As what many expected, it was all about Glass this weekend at the box office. M. Night Shyalaman's latest did solid business, earning $40.3 million over the three-day stretch (solid $10,500 per-venue average) and $46.5 million including Monday. Against just a $20 million production budget, this is a resoundingly successful opening. However, I should note that tracking had this much higher. Originally, forecasts were anywhere between $60 and $70 million, before distributor Universal was more conservative in their initial projections at around $50-55 million. The three-day start was essentially flat with 2017's Split ($40 million), and the four-day start ranks as the third-biggest MLK Weekend opening behind American Sniper and Ride Along. Despite a mixed "B" CinemaScore, the film has earned $95 million worldwide already. So, yes, I don't think anyone is worried here. It could be front-loaded, but even if it ends up just shy of $100 million, its' still a success by all means.Following its' very good debut last week, The Upside held like a pro in second. The dramedy only fell 26% to $15 million, and $18.4 million including Monday. Through its 11th day, its' earned a strong $46.7 million. With little competition for its' older audience coming up, look for Upside to potentially play strong through the next month or so.
Having the weakest hold of the list (as expected) was Aquaman. The superhero blockbuster was off 41% to $10.2 million ($12.7 million including Monday). However, it's continued to be a huge success for all involved, with a strong $306.8 million gross in one month of release. Worldwide, it continues to climb the ranks with $1.06 billion worldwide and counting.
The biggest surprise of the weekend, however, was the strong fourth place performance of anime flick Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Based on the popular anime franchise, the PG film opened to $9.8 million in three days (very good $7,937 per-venue average from 1,243 locations), and $11.9 million through Monday. Opening back on Wednesday, the six-day pick-up is a strong $22.4 million. While the movie will likely be front-loaded from here, this is still way above what anyone expected it to. I was completely unaware of it releasing to begin with. With the budget likely small, this should generate strong profit.
Continuing to show strong holding power later in its run, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was down only 16% to $7.6 million over the three-day weekend ($10.2 million including Monday). I saw this movie again on Sunday, and it has earned a very good $161.2 million in six weeks of release. Spider-Verse will have one more week before The LEGO Movie 2 opens, as it looks like it could reach $180 million stateside. That would pass Hotel Transylvania 2 ($170 million) to become Sony Pictures Animation's biggest movie ever stateside. It hasn't quite earned as much overseas, but its' at over $320 million worldwide.
Fellow Sony release A Dog's Way Home followed and didn't quite hold on as strong. The dog flick was down 36% to $7.2 million ($9.9 million including Monday), for a moderate $24.1 million in 11 days. It might make it past $40 million at this rate, which would qualify as a minor success.
Seventh and eighth place were flip-flopped between the three and four-day stretches. For the three-day, it was another Sony film as Escape Room continued to play solidly. The PG-13 horror thriller was off 37% to $5.6 million ($6.8 million including Monday), for a solid $42.2 million in 18 days. It looks even better against a $9 million budget, as it looks to finish above $50 million.
Mary Poppins Returns did nicely over this weekend, off 32% to $5.2 million ($7.2 million including Monday), for a very solid $160.6 million pick-up in 34 days. Poppins passed $300 million worldwide, in what has been a decent (but not huge) win for Disney. The sequel is on track to finish at about the same range as The Greatest Showman ($175 million).
Continuing to get lost a bit despite strong reviews, Bumblebee fell 34% over the traditional weekend to $4.8 million ($6.1 million including Monday), for an OK $117.3 million pick-up in one month of release. The domestic gross may or may not reach The Last Knight's final gross ($130 million), though thankfully for distributor Paramount, its' earned over $400 million worldwide.
Rounding out the Top 10 was On the Basis of Sex. The Ruth Bader Ginsburg drama was off 36% in its sophomore frame of wide release to $3.9 million ($4.8 million including Monday). It has earned an OK $17.7 million gross in 24 days since its limited start.
And that's about it. Apologies on not having the review for A Dog's Way Home out last week like promised. I will take care of that tomorrow, and have the predictions post up then or Thursday. Hope all has had a great week so far! :)
