As what many were expecting, book adaptation The Girl on the Train debuted at #1, with solid, if not blockbuster numbers. The Emily Blunt flick pulled in $24.7 million, for a solid $7,844 per-venue average from 3,144 locations. This was off from similar book adaptation Gone Girl ($37.5 million), but that book has an arguably bigger fanbase. For Blunt, this is in line with similar movies she's starred in including Into the Woods ($26 million), The Adjustment Bureau ($21 million) and Edge of Tomorrow ($27 million). Ultimately, considering the film had a $45 million price tag, this debut qualifies as a success. The thriller also pulled in $16 million overseas as well. However, critics weren't very kind to it (44% on Rotten Tomatoes), and the CinemaScore was a disheartening "B-". In other words, it might be a challenge for it to see strong holding power in the coming weeks. Distributor Universal projected a mid-to-high $20 millions debut, and its possible Hurricane Matthew closing down theaters in a few states kept it from matching those projections.Meanwhile, last week's topper, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, couldn't quite hold itself together. The Tim Burton film was down 48% to $15 million, for an OK $51.1 million gross in 10 days. The hold could have been worse, but it also could have been better for the YA adaptation. The fantastical theme should still play fairly well over the next few weeks, though. And the film is doing good overseas, with $95 million picked up so far after expanding to 75 markets.
Holding better was Deepwater Horizon, which was off 42% to $11.8 million. The Mark Wahlberg thriller is at $38.5 million in 10 days, still not a great number in the face of a $120 million price tag. Its' at $65 million worldwide in two weeks. Faring better than last weekend, The Magnificent Seven was off 41% to $9.2 million, for a fairly decent $75.9 million gross in 17 days. and $135 million worldwide. The animated flick Storks followed, continuing to level off decently with a 37% slide to $8.5 million. Warner Animation has earned just $50.1 million in 17 days, and just over $100 million worldwide.
The other two new releases almost tied for sixth place. The historical drama The Birth of a Nation opened to disappointing results, $7.1 million from 2,105 locations ($3,373 per-venue average). That's about half of what was expected. Even though it was in the running for awards season at first, controversy on the film's historical background has done no good for it. The budget was only $10 million, so it should be OK by the time its finished. Reviews were solid (79% on Rotten Tomatoes), and the CinemaScore was a strong "A".
Meanwhile, school comedy Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life debuted on par with expectations, earning $6.9 million, for a mediocre $2,445 per-venue average (from 2,822 locations). Despite some marketing from distributor Lionsgate, the PG movie really just didn't connect with older kids and families (family flicks have had a bit of a hard time in theaters lately). The budget was only $8.5 million, however, earned OK remarks from critics (59% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a solid "A-" CinemaScore. With Columbus Day being off for kids from school plus no real competition in the coming weeks, this could have a decent multiple. With the small budget anyway, distributor Lionsgate is probably in decent shape here. They projected a $6 million start.Continuing to play well was Sully, as the Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood flick was off 36% in its fifth weekend to $5.3 million. The potential awards season contender is at a very good $113.5 million in one month of release. After a disappointing start last week, Masterminds had an OK hold in its sophomore frame, down 37% to $4.1 million. But the 10-day gross is still just a meager $12.8 million, in what will likely be a final gross that struggles to get over $20 million.
Disney's Queen of Katwe rounded out the Top 10, off 35% to $1.6 million. Since its limited start 17 days ago, the sports drama has earned a disappointing $5.4 million, with not much to go. Hopefully it will get some love at awards season.
And that's about it. Next weekend, Ben Affleck and Kevin Hart face off for the top spot as thriller The Accountant opens against Hart's comedy flick What Now? Finally, the video game adaptation Max Steel hits theaters in what is likely to be a quiet debut. The fall season is fully in its stride, as always, we'll see.
