--Space Jam: A New Legacy did very good business this weekend, earning $31.1 million and taking first place (pretty good $7,831 per-venue average). That just about doubles Boss Baby 2 from a couple of weeks ago for the biggest debut for a family film during this pandemic season. Considering the Delta variant concerns, an HBOMax day-and-date streaming release, and some negative trolling online, Space Jam 2 opened ahead of the $20 million expected from Warner Bros. and rival analysts. And despite negative reviews, it opened ahead of the first Space Jam's $27 million launch from 1996 (unadjusted for inflation, of course). With an "A-" CinemaScore, it will be interesting to see how it will play through the remainder of the summer. It also earned $22 million overseas for a $53 million worldwide launch.
--Meanwhile, Black Widow had the worst second weekend drop in MCU history. Down 68% to $25.8 million, the anticipated solo film for Scarlett Johannson's character is at $131.6 million in 10 days, and may be affected by Disney+ play and some strong reports of piracy. It is at $230 million worldwide so far as well as the film hopes to find its' legs going forward from here.
--Opening in third place with modest results was thriller sequel Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. The film's $8.8 million start (mild $3,126 per-venue average) was about half of the $18 million launch of the first film, but it was never expected to reach that with the pandemic and a lot of competition. Thankfully, the Sony-released sequel had only a $15 million budget.
--F9 took fourth place in its fourth weekend, and was off a light 33% to $7.7 million. The latest in the franchise smash has pulled in $154.9 million in 24 days, and nearly $600 million worldwide as it hopes to get to $700 million before all is said and done.
--The Boss Baby: Family Business took a 47% hit from Space Jam to $4.7 million. The animated sequel is at $44.7 million in 17 days, and is on track to finish close to or on par with The Croods: A New Age ($58 million) stateside.
Here's what's going on in the rest of the Top 10:
-The Forever Purge was largely unaffected by Escape Room. Down a light 42% to $4.1 million, its' at a solid $35.9 million in 17 days.
-A Quiet Place: Part II was off 29% in its eighth weekend to $2.2 million, for a $155 million domestic gross in 56 days, and $285 million worldwide.
-Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain opened in eighth place with $2 million (solid $2,145 per-venue average from 927 locations).
-Cruella was down 51% in its eighth weekend to $1.2 million, for a solid $83.5 million gross in 56 days. It's also earned $220 million worldwide.
-Pig debuted in 10th place with $970,000 ($1,758 per-venue average from 552 locations).
