Considering its genre and target audience, BAD GRANDPA (Paramount) did very well in its second day, according to preliminary numbers at Deadline, slipping just 4% to $12M.  By comparison, the three Jackass movies went down 20%/14%/24% on their first Saturdays, suggesting strong word of mouth and possibly a longer stay in theatres than one […]

  OPENINGS:  Just about everything about the release of TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (Variance/AMC Theaters) has been unique, and that includes the fact that the theater chain, a first-time distributor, has announced the weekend box office as $95-97M for now, with a definite number to be issued tomorrow.  Even at the high end, that’s […]

  If Thursday night ticket sales are any guide, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (Paramount) may not have the weekend opening that will change the face of this so-so box office summer, as many had hoped and even expected.  With shows starting at 9PM, including IMAX, Transformers 4 took in $8.75M.  That’s better than X-Men: Days […]

>Wrath of the Titans joins our worldwide box office chart about a quarter of the way down the chart (ranking #13 out of 47 films released since Christmas).  We are estimating Wrath will end its domestic run with $92 million, and its current overseas total to date is a solid $78 million (probably headed for […]

> THE HELP continues to have a strong head start on the weekend boxoffice.  The Hollywood Reporter says the film grossed $4.3M on Thursday, down only around 20% from its opening day on Wednesday, which gives it almost $10M for the 2-day period.  This suggests the picture isn’t particularly front-loaded, and may foretell a solid […]

  OPENINGS:  LUCY (Universal) is claiming the lowest Sunday drop in the Top 10, so the studio’s $44M weekend estimate may come down a bit tomorrow, but it’s still a very solid hit for all concerned.  That’s especially true for Scarlett Johansson, who now has non-Avenger action movie bona fides.  The only question is whether […]

  This is why studios love franchises. OPENINGS:  TAKEN 2 (20th) almost doubled its closest competition (even though that $50M weekend estimate, like all round number estimates, may come down a bit when final numbers are released tomorrow).  Plus the movie earned an additional $55M overseas in only 27 markets, which means the sequel will […]

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 +7% above last year and now +10% above the average for this point the past four years ($2.279 billion).  Over the same period, Hollywood films have grossed $6.4 billion […]