According to early studio numbers, Disney/Marvel’s “Ant-Man” has won the weekend at the North American box office with a take of $24.76-million – a sliver ahead of the $24-million that Sony’s “Pixels” grossed in its domestic debut.
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If Sunday’s horse-race estimates hold tomorrow, then “Ant-Man’s” sophomore weekend will have beaten the debut of the highly promoted (and highly derided) “Pixels“, the latest big-budget “comedy” from Adam Sandler. Paper Towns, starring Cara Delevingne and the world’s greatest eyebrows, was expected to rake in around $20 million, but saw a massive 45-percent drop-off between its Friday and Saturday grosses, earning just $12.5 total this weekend. “Paper Towns” missed analysts’ projections.
Minions, however, isn’t far behind, and now stands at a probable $22.3 million for third place. The film’s star was front and center, doing interviews on everything from Fresh Air to Sports Center, while recounting the physical transformation he underwent to believably play a fighter.
He predicted a long run, noting, “It appeals to the people on a mass level and it’s a very satisfying film”. The film’s mix of CGI and live-action aimed at nostalgic Gen-Xers was being compared to last year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which made $65.6 million.
And yes, that list includes even “Jack and Jill“, “Grown Ups 2” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”.
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It ranks as another disappointment for Sandler. More recently, he has struggled mightily – headlining flops and duds like “Blended” and “That’s My Boy”. He will now look to salvation in the form of a multi-picture deal withNetflix. The Amy Schumer-Judd Apatow rom-com Trainwreck made $17.3 in its second week, having now amassed $61.5, while Southpaw, starring a super shredded Jake Gyllenhaal, socked its way to $16.5 million.
