United States adult audiences turned out in droves this weekend to see Sully, director Clint Eastwood’s dramatization of the so-called “Miracle on the Hudson”.
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Its casting also hit a sweet spot for audiences, with 39 per cent of viewers saying they turned up to see Tom Hanks. Similar to films directed by Mr. Eastwood, Mr. Hanks’ dramas do not generally sport huge openings, but garner strong legs.
“The movie sells itself”, said Warner Bros distribution executive Jeff Goldstein. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2 and has received largely laudatory reviews with a current 84 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Robert De Niro boxing pic Hands of Stone took in just $170,000 from 1,103 theaters in its 3rd weekend for a domestic box office total of $4.5-M. The Warner Bros. film cost a reported $60 million to produce. Eastwood had announced in April that he was shooting the film using the digital Imax Alexa 65 cameras.
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.
Sony-Screen Gems drama “When the Bough Breaks” opened respectably in second with $15 million at 2,246 sites.
The company’s president of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer insisted the film had performed ‘way beyond anyone’s expectations.
After a couple of weeks at the top Dont Breathe falls to number 3 this week with $8.2 million over the weekend, this brings the films USA gross to $66.8 million.
Lionsgate’s launch of European animated comedy “The Wild Life” generated only modest interest in fifth place with $3.4 million at 2,493 locations while Relativity’s horror film “The Disappointments Room” was almost invisible with $1.4 million at 1,554 screens for a dismal $901 per-screen average. “Sully“, $35.5 million ($9.5 million international). 2.
Also debuting over the weekend, The Disappointments Room, the 1st title released by Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media since it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. “The Wild Life”, $3.4 million. 6.
Focus’ fourth weekend of “Kubo and the Two Strings” led the rest of the pack in sixth with $3.2 million, followed by Disney’s fifth weekend of “Pete’s Dragon” with $2.9 million, STX’s seventh frame of “Bad Moms” with $2.8 million, Lionsgate’s fifth weekend of “Hell or High Water” with $2.6 million and Sony’s fifth session of “Sausage Party” with $2.3 million.
Another newcomer, the Kate Beckinsale horror movie The Disappointments Room, completely bombed with $1.4 million – the fright fest wasn’t helped by a goose egg on Rotten Tomatoes or a dreaded D at CinemaScore. “Star Trek Beyond”, $16.6 million. 2.
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On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard.
