Considering the film has a production budget of a reported $60 million, this was a very strong start for the picture, especially for the month of September, which is typically not a big month for major releases.
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At number 5 Chinese film The Age Of Shadows makes its debut with $16 million, very good consider the single territory it is released in.Also new at number 7 this week is When The Bow Breaks which grosses $15 million from its United States release. Both audiences and critics responded strongly to the taut drama – Eastwood’s first since “American Sniper”.
September’s a weak month for films in terms of big box office numbers for a range of reasons and it’s unlikely to change anytime soon, even as other quiet months grow more strength as crowded calendars force some changes.
As counterprogramming to the “highbrow” Sully, the mystery Bough is “an example of a guilty pleasure not chasing Oscar”, says Dergarabedian, adding that like The Perfect Guy, which topped the box office a year ago, it’s another successful early fall mashup of romance, horror and suspense with a predominantly African-American cast. An estimated 80 percent of those who turned out this weekend were over the age of 35, too, according to Warner Bros.
In second place is the Morris Chestnut drama, “When the Bough Breaks”.
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It exceeded expectations of its first week’s takings, which were around $25m (£19m), to knock the last fortnight’s leader Don’t Breathe into third place. Where available, the latest worldwide numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. It cost just $9.9 million to make. Lionsgate animated movie The Wild Life opened at No. 5 with US$3.4 million, while horror movie The Disappointments Room, from Relativity, more than lived up to its title, with an abysmal US$1.4 million in ticket sales. The move paid off, and Sully rang up $35.5 million which is higher than pre-release estimates by at least $5 million. “Pete’s Dragon”, $2.9 million ($2.2 million international). 8. “Hell or High Water”, $2.6 million ($1.3 million international). 10. This includes $2.3 million from Australia, $925,000 in Russian Federation and $929,000 from the United Arab Emirates.
