OPENINGS: With the LA movie theatre market now open (at 25% capacity) and a general rise in vaccinations, the box office seems to be taking its first very tentative steps back to pre-pandemic life. The one wide opening of the weekend THE COURIER (Roadside) wasn’t at all impressive at a $2M start, but the Cold War-era Benedict Cumberbatch thriller would likely have been a tough sell even in a normal market, and $2M in the current context suggested that audiences are eager to buy tickets for new content. By way of comparison, Courier beat the $1.7M opening for Cumberbatch’s 2013 vehicle The Fifth Estate.
There was also a barely-wide opening for the long-delayed CITY OF LIES (Saban) at 501 theatres, where it stirred little interest at $275K.
HOLDOVERS: There were generally strong holds this weekend, led by RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (Disney, also on VOD via Disney+), which slipped 10% to $5.2M in its 3rd weekend and may pass $40M in the US. It also has $47.8M overseas, after an $8M weekend in 29 markets.
TOM & JERRY (Warners, also on HBO Max) was down 7% to $3.8M in its 4th weekend, on track for $45M in the US, and with $43.5M overseas after a $4M weekend.
CHAOS WALKING (Lionsgate) dropped 14% to $1.9M in its 3rd weekend, and may get past $15M in the US, with an additional $5M overseas.
The unstoppable THE CROODS: A NEW AGE (DreamWorks Animation/Universal), now in its 17th week of release, actually rose 15% to $600K, and remains a contender for highest domestic pandemic grosser, if it can beat Tenet‘s $57.9M, less than $3M away.
BOOGIE (Focus/Universal) dropped 23% to $600K in its 3rd weekend, and with its VOD window opening on Friday, it may end up around $5M in US theatres. It hasn’t yet opened overseas.
THE MARKSMAN (Open Road) gained 6% to $500K in its 10th weekend of release, on its way to $15M in the US. It has $4.1M overseas.
WONDER WOMAN 1984 (Warners) may have been helped by the hoopla over HBO Max’s Snyder Cut version of Justice League, as it climbed 15% to $500K in its 13th weekend, probably without enough gas to reach $50M in the US. It’s at $119.5M overseas.
Oscar season is modestly fueling some Best Picture nominees, most of which expanded their runs this weekend. They included THE FATHER (Sony Classics) with $300K at 933 theatres, MINARI (A24) with $300K at 786 theatres, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (Warners) with $250K at 951, NOMADLAND (Searchlight/Disney) with $250K at $650K, and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (Focus/Universal) with $200K at 831. None of them seem likely to get much past $6M at the US box office.
NEXT WEEKEND: The only scheduled wide release is the action movie NOBODY (Universal).
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