It was expected to be a battle for first place, but in the end, Jack Black wound up on top with Goosebumps. Sony's second offering for the Halloween season opened in line with expectations, pulling in a solid $23.5 million, for a decent $6,712 per-venue average. With 3D surcharges helping, Goosebumps did manage to open higher than last week's Pan ($15.3 million). Also, the family fantasy pic opened higher than last October's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day ($18 million) and The Book of Life ($17 million). Its not a strong start by any means, but in the face of a moderate budget ($58 million), its solid regardless. Reviews were surprisingly good (71% on Rotten Tomatoes), while audiences gave the film a solid "A" CinemaScore. Little competition for families through Halloween (despite being rated PG, Jem and the Holograms are not expected to steal the show at all) should allow Goosebumps to have strong holds the next couple of weeks. Distributor Sony was cautious about the film's expectations, instead they expected a debut around $15 million.After topping the last two weeks, The Martian slipped down to the runner-up position. Ridley Scott and Matt Damon did drop a little harder this time around (due to more competition for adults), as the space epic was off 42% to $21.5 million. That's not as strong a hold as Gravity (which was down 32% in its third weekend), but it was better than Interstellar (which fell 46% in its third weekend). In 17 days, The Martian has earned a strong $143.8 million stateside and almost $260 million worldwide with much more to go.
Meanwhile, opening in third place with decent, if unspectacular results was Steven Spielberg's latest, Bridge of Spies. The Cold War thriller opened to $15.4 million, for a moderate per-venue average of $5,471. That's on the low end of expectations, which had pegged the critically-adored (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) flick to open in the high-teens millions. And its also less than star Tom Hanks' last flick, Captain Phillips ($26 million). However, this isn't a bad start either. Being a possible awards season contender (and earning an A CinemaScore), Bridge of Spies stands a good chance at having strong legs in the coming weeks. For instance, Argo opened to $19 million back in 2011, but due to strong awards season buzz, held strong on its way to a finish of $135 million. Now that kind of multiple may not be in store here, but awards season contenders still play well during the Fall and early winter, regardless. Distributor Disney (through its Touchstone label) produced the flick for $40 million.But the decent news stopped there for new releases. Guillermo del Toro's seemingly much-anticipated Crimson Peak failed to generate much interest, pulling in just $12.9 million in fourth place. The gothic horror flick averaged a mild $4,306 per location. While buzz seemed very strong, the overall film probably suffered from a strong case of inflation from del Toro's fanbase. Reviews were good (68% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was a "B-" (actually not bad at all for a horror flick). But, with The Last Witch Hunter and Paranormal Activity 5 both opening next week, that may spell a lot of trouble for the flick (and it had IMAX boosting it, to boot). Crimson Peak carried a $55 million pricetag, and got off to a mediocre start overseas ($13 million from 55 territories). In the end, this will likely end up a rare misstep in an overall red-hot year for distributor Universal (they were expecting a high-teens millions opening for this).
Despite competition from a fellow Sony family flick, Hotel Transylvania 2 continued to hold fairly well. The animated sequel was down 40% in its fourth weekend to $12.3 million, for a very solid $136.4 million in 24 days, or $18 million ahead of the first movie through the same weekend. The animated sequel will become Sony Pictures Animation's first movie to pass $150 million domestic in the next week or so. Overseas, the film has earned about $270 million worldwide so far, on its way to more than $400 million worldwide.
Following its dismal start last week, audiences were scared away from Pan. The Joe Wright prequel to the fairy tale was down a disturbing 62% to $5.9 million, for an abysmal 10-day gross of $25.7 million. Overseas included, the film has only earned half of its $150 million budget. The domestic final gross, in the meantime, will struggle to reach $40 million.
Fellow Warner Bros. flick The Intern had another solid hold, off just 38% in the face of more competition to $5.4 million, for a solid $58.7 million gross in 24 days. The Nancy Meyers flick looks likely to finish above $70 million stateside. Meanwhile, possible Oscar contender Sicario was off 41% in its third nationwide round to $4.5 million, for a decent $34.7 million gross since its limited start one month ago. Sicario is on track for a respectable $45 million domestic finish (its budget was $30 million).
Meanwhile, despite a strong grassroots marketing campaign, Pure Flix's latest movie, Woodlawn, failed to break out. The Christian drama opened to $4.1 million from over 1,500 locations (a mediocre $2,640 per-venue average). That matches the Erwin Brothers' last effort, Mom's Night Out ($4.3 million), and its slightly ahead of Do You Believe? ($3.4 million). However, that number pales in comparison to War Room ($11.1 million) from earlier this year. Also, the budget was $25 million (expensive for a Christian movie), so that opening number doesn't especially look good in the face of the budget. If there's some light, reviews have been good (all 4 on Rotten Tomatoes counted are positive) and the CinemaScore was a rare "A+". It could hold well in the coming weeks. But again, sadly, this is probably not what Pure Flix was looking for.Rounding out the Top 10 in its fifth weekend was The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials, which was down 49% to $2.8 million. The second installment in the Maze Runner trilogy has earned a decent $75.4 million in one month of release. Worldwide, the sequel has earned a solid $255 million, with China and Japan still yet to open.
Next weekend brings five new releases. Leading the charge is Vin Diesel's remake The Last Witch Hunter, and the nationwide expansion of potential Oscar contender Steve Jobs. Also opening are Jem and the Holograms, Rock the Kasbah and the final installment in the Paranormal Activity franchise. Will October toughen back up business-wise? We shall see.
