For the second week in a row, Disney’sZootopiais the number one film in North America. The animated feature was down just 33% in its sophomore frame and crossed the $100 million markon Friday. Worldwide,Zootopiahas already earned more than $431.3 million. That big global haul is due largely to a great showing in China, where the film brought Disney its biggest three-day animated opening ever last weekend.
OK, let’s get right to the week’s biggest bomb – peoplereallydidn’t want to seeThe Brothers Grimsbythis weekend. The R-rated comedy starringSacha Baron Cohenearned an estimated $3.1 million from 2,235 locations, or the lowest debut of a major release so far this year. For reference, that’s lower than recent misses likePride and Prejudice and Zombies($5.3 million) andFifty Shades of Black($5.9 million). In fact, the only film that can credibly claim to be a bigger box office dud in 2016 is The Weinstein Co.’sJane Got a Gun, which opened in only 1,210 theatres.
Grimsby received a promising B+ from CinemaScore audiences, though that’s a hollow victory when actual audiences fail to show up on opening weekend. By comparison, Baron Cohen’s last two comedies,The DictatorandBruno, both received ‘C’ scores and went on to earn $59 and $60 million at the domestic box office, respectively. One week ago it looked like we’d be talking aboutThe Brothers Grimsbyas a disappointment because it failed to open above $10 million, but at this point a final domestic gross below $10 million feels like a real possibility. The film has also failed to distinguish itself overseas, earning just $7 million over two weeks. And with a reported budget of $35 million, it’s hard to see how Sony or Sacha Baron Cohen can spin this as anything other than a disaster.
On a much more positive note,10 Cloverfield Lanesaw a strong debut this weekend. The secretive thriller from producerJ.J. Abramsearned an estimated $25.2 million from 3,391 locations, or well above the $18 million Paramount was said to be expecting. The sort-of sequel to 2008’sCloverfieldhas had great reviews (91% onRotten Tomatoes) but received a B- from CinemaScore, so it remains to be seen how well it will hold in the coming weeks. J.J. Abrams’ other box office entry, a little pic calledStar Wars: The Force Awakens, is still playing in 760 locations in its thirteenth weekend and has a current domestic total of $930.7 million.
Deadpoolcontinues to impress in its fifth frame. Fox’s R-rated superhero hit claimed another $10.8 million this weekend to bring its domestic total up to $328 million. That still leavesDeadpoolthird behindAmerican Sniperon the list of all-time R-rated releases, though the margin is closing. In other holdover news,London Has Fallenslipped 50% in its sophomore frame. With a current domestic cume of $38.8 million, the sequel is now running almost 30% behind 2013’sOlympus Has Fallenat the same point in its run.
Lionsgate’sThe Perfect Matchopened in fifth place this weekend with an estimated $4.1 million. That’s notable because the R-rated romance is only playing in 925 locations. Compare that to Focus Features’The Young Messiah, which opened with just $3.4 million from 1,761 locations.Messiahscored an A- from CinemaScore but likely suffered from low exposure and the presence of that other Christian-themed feature in the top ten:Risen. And things won’t get any easier forMessiahnext weekend. Sony’sMiracles from Heavenwill target the same faith-based crowd with a Wednesday debut in 3,000 locations.
Also opening next weekend isAllegiant, the third entry in Lionsgate’sThe Divergent Series. Part one of two films based on the final novel inVeronica Roth’s sci-fi series,Allegiantis expected to open well below last year’sInsurgent($52.2 million) with about $38 million.
Here’s this weekend’s top ten, based on studio estimates:
$50,000,000
10 Cloverfield Lane
$25,200,000
$10,800,000
London Has Fallen
$10,668,000
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
$4,600,000
The Perfect Match
$4,150,000
The Young Messiah
$3,404,000
The Brothers Grimsby
$3,150,000
Gods of Egypt
$2,500,000
$2,250,000
