In what is shaping up to beone of the most disappointing weekends at the domestic box officein quite some time, two holdover films will fight a close race for the top spot. Paramount’sMean Girlshad an edge over MGM’sThe Beekeeperon Friday, with less than $100,000 separating the two movies, but could lose the top spot by Sunday. The moderately successful adaptation of the popular Broadway musical has topped the weekend charts twice in a row, having successfully fended off competition from directorDavid Ayer’s action film.
ButThe Beekeeperhas been showing stronger legs, easing just 25% from last Friday. StarringJason Statham, the film opened to strong audience reception andsolid reviews. It grossed $16 million in its first weekend and $8 million in its second.The Beekeeperis eyeing around $6.5 million this weekend, which should take its domestic total past the $40 million mark —it has grossed around $36 million so far. Globally, the film is nearing the $100 million milestone.
Mean Girls, on the other hand, debuted with $28 million in weekend one, and generated $11 million in weekend two. The film’s current domestic tally stands at just over $55 million, but unlikeThe Beekeeper, which has had audiences buzzing since its debut,Mean Girlscaught a section of the paying public off guard. This happened primarily because of Paramount’s decision tounderplay its true genrein the marketing, following Warner Bros.’ similar strategy withThe Color PurpleandWonka.
A Scarcity of New Releases Drained the Box Office of All Energy
Speaking ofWonka, the blockbuster film is looking at another spectacular hold this weekend — its seventh. StarringTimothée Chalametand directed byPaul King,Wonkais looking at just under $6 million across the three-day frame, which should take its running domestic tally to $195 million. This means that the enthusiastically reviewed franchise-starter — a prequel toRoald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” —will hit the $200 million milestone domesticallysometime in the coming week. Globally, the film would hope to pass the $550 million mark before the end of its run.
Taking the third spot this weekend, just ahead ofWonka,is Sony’s word-of-mouth hitAnyone But You, directed byWill Gluckand starringSydney SweeneyandGlen Powell. Incidentally,Anyone But Youis doing for its two stars what Gluck’s 2010 comedyEasy Adid forEmma Stone.The film has generated just under $70 million so far, and is eyeing around $4.8 million this weekend after grossing $1.5 million on Friday. Rounding out the top five is Universal’s animated hitMigration, which added $1 million on Friday and is eying just under $5 million this weekend. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
The Beekeeper
In The Beekeeper, one man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers”.
