Weekend #7 of 2014 is looking like a great $184 million for the top 12 films, a 40% increase over the average for this weekend the past several years. The Lego Movie will dominate the box office in its second weekend, but also two new films are set to open to $25 million or more.
Opening at around 3,372 theaters Wednesday (well above the 2,886 average theater count for opening weekends the last two years), RoboCop from Sony should average a decent $8,700 per theater for the weekend (for a $29.5 million opening three-day weekend and about $37 million from Wednesday-Sunday). [The average wide-release film the past two years has had an three-day opening weekend of $5,300 per theater.] Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are mediocre: 48% positive so far. RoboCop is on track for around $89 million domestic.
Opening at around 2,100 theaters Friday, About Last Night from Sony/Screen Gems and starring the red-hot Kevin Hart should average a very good $11,900 per theater for the weekend (for a $25.0 million opening weekend). Early reviews are non-existent, but as a romantic comedy it should play well nonetheless. About Last Night is on track for around $84 million domestic.
Opening at around 2,900 theaters Friday, Endless Love from Universal should average a middling $5,900 per theater for the weekend (for a $17.0 million opening weekend). Not a lot of critical support: only 30% positive so far. Endless Love is on track for around $42 million domestic.
Opening at around 2,750 theaters Friday, Winter’s Tale from Warner Brothers should average a just below average $5,100 per theater for the weekend (for a $14.0 million opening weekend). Brutal reviews: only 6% positive so far. Winter’s Tale is on track for maybe $29 million domestic.
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NEW FILMS THIS WEEKEND February 14-16, 2014 |
Critics Positive | ($ millions) | ||||
| Opening Weekend Forecast | Domestic Total Projection | |||||
| RoboCop | Sony | PG13 | 48% | 29.5 | 89 | |
| About Last Night | Sony | R | N/A | 25.0 | 78 | |
| Endless Love | Uni | PG13 | 30% | 17.0 | 42 | |
| Winter’s Tale | WB | PG13 | 6% | 14.0 | 29 | |
But The Lego Movie will be the biggest movie of the weekend and the top holdover by far.
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RETURNING FILMS February 14-16, 2014 |
Change vs Last Weekend | ($ millions) | |||
| Weekend Forecast | Showbuzz Domestic Final Proj. | ||||
| The Lego Movie | WB | -19% | 55.8 | 295 | |
| The Monuments Men | Sony | -31% | 15.3 | 62 | |
| Frozen 3D | Dis | -0% | 6.9 | 380 | |
| Ride Along | Uni | -32% | 6.5 | 124 | |
| Lone Survivor | Uni | -25% | 4.2 | 129 | |
| That Awkward Moment | Uni | -23% | 4.1 | 26 | |
Box Office Volume
For the past four years, the top 12 films this weekend have averaged $132 million total, ranking 24th of 52 weeks. Last year, this weekend’s total was $126 million (while 2012 was $143 million, 2011 was $130 million and 2010 was $122 million). This Friday-Sunday is looking like a robust $184 million, 40% above the multi-year average for the comparable weekend and 46% above the same weekend last year.
This Weekend Last Two Years
2.15.2013
A Good Day to Die Hard Fox R Bruce Willis
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $39 Actual: $25
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $72 Actual: $67
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $237
Safe Haven Rel PG13 Josh Duhamel Julianne Hough
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $24 Actual: $21
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $69 Actual: $71
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $0
Escape from Planet Earth Weins PG
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $15 Actual: $16
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $61 Actual: $57
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $14
Beautiful Creatures WB PG13 Alice Englert Emma Thompson
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $15 Actual: $8
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $25 Actual: $19
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $41
2.17.2012
This Means War FOX PG13 Chris Pine Reese Witherspoon
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $16 Actual: $17
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $51 Actual: $55
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $101
Secret World of Arrietty DIS G
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $4 Actual: $6
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $32 Actual: $19
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $126
Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance SONY PG13 Nicolas Cage Idris Elba
Opening Weekend — Forecast: $27 Actual: $22
Domestic Gross — Estimate: $54 Actual: $52
International — Estimate: n/a Actual: $81
Check back throughout the weekend for box office updates as the actual numbers come in.
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