Overall business was down a sharp 25% from this same weekend last year when Hotel Transylvania 2 smashed its' predecessor's September opening weekend record with $49 million.
As what many were expecting, the remake of The Magnificent Seven topped the box office. The Denzel Washington-Antoine Fuqua production managed $34.7 milllion, for a solid $9,446 per-venue average. That was behind expectations, which many had pegged the movie to open over $40 million (though distributor Sony was conservative with a $32-34 million projection). It's also in line with Washington's last movie, The Equalizer. It's also the second-biggest start to date for a Western behind Cowboys and Aliens (unadjusted for inflation). While the debut altogether is fine for the time of year, it's not a great start by all means. Considering co-star Chris Pratt anchored movies that opened to $67 million and higher (including the record-smashing Jurassic World), this pales in comparison to the remainder of his films. Reviews were pretty decent though (61% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the CinemaScore was an "A-". It could have a fairly decent run (it earned $19 million overseas).
Meanwhile, in second place was the other new release, animated comedy Storks. Warner Animation Group's sophomore effort (following The LEGO Movie) didn't really make much of an impression however, pulling in $21.3 million, for a mild $5,434 per-venue average. That was also behind expectations, which had projected a debut north of $30 million. With solid buzz plus no real competition for families, Storks had the marketplace to itself. But instead, the animated comedy opened in line with last month's Pete's Dragon remake. There was something semi-controversial about the ending of the film which did turn away some conservative families, which may have had something to do with the film losing some business. Reviews turned out decent (65% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was an "A-". Competition will be a factor next weekend for older children when Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children opens. The budget was a light (for animation) $70 million.After topping two consecutive weekends, Sully retreated to third place with a decent hold, off 38% to $13.5 million. In 17 days, the Tom Hanks-Clint Eastwood thriller has picked up $92.1 million. It will pass $100 million next weekend. Bridget Jones' Baby followed in a distant fourth with a 46% decline to $4.7 million, for a not good $16.6 million pick-up in 10 days. Renee Zellweger's return to the big screen will struggle to finish above $25 million stateside, but it is doing good business overseas, with $55 million so far.
Snowden was down 49% (despite its' "A" CinemaScore) to $4.1 million, for a disappointing $15.1 million pick-up in 10 days. Blair Witch fared even worse, off 58% to $4.05 million, for a not good $16.2 million gross in the same amount of time. Audiences continued to prefer Don't Breathe, which was off just 33% in its fifth weekend to $3.8 million, for a strong $81.1 million gross in one month of release.
Suicide Squad continued to level off in its eighth weekend, off 34% to $3.1 million, for a fantastic $318.1 million gross in 56 days, and over $700 million worldwide. When the Bough Breaks fell 54% to $2.5 million, for a decent, though unmemorable $26.6 million gross in 17 days. Rounding out the Top 10 in its sixth weekend was Kubo and the Two Strings, which took a direct hit from Storks. Down 56% to $1.1 million, Laika's critically-adored production has earned $46 million in 42 days.
That's about it. Next weekend Tim Burton returns with the adaptation Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, along with Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon, comedy Masterminds, and the expansion of Disney's The Queen of Katwe. Can these movies save what is turning into a lackluster Fall season? We shall see.
