Its' turning into one heck of a Memorial Day Weekend at the box office, as three movies may end up opening to $50 million or more....
Fast and Furious 6 got off to a strong start on Thursday evening/midnight showings, scoring an estimated $6.5 million, or double the amount that Star Trek into Darkness pulled in on its' Wednesday evening/midnight previews (though not many fans knew about that films' last-minute shift). That is a strong start, and signals a Friday number above $30 million, with the four-day weekend looking to be either close or just above $100 million. (NOTE: Matinee tracking is suggesting an opening day in the $35 to $40 million range).
Opening on Wednesday night, the same can't be said for The Hangover - Part III. The final installment of Todd Phillip's crassy trilogy earned $3.1 million on evening/midnight shows, and an estimated $11.8 million on Thursday. Those figures are one-third of Part II's $10.8 million midnights and $31.6 million opening day. However, Hangover III had a last-minute schedule change similar to Star Trek, so it may be lack of fans knowing being the reason. But it appears that the bad taste left by the second movie is proving that lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice. A five-day gross of around $80 million may be hard to achieve at this point. (NOTE: Matinee tracking is showing the final movie in the comedy franchise grossing around $15 million on Friday, well below what Thursday's gross would usually translate to on Friday). The CinemaScore was a mixed "B" (below the second movie's "A-").
Early matinee tracking is showing the third new release, Blue Sky Studios and Fox's Epic, overperforming. In fact, with early numbers showing the Friday gross exceeding $10 million, the four-day gross could wind up as high as $50 million, a major accomplishment for an action-oriented animated movie. But then again, there hasn't been anything in theaters for families since The Croods, which has been holding well for nine straight weeks.
Friday's official report will be released mid-day tomorrow...
