As expected, the R&B biopic Straight Outta Compton held onto the top spot, even if it didn't hold like a crowd-pleaser. Falling 56% from its huge opening, Compton earned $26.8 million, for a very solid $111.5 million pick-up in 10 days. Compton became the year's 19th film to pass $100 million (7 of which are from Universal [Trainwreck passed it this weekend too]). Unless it continues to drop hard (it should stabilize due to little competition), Compton should keep the top spot next weekend and Labor Day Weekend as well, as the end of the summer isn't showing to have anything real appealing. Overseas business has been small, but for this kind-of-movie, that's not surprising. And with the $29 million budget in mind, Universal's not complaining.The lack of any real crowd-drawers allowed Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation to keep the 2nd spot in its fourth weekend. The critically-acclaimed action flick (I saw it yesterday - review coming later this week) was off a light 32% to $11.7 million, for a strong $157.8 million in 24 days. The fifth installment in the almost 20-year old franchise, should it continue holding well, has a shot at reaching $200 million (and that's without 3D). Overseas, Rogue Nation is past $400 million worldwide with China still yet to open.
Topping all the new releases was Sinister 2, but the horror sequel failed to really generate good numbers. It earned $10.6 million, for a very mild $3,844 per-theater average (from 2,766 locations). That was below expectations, which most studios had predicted a $15 million debut. Despite the first Sinister becoming a solid hit back in 2013, the horror genre has struggled this year in getting audiences into theaters. Reviews were bad (13% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was a decent (for the genre) "B-". This could hold fine through Labor Day, but it might be a stretch for it to reach $30 million. The budget was only $10 million, however, for distributor Focus Features.
As the spy genre hasn't had enough entries in the last several weeks, Hitman: Agent 47 launched in fourth place with, as expected, mediocre results. The video game adaptation, despite a strong marketing effort, earned only $8.2 million, for a per-venue average of a weak $2,515 from 3,261 locations. That was down from the first Hitman adaptation, which earned $13 million in its debut back in 2007. Reviews for this spy flick were terrible (8% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was a "B". Don't expect this to be in theaters for very long. It did, however, get off to a decent $8.5 million start overseas. The budget was $35 million.
The other major spy flick of the last few weeks, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., had an OK hold in its second frame (considering the competition). The Guy Ritchie flick was down 45% to $7.4 million, for a mild $26.6 million pick-up in 10 days. Look for a finish in the $45 million vicinity, which would only be just over half of its $85 million budget.
Opening in sixth place with less-than-expected was the action comedy American Ultra, which packed in just $5.5 million (puny $1,980 per-venue average from 2,778 locations). Starring Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, the Lionsgate release did open in line with those two actor's last effort together, Adventureland ($5.7 million), but that's not saying much. Critical reception was mixed-to-negative (45% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was a mixed "B-". The budget was only $12 million however, so Lionsgate's financial risk is very minimal.
Despite some added competition from Sinister 2, The Gift had a very solid hold in its third weekend, off just 34% to $4.3 million, for a very decent $31.1 million 17-day pick-up. Joel Edgerton's critically-acclaimed directorial effort could finish between $40 and $45 million, which would mark a solid debut for new distributor STX Entertainment.
Having some late-run stability, Ant-Man had its best hold yet in its sixth weekend, off a Top 10-lightest 26% to $4.1 million, for a very solid $164.5 million pick-up in 37 days. It now is running just $4 million behind the pace of Captain America: The First Avenger and it has a small chance of winding up ahead of the first Thor's $181 million domestic gross.
Minions also showed some late-in-the-game stability in ninth place, off just 28% in its seventh weekend to $3.7 million. The Despicable Me spin-off has earned $320 million since its opening 49 days ago, and is at $989 million worldwide, passing The Lion King for the third-biggest animated movie ever globally (behind Frozen and Toy Story 3). Minions will become the 3rd Universal film this year (and 4th for 2015) to pass the $1 billion milestone over the next few days. And China has yet to open.
Rounding out the Top 10, Fantastic Four continued its rapid decline out of the Top 10, down 55% in its third weekend to $3.65 million. Fox's superhero reboot flop has earned just $49.6 million in 17 days, still less than the first two Fantastic Four movies' opening weekends. Worldwide, its only just ahead of its budget at $135 million with not much more to go.
That's it for this week. Next weekend brings escape thriller No Escape, comedy We Are Your Friends, and the latest from the Kendrick Brothers, War Room. And Jurassic World expands back into IMAX theaters for one week only. How will they all fare? We shall see.
