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August 19, 2015
 

Weekend Box Office Predictions 8.21-23.2015

Weekend #34 of 2015 is looking like $105 million for the top 12 films this weekend, above the norm for this weekend (see comparisons below).

Sinister 2 from Focus/Universal should open with a $15.5 million three-day weekend. Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are not going encouraging: 0% positive overall so far (with fewer than 10 reviews counted at this time…but still pretty grim). Sinister 2 is on track for around $32 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring in $34 million, giving it a worldwide box office target of $66 million.

This would be below the $78 million worldwide for Sinister (released 10.12.2012) with $48 million domestic and $30 million overseas. 

Hitman: Agent 47 from Fox should open with a $10.5 million three-day weekend.  Critics are not on board: 6% positive reviews so far.  Hitman: Agent 47 is on track for around $24 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring in $13 million, giving it a worldwide box office target of $37 million.

American Ultra from Lionsgate should open with a $9.5 million three-day weekend.  Critics are less than mediocre but the best of the three films opening this weekend: 44% positive reviews so far.  American Ultra is on track for around $29 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring in $21 million, giving it a worldwide box office target of $50 million.

NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND

August 21-23, 2015

Critics Positive ($ millions)
Opening Weekend Forecast Domestic Total Projection
Sinister 2 Foc/Uni R 0% 15.5 32
Hitman: Agent 47 Fox R 6% 10.5 24
American Ultra LG R 44% 9.5 29
Note: Although critic reviews are not related to the size of the opening weekend, they are significantly correlated with the size of the declines in the opening weeks of a movie. The Domestic Total is a very early ShowBuzzDaily projection of the total North American gross, based on the Weekend Forecasts.


Straight Outta Compton will be the #1 holdover this weekend by far and still the #1 film overall.

RETURNING FILMS

August 21-23, 2015

Change vs Last Weekend ($ millions)
Weekend Forecast Fri-Sun Showbuzz Domestic Final Proj.
Straight Outta Compton Uni -48% 31.5 180
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Par -36% 11.0 189
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. WB -50% 6.7 33
Fantastic Four Fox -53% 3.8 54
The Gift STX -45% 3.6 41
Ant-Man Dis -37% 3.5 174
Minions Uni -35% 3.3 331
Vacation WB -45% 2.9 60

 

Box Office Volume

For the past four years, the top 12 films this weekend have averaged $87 million total (Friday-Sunday), ranking 46th of 52 weeks. Last year, this weekend’s total was $102 million (while 2013 was $90 million, 2012 was $83 million and 2011 was $75 million). This Friday-Sunday is looking like a solid $105 million, up +21% from the multi-year average for the comparable weekend and up +3% from the same weekend last year.

This Weekend Last Two Years ($ millions)

8.22.2014

If I Stay WB PG13 Chloe Moretz Mireille Enos
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $14 Actual: $16
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $52 Actual: $50
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $28

Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Weins R Jessica Alba Powers Boothe
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $21 Actual: $6
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $15 Actual: $14
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $26

When the Game Stands Tall Sony PG James Caviezel Alexander Ludwig
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $8 Actual: $8
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $28 Actual: $30
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $0

8.23.2013

Blue Jasmine Sony PG13 Cate Blanchett Sally Hawkins
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $6 Actual: $4
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $37 Actual: $33
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $62

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Sony PG13 Lilly Collins Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $14 Actual: $9
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $32 Actual: $31
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $59

The World’s End Uni R Simon Pegg Nick Frost
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $9 Actual: $9
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $34 Actual: $26
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $20

You’re Next LG/Sum R
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $8 Actual: $7
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $27 Actual: $18
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $0

Check back throughout the weekend for box office updates as the actual numbers come in.

 



About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.