The formula works – audiences are exhausted from the summer blockbusters and can only take so much of the serious Oscar-bait dramas coming out, so an easy family cartoon is a relaxing oasis for parents and kids alike. Thought not known for huge hits, September’s previous record holder was the first film, “Hotel Transylvania” with $42 million in 2012, noted The Wrap. Market Watch predicts that the movie will open to $35 million. Insidious 2 and Hotel Transylvania both topped $40 million with Hotel edging out the former by about $2 million. Like Transylvania 2, the movie likewise earned an A- CinemaScore. This factor increases the likelihood of Hotel 2 topping the opening gross if not the total gross.
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Ultimately, the film is about the strength of family, and accepting your loved ones for who they are – be they monsters or not. And does the fact that a compromised version of a gay-themed movie failed mean that studios will be even more hesitant to greenlight other gay-themed movies in the future?
The film, starring Adam Sandler, debuted with $13.23 million on Friday and grossed $20.66 million more on Saturday. But this is still good news considering that her target audience doesn’t usually show up in big numbers for opening weekends. The original scored 44 percent on RottenTomatoes and earned $148.3 million in USA and Canadian ticket sales.
The animated sequel, released by Sony’s Columbia Pictures label, launched at No.1 with a solid $47.5 million in the US and Canada. The sequel “Hotel Transylvania 2” is cute and diverting enough, with a heartfelt family message, and unique style, but it probably won’t be joining the pantheon of animated classics.
“DOA: Dead or Alive” (2006) Box Office: $7.5 million.What happens when Eric Roberts rounds up a bunch of hot fighter chicks to fight for a $10 million prize “any time, anywhere”?
The hope was to find a middle ground between straight to on-demand releases and wide, 3,000 screen debuts. Among holdovers, Johnny Depp’s “Black Mass” fell less than 50% in its second weekend, adding $11.5 million to push the Warner Bros.’ film’s stateside haul to $42.6 million. The original Transylvania made $358 million worldwide, and this was an expected hit; anything less and we really might have heard the last of Sandler. Either movie has a real shot at the third place slot. Everest has fewer theaters but has better ratings with critics. It had been predicted to place second and collect $16 million this week. Its total domestic haul is about $51.7 million to date. The dark tone of the movie may keep the mildly interested moviegoers away, especially with so many other options this September.
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“Doom” (2005) Box Office: $55.98 million.Before The Rock was box office viagra, he starred opposite Karl Urban in this $60 million first-person shooter adaptation that went limp at the box office. The Denis Villeneuve-directed film is earning very strong reviews with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, nicely building its credibility as Lionsgate platforms up its release.
