M, with a $7.5M weekend ahead that puts it on track for $170M in the US, a solid but not outstanding result, especially considering its moderate strength overseas

UNFRIENDED (Blumhouse/Universal), like most low-budget horror, fell a sharp 70% from its opening Friday to $2M, on its way to a $6M weekend that will put it near $25M by Sunday, a shade ahead of Blumhouse’s recent The Lazarus Effect.  Nature documentary MONKEY KINGDOM (DisneyNature) held better, down 32% from last Friday to $1M, which compared to last year’s Bears was much better in percentage (down 48%) if not dollars ($1.2M).  It could bring in $3.5M for the weekend.

Two mid-size releases had OK results.  EX MACHINA (A24) expanded to 1255 theatres after 2 weeks of limited release and should have a $4.5M weekend.  It will look for word of mouth that can allow it to expand wider.  LITTLE BOY (Open Road) pursued the religious audience at 1045 theatres and may reach a bit over $3M for the weekend, not much of a groundswell.

WOMAN IN GOLD (Weinstein) held well with a 33% drop from last Friday to $900K, on its way to a $3M weekend.  It could hit $30M in the US, the same neighborhood as the similarly-aimed The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

TRUE STORY (Fox Searchlight) fell by over 50% on its 2d Friday to $330K, heading for a $1M weekend at 856 theatres, showing little potential.

In limited release, Russell Crowe’s directing debut THE WATER DIVINER (Warners) had a fair $400K opening dy at 320 theatres and may reach $1M for the weekend.  Its numbers are boosted a bit by having grabbed 70 IMAX screens, with their premium ticket prices,  for one week only, before that chain is invaded by Avengers next week.

 



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."