Distributor Universal's fantabulous year continues, as Straight Outta Compton rode its strong buzz to a fantastic $56 million opening weekend. The rap/R&B biopic averaged a huge $20,348 from 2,757 locations (its very rare for a movie opening in under 3,000 locations to manage an opening this high). That's ahead of expectations, which had pegged a start in the $35-40 million range based on studio projections. But, this movie had put up impressive tracking numbers a few months before its' release, especially with its trailers. And despite its R rating (in fact, this is in the Top 10 biggest openers to date for the R rating), it pulled in a strong mature audience. Universal, thanks to this, has passed the $2 billion mark domestically for the year in record time, and has its sights set on Warner Bros. 2009 record of $2.1 billion for the most earned ever by a studio in any year. The movie was somewhat front-loaded over the weekend, but it earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and an "A" CinemaScore. Look for this one to hold the top spot next weekend, and possibly the weekend after as overall business begins to slow.The positive word-of-mouth is starting to kick in for Mission - Impossible: Rogue Nation. The Tom Cruise hit was off a solid 40% in its third weekend to $17 million, for a very solid $138.1 million pick-up in 17 days. With little to no competition for the rest of the summer, Rogue Nation is likely to stabilize more in the coming weeks. Overseas, the hit is already at $375 million worldwide and counting with China still yet to open.
Meanwhile, methinks Warner Bros. multi-movie strategy for this summer may not have been a great idea. Despite a strong marketing effort and generally solid reviews (65% on Rotten Tomatoes), Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. failed to break out, pulling in only $13.5 million in third place, for a mild $3,720 per-venue average from 3,638 locations. The spy thriller is actually based off of a classic 1960's TV series. However, any fanbase that show had didn't show up in noticeable numbers this weekend. The CinemaScore for U.N.C.L.E. was a "B", which doesn't bode well for word-of-mouth. However, little competition for its older audience could allow it to have decent holds down the line. Distributor Warner Bros. projected a mid-teens millions start, and the budget was $75 million.Following its absolutely terrible start last week, Fantastic Four's mixed-to-negative word-of-mouth took its toll, and the superhero flick plummeted 69% to $8 million. In just 10 days, Fantastic Four has only earned $42 million, not even close to the previous Fantastic Four movies' opening weekends ($56 million and $58 million, respectively). Overseas, the film continues to struggle, with the worldwide total at just over $100 million so far, with Asia still yet to release.
Having a much better hold was The Gift, which was off 45% from its solid opening to $6.5 million. For a flick of its genre (horror or thriller), this is actually a very good hold. In 10 days, Joel Edgerton's directorial debut has earned a decent $23.6 million. The strong amount of action competition isn't hurting Ant-Man, which continues to stabilize later in its run. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 2 conclusion was off just 30% in its fifth weekend to $5.5 million, for a solid $157.6 million pick-up. It has earned $350 million worldwide so far with China and Japan yet to open.
Surprisingly also not being hurt by the competition is the Vacation remake, which was off 41% in its third weekend to $5.3 million. Ed Helms' R-rated taste on the Chevy Chase franchise has picked up an OK $46.9 million in 19 days, and is on track for a finish above $60 million. Minions had its strongest hold yet, off 30% to $5.2 million, for a very strong $313 million pick-up in six weeks of release. Meanwhile, the animated spin-off has been absolutely huge overseas, with the worldwide total at $950 million, with the $1 billion mark likely to fall with China still to open.
Expanding to nearly 500 more theaters, Ricki and the Flash had a solid hold, off just 31% to $4.6 million, for a meh $14.7 million pick-up in 10 days. Look for a final gross around $25 million for Meryl Streep's latest. Rounding out the Top 10 in its fifth weekend is Trainwreck (the third Universal title in the Top 10), which was off 38% to $3.8 million, and a strong $97.9 million gross in one month of release. Amy Schumer's comedy will pass $100 million by next weekend.
Drops for other movies outside the Top 10 list include Pixels ($3.4 million, -37%, $64.5 million in 24 days), Shaun the Sheep Movie ($2.85 million, -29%, $11.1 million in 12 days), Southpaw ($2.8 million, -48%, $45.7 million in 24 days), Inside Out ($2 million, -25%, $339.4 million in nine weeks), Jurassic World ($1.2 million in 10th weekend, off 38%, $637.9 million pick-up in 70 days).
And that's it. Next weekend brings Sinister 2, Hitman: Agent 47 and American Ultra to the box office party. How will they all fare? We shall see.
