This week was all about Michael Bay's return to the Autobots and Decepticons in Transformers: Age of Extinction, which, as expected, took the box office by storm. The reboot to the blockbuster franchise had the highest opening of 2014 so far, at $100 million even, for a per-venue average of a fantastic $23,624. The previous high for 2014 was Captain America: The Winter Soldier's $95.7 million debut back in April. Comparing this to the other Transformers films would not be proper apples-to-apples comparisons, as all three opened on Wednesdays. Altogether though, this is still a potent start. How will it hold? That's a big question mark. Reviews were the worst of all four films, while audiences were generally positive with an "A-" CinemaScore. The weekend was front-loaded, however ($41 million to $32 million Fri-Sat), so it could drop hard next weekend. If it can stabilize better after that though, the final gross could exceed $300 million. Overseas, the franchise reboot earned a monster $201 million from 37 territories, ahead of the last film by 35%. Do not be surprised if the final worldwide gross eclipses $1 billion.Spending a second-straight week in the runner-up position, 22 Jump Street held up well, off 44% to $15.4 million in its' third weekend. Since its debut, the Channing Tatum-Jonah Hill comedy has earned a strong $139.8 million. That passes the original 21 Jump Street's $138 million final gross. With competition arriving in the form of Melissa McCarthy's Tammy next weekend, look for the film to drop a little harder next week and then go on to finish in the $170 million vicinity. Still one of the all-time best results for an adult comedy.
Unfortunately, solid holds aren't favoring the only animated offering in this list, How To Train Your Dragon 2. The well-received animated flick was down another 47% from last week to $13.1 million. Despite strong reviews and what seemed to be huge buzz, Dragon, like Kung Fu Panda before it, isn't proving to be sustaining its audience here in America (guess the Gobber controversy did have somewhat of an impact). Overseas, grosses are only so-so so far, but many key territories have yet to open. DreamWorks Animation will still be in the black in the end, as the final result ($160-$170 million mostlikely) added to at least $300 million overseas will still be ahead of its $145 million budget. So far, Dragon 2 has earned $121.8 million in 17 days, and has fallen around $10 million behind the pace of the first movie.
Half of the Top 10 is sequels (including the Top 4), and last week's topper, Think Like a Man Too, follows with the worst drop of the list. The other comedy sequel fell 64% to $10.4 million, for a still-solid $48.2 million in 10 days. The sequel isn't having the holding power of the first movie, and won't come close to that movie's $91 million finish. Instead, look for it to top out around $70 million, still arguably a great result for a low-budget flick.
Proving to be the strongest of them all (in terms of box office holding power), Maleficent continues to play well. Disney's Sleeping Beauty remake was off a light 36% in its fifth weekend to $8.2 million, and has been in the Top 5 five-straight weekends. Maleficent has earned nearly $600 million worldwide so far, and passed $200 million today (sitting at $201.8 million in 30 days).
Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys also held decently, off 43% to $7.6 million, for a mild $27.6 million pick-up in 10 days. That isn't a particularly impressive result, and it appears that the movie adaptation of the successful Broadway musical is headed for around $45 million by the time its done. At least it will wind up a few million ahead of Rock of Ages ($38 million), but considering the 2 years of inflation, that's not really saying much.
Edge of Tomorrow did take a hit in the face of Transformers, off 47% to $5.2 million, for a decent $84.2 million pick-up in 24 days. The Tom Cruise film should hold up strong next week before taking another hit from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Because of that, it's hard to tell whether or not it will hit $100 million by the time its finished. Overseas, it has earned $320 million worldwide so far.
The Fault in Our Stars continued to level off, down 44% to $4.8 million, and has picked up a solid $109.5 million in 24 days. The book adaptation is likely to close around $120 million, or about 10 times its miniscule $12 million budget. Comparing other movies this summer, barring another low-budget surprise Fault is likely
to be this summer's most profitable film.
Starting to wind down its run, X-Men: Days of Future Past was also hit by Transformers, down 46% to $3.3 million. Since its debut six weeks ago, the time-travel sequel has earned a strong $223.4 million, and has an outside shot of passing The Last Stand's $234 million gross to become the biggest film in the franchise domestically (not accounting for inflation). But even if it falls short, its still a huge success. X-Men also passed both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to become the year's biggest-grossing movie worldwide at $715 million and almost finished.
Rounding out the Top 10 once again with an absolutely fantastic hold was Jon Favreau's Chef. The food-inspired comedy was off just 3% from last week to $1.65 million, and has picked up a very solid $19.4 million in eight weeks. Finishing in ninth or tenth for six-straight weeks is impressive, and should it expand again or hold onto its screens, $25 million is possible.
Next week brings three openers hoping to take down Transformers. The one with the best chance is Melissa McCarthy's Tammy, with horror flick Deliver Us from Evil and family choice Earth to Echo also hoping to deliver strong numbers over the extended 4th of July frame (all open on Wednesday). Will Transformers be the first film since Captain America: The Winter Soldier to top the box office for two-straight weekends?
