As expected (and as long as actuals hold), Think Like a Man Too topped the box office, pulling in $30 million, for a per-venue average of a strong $13,483 from a moderate 2,225 locations. That's just a few steps shy of the original Think, which earned $33 million on its debut weekend back in Spring 2012. The summer box office pattern usually indicates more front-loading, however, so, its not completely unexpected for it to fall short (its opening day matched the first film at $12.4 million). As for word-of-mouth, critical reception is negative (23% on Rotten Tomatoes), while CinemaScore was more positive at "A-". For Kevin Hart, this is his third $25+ million debut of the year after Ride Along and the notorious About Last Night remake. Considering comedies have been generally a mixed bag this summer, this lands smack in the middle between the blockbuster-level 22 Jump Street and Neighbors, and the flops that were A Million Ways to Die in the West and Blended. But not in terms of profitability. On just a $24 million budget, the sequel is already making its way to the black.Speaking of 22 Jump Street, it actually didn't plunge hard in week two. The Jonah Hill-Channing Tatum crime sequel was off 49% to $29 million. If Man doesn't hold in estimates, Street could become the first movie since Captain America: The Winter Soldier to top the box office for two consecutive weeks (though if it doesn't, the streak is likely to end in two weeks with Transformers). In 10 days, the well-received comedy has earned a strong $111.5 million, becoming the years' 14th $100+ million movie. The film should hold next weekend before facing more competition in the form of Melissa McCarthy's Tammy.
Some had thought that How To Train Your Dragon 2 would be able to have a strong hold and perhaps pull the top spot out of its hat. But, that wasn't the case. The animated sequel fell a heavy 49% to $25.3 million, for a 10-day total of $95.2 million, or just $3 million ahead of the first Dragon at the same point, though the sequel is likely to lose that lead over the week thanks to Spring Break aiding the first film. Dragon 2 needs to find its footing, or it may turn into a big disappointment for DreamWorks. However, overseas has already chipped in $80 million so far with so much more to go. Dragon 2's performance is just about mirroring Kung Fu Panda 2, which had earned $100 million by its 11th day, and would end up $50 million below its predecessor (though exploded overseas).
The weekend's other new release had a modest start in fourth place. Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys wasn't able to be all that. The Broadway adaptation pulled in $13.5 million, for a per-venue average of $4,652 from 2,905 locations, generally in line with the films' modest expectations. That's below Rock of Ages' very disappointing $14.5 million start back in 2012, but it is Eastwood's biggest opening of recent memory, ahead of Invictus, J. Edgar and Hereafter not adjusted for inflation. As far as word-of-mouth is concerned, it had mixed reviews (55% on Rotten Tomatoes), but an "A-" CinemaScore. It is worth noting the film's older audience doesn't usually come out on opening weekend, so the film could be in for a long run. But, on a $40 million budget, its still not very impressive.
Spending a fourth-straight week in the Top 5, Disney's Maleficent had its strongest hold yet. The fantasy flick was off just 30% to $13 million, for a strong $186 million gross in 24 days. It is now guaranteed to pass $200 million, and could even earn as high as $225 million if it continues to hold on. The fact that it will finish ahead of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Godzilla speaks to the solid word-of-mouth as well as Disney's marketing muscle. This weekend, the film passed $500 million worldwide thanks to a strong $20 million debut in China. In the process, it became Angelina Jolie's highest-grossing film of her career worldwide. Disney has a solid future ahead of them in terms of live-action fairy tales, with an adaptation of the Broadway musical Into the Woods basically in the can for a Christmas release.
Edge of Tomorrow is proving to be a sleeper, though not quite a hit. Tom Cruise's pricey sci-fi flick was off a light 37% from last week to $10.3 million, for a $74.5 million pick-up in 17 days. While not very impressive, the film looks to avoid the massive flop category that made Battleship and John Carter make headlines. If it can hold well in the face of Transformers: Age of Extinction, $100 million may be reachable. Overseas, the film passed $300 million worldwide on its way to around $400 million, enough to at least break even with its $178 million budget.
Calming down some from its huge decline last week, The Fault in Our Stars was off 42% from last weekend to $8.6 million, for a strong $98.7 million pick-up in 17 days, and will pass $100 million on Monday. The romantic drama hasn't proved to have good holding power, as its gross stands at just roughly double its opening weekend, but against a $12 million budget, its still a strong hit regardless.
X-Men: Days of Future Past continued to level off, down 37% from last weekend to $6.2 million. Since its debut a month ago, the latest entry in the Marvel franchise has bagged $216.8 million, and is on pace to close at around $230 million, in line with X-Men: The Last Stand. Overseas, its about to pass the $700 million mark worldwide, and will take first place for 2013 worldwide next weekend (Captain America: The Winter Soldier currently holds the top spot at $710 million, followed closely by The Amazing Spider-Man 2 just $8 million behind).
Jon Favreau's Chef narrowly jumped up a spot to ninth, and continued to hold strong. The food-inspired comedy was down a light 16% to $1.85 million, for a decent $16.9 million pick-up since its limited release back seven weeks ago. Chef has been in wide release the last four weeks, and will likely reach $20 million by the time its' finished serving.
Godzilla rounded out the Top 10 in its sixth week, off 45% to $1.8 million. The latest film in the monster trilogy is at $194.9 million in 37 days, and may or may not hit $200 million. Transformers: Age of Extinction will take a bite out of it next weekend. And adjusted for inflation, it has sold less tickets than Ronald Emmerich's Godzilla from 1998. Overseas has pushed the total to past $475 million, with Japan still to come, it will probably hit $550 million at most.
Next weekend, Transformers: Age of Extinction looks to go for the year's opening weekend title, depending on how franchise fatigue may set in.
