As expected, animated sequel Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 topped the box office, but it didn't quite earn as much as what some analysts were thinking. The latest from Sony Pictures Animation tallied $34 million, for a per-venue average of a solid $8,502 from around 7,900 screens at 4,001 theaters, the widest release ever for September. That was in line with Sony's expectations, which they were expecting a low-to-mid 30's millions debut. However, strong buzz and being the only family movie of the Fall season had analysts forecast this movie to break the September opening record, which was held by previous SPA September opener Hotel Transylvania. But, I never expected it to do that because the original Cloudy, while gaining more popularity after its' theatrical run, was not a huge success, earning $30 million on its' opening and $125 million altogether. In the end, this is still a very solid opening, as its' rare for an animated sequel these days to open ahead of its' predecessor (especially if its' to a movie no one expected to get a sequel). With no competition until Free Birds opens on November 1, this will easily go past the $100 million mark, and even stands a strong chance at coming out ahead of the original Cloudy's final gross. Reviews were mixed-to-positive, while audiences awarded it an "A-" CinemaScore. Distributor Sony/Columbia, who will not have any animation entries in 2014, produced it for $78 million. Cloudy 2 had the fourth-largest September opening, after Hotel, Insidious - Chapter 2 and Sweet Home Alabama.Last week's topper, Prisoners, came in a very distant second place and failed to hold well. The well-reviewed action thriller was down 48% to $10.9 million, for a solid $38.5 million gross in 10 days. With a budget of just $46 million, this movie will still finish in fine shape, but strong competition clearly is limiting its' holding potential. Fellow Warner Bros. movie Gravity won't help matters next weekend.
Following an outstanding limited opening last weekend, Ron Howard's critically-adored possible Oscar contender Rush got off to a muted start after expanding to wide release. The sports drama earned $10 million, for a per-venue average of a below-average $4,360 from 2,297 locations. That is below expectations, which were hoping for a $15 million debut, but its' possible the high amount of adult-oriented films may have gotten in its' way. Strong reviews and an "A-" CinemaScore could help it hold well in the weeks ahead, but competition won't relent as another movie with stronger Oscar chances arrives next weekend (Gravity). Universal produced the film for $38 million.
Debuting in fourth place was the latest effort to get Tyler Perry's audience, Baggage Claim. And while it certainly didn't get a huge opening, the romantic comedy did somewhat succeed. The PG-13 flick earned a solid $9 million, for a subpar per-venue average of $4,455 (it played 2,027 locations). No one expected it to hit $10 million for the weekend, but many were thinking of a $6-$8 million debut. And Baggage did earn more than double that of Peeples from earlier this year. Despite terrible reviews, audiences gave the film a "A-" CinemaScore, which could allow it to see solid holds, as long as it doesn't drop like Tyler Perry's films. With just a $9 million budget, the film should wind up a solid success for distributor Fox (who released it through their independent Searchlight division).
Insidious - Chapter 2 did recover a bit after its' plunge last weekend, but still fell 53% to $6.6 million, for a $69.3 million 17-day gross. The sequel will likely finish with $80 million, or just double its' $40 million opening, a similar result to Paranormal Activity 2. Fellow third weekend holdover The Family was down 47% to $3.7 million, for a $31.8 million gross in the same amount of time, and will finish near $40 million.
In a milestone, Instructions Not Included passed Pan's Labyrinth to become the highest-grossing Spanish-language film of all-time in the U.S. In its' fifth weekend, the hit comedy was down 36% to $3.5 million, for a one-month pick-up of a solid $38.7 million. Spending the most time in the Top 10 since Iron Man 3, We're The Millers was off 38% to $2.8 million, for a 58-day pick-up of a strong $142.4 million, on its' way to near $150 million. Lee Daniels' The Butler rounded out the Top 10 in its' seventh weekend, off 43% to $2.4 million, for a 49-day gross of a strong $110.3 million.
Overseas was very weak, and was led by Runner, Runner with $11.2 million, which opens in the U.S. next week. Despicable Me 2 passed $500 million overseas...
