As expected, it was all Furious 7, as the penultimate entry of the blockbuster franchise continued to zoom to massive heights. For the weekend, it fell 59% to $60.6 million (per-venue average of a strong $15,065 from 4,022 locations), for a superb $252.2 million gross in 10 days, the ninth-biggest 10-day gross in history. That was a slightly better hold than both Fast Five and Fast and Furious 6, which both fell 62% and 64% in their second weekends. Being Paul Walker's last film, audience interest is still clearly through-the-roof. Unless it drops heavier next weekend (and barring an unexpected break-out from Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and/or Unfriended), the film should still be at the top of the charts. Overseas, the movie smashed records, including the opening day record in China at an astounding $68.5 million. Furious 7 held strong in all its markets to add an additional $195 million, for a worldwide tally of already $800 million and still surging. While it probably will be front-loaded overseas, Furious 7 not only will join the $1 billion club, but also stands a strong chance at getting into the Top 10 biggest movies ever worldwide.In its third weekend, DreamWorks Animation's Home stabilized nicely, off just 30% to $19 million, for a solid $129.6 million pick-up in 17 days. Home remains about $5 million ahead of the pace of The Croods, and is also ahead of How To Train Your Dragon 2's pace from last summer. While it's likely to miss $200 million, and will have minor competition from Paul Blart - Mall Cop 2 next weekend, its still set to be a much-needed victory for the struggling animation studio. Overseas has been solid, though unspectacular (its on pace for around a $400 million finish, if not more).
Opening in third place, as expected, was the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Longest Ride. The chick flick opened in line with modest expectations, pulling in $13.6 million (very mild $4,011 per-venue average from 3,366 locations). In comparison, Ride did manage to open above The Best of Me, and in line with The Notebook, though its far from Safe Haven and Dear John. Reviews were bad (29% on Rotten Tomatoes), though the CinemaScore was a very good "A" from audiences. With the latter especially in mind, and no competition next week, Ride could play well through the remainder of the month (unless Age of Adaline steals its' thunder in two weeks). All in all, though, this is hardly a bad debut by all means, but not impressive either.
After falling hard last weekend, Get Hard stabilized, off 34% to $8.6 million, for a decent $71.2 million gross in 17 days. The Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell flick is set to finish above $90 million, though it will most likely fall short of the century mark. Disney's Cinderella remake had a solid hold in fifth place, off 29% to $7.2 million, for a more impressive $180.8 million pick-up in one month of release. In comparison, Oz: The Great and Powerful earned $8 million over the post-Easter frame. Should it continue to hold up strong from here on out, Cinderella might get to $200 million. Finally showing some stability, Insurgent was off just 32% to $6.9 million in sixth place, for a solid, if unspectacular $114.8 million gross in 24 days. Insurgent gained a tiny bit of ground on its predecessor thanks to Spring Break, and trails Divergent now by $10 million.
Expanding to over 1,500 locations, Woman in Gold remained in seventh place, and earned $5.9 million ($3,891 per-venue average). Since its limited debut 10 days ago, the World War II drama has earned a decent $9.3 million. This could hang around for a while if older audiences continue to come out in the coming weeks.
Critically-adored horror thriller It Follows was off just a light 19% in eighth place to $2 million, for a decent $11.8 million since its limited debut one month ago. Two expanding limited releases rounded out the Top 10. Al Pacino dramedy Danny Collins picked up $1.6 million from 739 locations, while Ben Stiller's While We're Young earned $1.4 million from just 246 locations (a more impressive per-venue average of $5,598 VS. $2,165 for Collins).
Next weekend, Kevin James returns in Paul Blart - Mall Cop 2, while horror reaches social media in Unfriended, and Disney releases another nature documentary in Monkey Kingdom. Will any of them be able to do better than expectations or even challenge Furious 7?
