The live-action film featuring four masked, crime-fighting turtles produced weekend sales of $35.3 million in US and Canadian cinemas, researcher ComScore Inc. said Sunday in an emailed statement.
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As the first weekend in June, when most schools will have their summer break, the two big films no doubt opened the summer competition among tens of upcoming movies.
It reeled in $18.3 million, nearly recouping its $20 million budget in just one weekend. With a relatively low-cost budget of $21 million, Popstar could find its legs (and its money) beyond the theatrical realm as a cult hit when it’s finally released to retailers. “A lot of people feel that this movie and the next “Star Trek” are absolutely essential for the studio and even for the management”. No box office data was given for Independent’s sci-fi thriller Approaching The Unknown, United Entertainment Partners’ drama The Final Master, Oscilloscope Pictures’ drama The Fits, Abramorama’s documentary Time to Choose.
Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael reunited to win the US box office this weekend.
“We wish that it was grossing more, but our critical response is really good on the film and we have been able to reach our core male audience”, said Nick Carpou, Universal’s President of Domestic Distribution.
“Ninja Turtles” is hitting theaters after a soft Memorial Day weekend that had “X-Men: Apocalypse” debut with a fairly ordinary performance and “Alice Through The Looking Glass” flop big time.
Disney and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War added $7.6 million domestically in sixth place and $4.2 million internationally for a global weekend of $11.8 million. Apocalypse has, however, accumulated a solid worldwide total of over $400 million thus far.
The romantic tearjerker “Me Before You” nabbed number three in its opening weekend with $18.3 million in ticket sales.
Overall, Variety forecasted that Apocalypse is on course to collect more than US$116 million at the U.S. box office by the end of its run.
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The animated Angry Birds Movie rounded out the top five with $9.8 million, taking $86.7 million in three weeks in the domestic. The Andy Samberg-fronted comedy sees the former Saturday Night Live cast member and his Lonely Island band members (Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer) lampooning the music industry with a critically well-received, Judd Apatow-produced mockumentary featuring appearances by P!nk, Sarah Silverman, and more.
