Its $21.5 million debut is the latest in a string of live-action kid-friendly movies that have struggled at the box office, though it played well with audiences (A Cinemascore) as well as critics (85% on Rotten Tomatoes).
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It still, however, ranks as the weekend’s #1 film.
“Suicide Squad” held onto its spot atop the North American box office this weekend, taking in $43.7 million in its second weekend of release, according to estimated figures released today by comScore.
The movies that opened on Friday include the R-rated animated film “Sausage Party“, the remake of the fantasy film “Pete’s Dragon“, and the real-life based “Florence Foster Jenkins“.
Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opened soft with $21.5 million, followed at No. 4 by Universal’s “Jason Bourne” with $13.6 million (bringing its US total to about $127 million), and STX’s “Bad Moms” at No. 5 with $11.5 million ($71 million total). Comps are hard since there haven’t been a slew of R-rated animated comedies; in 1999, South Park – Bigger, Longer and Uncut debuted to $11.3 million, and $19.3 when adjusting for ticket price inflation. “The humor was smart and elevated”, said Sony worldwide president of distribution and marketing Josh Greenstein.
Back on the top 10 chart, Universal’s Jason Bourne placed No. 4 behind Suicide Squad, Sausage Party and Pete’s Dragon with $13.6 million in its third weekend for a domestic total of $126.8 million.
The film is about an heiress who dreams of becoming an opera singer.
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In limited release, Lionsgate and CBS Films’ well-reviewed Western “Hell or High Water” earned a terrific $592,000 from just 32 theaters.
