Case in point: Disney’s CG/live-action hybrid, Pete’s Dragon, an update of the studio’s 1977 film, opened to a lackluster $21 million-$22 million from 3,702 locations despite being the first new family offering since July.
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This isn’t good news for Warner Bros.
Taking the No. 2 spot with a $33 million debut is “Sausage Party”, a movie for your inner inappropriate child.
“Suicide Squad” tops North Amercian box office for a second consecutive week. It opened in first place in Japan this weekend with $10 million. The movie’s domestic total now sits at $126.7 million, while the worldwide total is at $119.4 million.
Bad Moms, the bawdy comedy starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn as overworked and under-appreciated mothers who toss responsibility out the window, placed fifth with $11.5 million in its third outing. Comps are hard since there haven’t been a slew of R-rated animated comedies; in 1999, South Park – Bigger, Longer and Uncut debuted to $11.3 million, and $19.3 when adjusting for ticket price inflation. It’s also made $13.6 million overseas, giving it a worldwide total of $85 million. But again you can pretty much chalk that up to some really great marketing.
“It’s a signal that the deplorable reviews are catching up with the film and is unwelcome news for Warner Bros., which is trying to launch an inter-connected series of cinematic adventures based on DC Comics characters, but is still struggling to make movies that people like, as well as attend”, Mr. Lang writes. It came in just above Florence Foster Jenkins (estimated $6.6 million), the Meryl Streep-led historical dramedy about the (arguably) worst singer of the twentieth century.
The film’s surprising performance is a direct reflection of audience interests, Bruer said.
Opening in limited release one week ahead of its wide (ish) rollout, ‘Hell or High Water’ saw solid returns from 32 screens.
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The modern-day Western, opening in art house theaters in NY and Los Angeles, and in commercial theaters in the Southwest, debuted to $592,000 from 31 locations for a strong location average of $18,500.
