As summer gets ready to close up shop, overall business hopes to have one more solid weekend in what has been a very good August. I would expect overall business to stay ahead of last year, when The Hitman's Bodyguard led a weak end-of-August weekend with $10.3 million.
Here is the predicted Top 10:
#1: Crazy Rich Asians ($17.5 million, -34%)
With strong word-of-mouth, an encouraging weekend multiplier and no competition for its target audience, look for this book adaptation to have a strong sophomore hold. It might hold the top spot through Labor Day if it maintains this pace.
#2: The Happytime Murders ($14 million)
This is a tricky movie to predict. The Jim Henson Company is attempting to do something on the level of Sausage Party ($34 million), which was the first R-rated animated film. This is the first R-rated Muppet movie (well, of course, no recognizable Muppet characters are in the movie). What might help Murders out (as overall tracking has been mixed) is Melissa McCarthy. While she doesn't deliver $30+ million debuts anymore, her starpower will definitely perk up the film's chances. At the same time though, the concept seems too novelty for many general moviegoers. Add in the fact that late-August usually isn't a strong weekend for new releases, and you may have a problem here.
#3: The Meg ($12.5 million, -41%)
The shark thriller looks to level off very nicely from its decline last week, especially with no new prominent PG-13 action flicks opening anytime soon.
#4: Mile 22 ($7 million, -49%)
Mixed word-of-mouth doesn't spell good news for Mark Wahlberg's latest.
#5 (tie): Alpha ($6.5 million, -37%)
With family audiences looking to catch up on movies before school lets back in a little over a week from this point, it would be reasonable to expect Alpha to have a decent to solid sophomore hold.
#5 (tie): Mission: Impossible - Fallout ($6.5 million, -40%)
Tom Cruise should remain a box office factor this weekend as well, as his action-heavy audience will likely not be stolen by puppets.
#7: Christopher Robin ($6 million, -32%)
For families with younger kids, Christopher Robin will likely continue to hold strong over the next few weeks.
#8: BlackKklansman ($5.5 million, -26%)
A possible awards season contender, do not be surprised if this posts the best hold of the Top 10.
#9: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation ($2.7 million, -29%)
The animated threequel should continue to hold strong once again due to families catching up on movies before summer break comes to a close.
#10: A-X-L ($2.5 million)
Despite a decent marketing effort, there really isn't any interest in this particular PG movie. It's a boy and his dog tale with a robotic twist. Following a week after another twist on that same plotline (Alpha) doesn't bode well to begin with. There's no recognizable names in the cast either and the film is only opening in 1,600 locations. In the end, this may be too generous a forecast.
