Paramount and MGM’s saga directed by Timur Bekmambetov crashed to a $11.35 million opening weekend, barely finishing fifth, according to studio estimates.
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After a summer characterised by box-office blunders, it was barely thinkable that yet another $100 million-plus budget film could flop. The studios also hoped that producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who earned devout points with “Son of God” and the mini-series “The Bible”, would help them turn out values audiences. Such a film is made more for global audiences, he said, whose home markets don’t produce big-action spectacles. Its total now stands at $43M, a rare misstep for the Disney juggernaut this year, though with four films making over $900M worldwide this year, don’t feel too bad for them. The Oscars for William Wyler’s 1959 classic with Charlton Heston included awards for best picture, best actor and best director.
Cast member Jack Huston and model Shannan Click pose at the premiere for the movie “Ben-Hur” at TCL Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 17, 2016.
Instead, Warner Bros.’s much-maligned DC Comics supervillain team-up film “Suicide Squad” held the top spot for the third straight week with an estimated $20.7 million over its third weekend. The critically maligned Warner Bros. production benefited from weak end-of-summer competition.
I’m sure everything that needs to be said about Suicide Squad has been said. Some of the movies this summer have gotten as much as 90 percent of their global box office totals from overseas, he said. “Audiences are saying, ‘remakes or sequels have got to be great or original if you want us to show up'”.
Sausage Party, the raunchy animated comedy with Seth Rogan as the leading voice, continued its strong performance, sealing the number two spot for a second week running with a US$15.5 million take. “Ben-Hur” received an “A-” and “War Dogs” got a “B”.
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In fourth place was the new animated film Kubo and the Two Strings with $12.6 million. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award victor Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award victor Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. Reviews have been amongst the best of the year, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% positive, and a CinemaScore of an A, which means critics and audiences are digging what they’re seeing.
