TAGGED AS: Box Office, Disney, Walt Disney Pictures
Remember last week when some headlines were labeling Toy Story 4 a “disappointment” because it did not live up to lofty expectations? Granted, winning a second straight weekend in this box office is not much of a feat, but the Pixar film’s numbers are still strong, and it leads a new crop of films that couldn’t be labeled disappointments either.
(Photo by Walt Disney Studios)
There have only been 29 films in history to gross more than Toy Story 4 has in 10 days. It took seven days to become the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, and it certainly has its eye on third place. Second, however, could take a bit of work. Last weekend with an opening that rose above $120 million, the fourth Toy Story was ahead of the third film in the franchise by about $10 million. At the end of this weekend, it is still ahead of Toy Story 3’s pace by about $10 million even if it trails weekend two of part three $59.3 million to $57.9 million. Toy Story 3 had a run that did not see a drop of 50 percent until its 13th weekend. Part four dropped 52 percent this weekend, but also had farther to fall. The 2010 chapter fell 46.2 percent and 49 percent in its second and third weekends. Meanwhile, Toy Story 4 sits at $236 million domestic and $496 million worldwide; the sixth-highest total of 2019 to date. Of the 14 films to gross between $220-250 million after 10 days, only three of them (The Hunger Games, Spider-Man, and Toy Story 3) broke the $400 million domestic mark, but Toy Story 4 remains on track.
(Photo by Universal Pictures)
It may sound surprising to some, but Yesterday actually represents the best opening of director Danny Boyle’s career. Then again, it is only the fourth film in his career — on that has included Transpotting, 127 Hours, and Slumdog Millionaire — to open wide its first weekend. The last film of his to do that was 28 Days Later back in 2003, and it earned $10 million. The Beach in 2000 was his previous high with $15.2 million, even if it remains his lowest scored film on the Tomatometer at 20% and just one of two Rotten films (including A Life Less Ordinary) in his filmography. With a 59% rating currently, Yesterday teeters on the edge of Fresh, but Universal is very likely more interested in the film’s $17 million start. (The studio partnered with Boyle on 2015’s Steve Jobs, which opened strong in four theaters but ultimately grossed just $17.7 million total.) Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog is his crowning box office achievement with over $141 million, but it is also just one of three of his films to gross over $20 million. Yesterday will be the fourth. Will the $26 million–budgeted film have enough word-of-mouth to pass The Beach’s $45 million?
(Photo by New Line Cinema)
Annabelle Comes Home opened this past Wednesday to $7.18 million. As of Sunday, it is estimated to have made $31.2 million, which is relatively low all things considered. Of the previous Wednesday openers that began with $6 million or more, 47 Ronin ($20.61 million), Rocky Balboa ($21.85), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ($25.36), and Magic Mike XXL ($27.89) were the only ones this century to not have $30 million by Sunday. Annabelle Comes Home is the next-lowest after that with The First Purge coming in at $31.28 million. The first Annabelle made $42.11 million in its first five days. Annabelle: Creation made $43.15 million. They both opened on Fridays. Those other three films grossed $58 million to $71 million domestic. The $27 million production has already grossed over $52 million globally, so it is going to be just fine.
Eight of the top 10 films this week are either sequels or remakes. John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum is approaching $300 million worldwide. It is also Keanu Reeves’ third highest–grossing live-action film after the first two Matrix films. Illuminations’ The Secret Life of Pets 2 has not picked up any international steam yet and is only at $208 million worldwide. Its path is similar to that of this summer’s Pokemon Detective Pikachu and is headed for somewhere between $141 million and $154 million — or, less than $200 million domestically below the first film. Men in Black International is doing better internationally, but much more poorly here. It is only at $219 million worldwide and still needs another $121 million to break even. The remake of Child’s Play cost $100 million less than MIBI, but is not exactly setting the box office on fire either after dropping 70 percent in its second weekend and stands at $23 million.
Far more successful is Paramount’s Rocketman. The $40 million production has made over $83 million domestic and $161 million worldwide — $100 million may be off the table now but it remains on track to exceed $90 million. Disney’s Aladdin has crossed $300 million domestically, and its $874 million globally puts it in 63rd place all-time. It needs another $66 million to break into the top 50.
Lastly, we have the Avengers: Endgame record watch. Returning to theaters this weekend with new footage not seen in its first nine weeks, the Marvel title made another $5.9 million. At $2.76 billion worldwide, it is now $26 million shy of Avatar’s all-time record.
(Photo by Universal Pictures)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had no challengers and won the box office for a second straight weekend with $60.9 million. Incredibles 2 also had nothing to threaten its second-place finish with $46.4 million, bringing its total to over $440 million. The best the week could offer was the sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which opened in third with $19 million. Also opening was the basketball comedy, Uncle Drew, which finished fourth with $15.2 million. The lackluster numbers below that title opened the door for Hindi film Sanju to finish in eighth place with $2.72 million. The Top 10 totaled $167.20 million and averaged 63% on the Tomatometer. This year’s Top 10 grossed an estimated $135.14 million and averaged 69%.
(Photo by Sony Pictures)
The next chapter of the MCU arrives when Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Will this film receive the same kind of box office bump that got Iron Man 3 over $400 million as the first one out of the gate after the success of the 2012 Avengers film? It currently has a 91% on the Tomatometer. (Spider-Man: Homecoming has a 92%, opened at $117 million, and went on to make $880 million worldwide.)
Then Ari Aster returns with a new horror epic after the praise of last year’s debut, Hereditary, one of the 10 best-reviewed horror films of the decade. Based on the 85% that Midsommar has received so far, Aster (like Jordan Peele) has a shot to own two films on that list.
Erik Childress can be heard each week evaluating box office on WGN Radio with Nick Digilio as well as on Business First AM with Angela Miles and his Movie Madness Podcast.
[box office figures via Box Office Mojo]
