Weekend Box Office Report: "Good Boys" Surprises with Solid #1 Debut While Other Newbies Flop....

Overall business fell behind this same weekend last year by 9%, which had Crazy Rich Asians on top with a $35.3 million five-day launch.


I admit that I was way off here. I thought the material of Seth Rogen's Good Boys would be way too controversial to break out (profane, crude 11/12-year olds, really?). But, apparently adults were very interested, as the film opened ahead of expectations with an estimated $21 million in first place (moderate $6,554 per-venue average). For distributor Universal, this is their third-straight week at #1 after Hobbs and Shaw managed two weeks on top. In the meantime, this debut is in line with last year's Blockers ($20.5 million) among recent R-rated comedies. And on a $20 million budget, this is definitely a successful start. Reviews were strong, and audiences gave the film a solid "B+" CinemaScore. I'm not sure how it will play going forward, but it should turn in decent end-of-season numbers.








Showing better holding power than its predecessors, Hobbs and Shaw was off 44% to $14.1 million in its third frame. The spin-off has pulled in a decent $133.7 million in 17 days, and is going to try to fight its way to $200 million. Overseas remains strong, with the worldwide gross approaching $450 million in three weeks. China is due to open next week.

Disney's remake of The Lion King stayed in third place, off 41% in its fifth frame to $11.9 million. The blockbuster is at $496.1 million so far, and is on track for a finish in the $530 million vicinity. It's currently in 14th place on the all-time domestic chart. Worldwide, its approaching $1 billion overseas, with $1.43 billion so far. It passed Avengers: Age of Ultron for ninth place on the all-time worldwide chart this weekend.

I do wonder why Sony decided to open The Angry Birds Movie 2 on a Tuesday. It just meant that overall business would be significantly watered down. And it was watered down, way more than I expected. The overall weekend was a disappointing $10.5 million (weak $2,714 per-venue average), and a six-day start of $16.2 million. That's nowhere near the $38 million opening of the first film back in 2016. The original Angry Birds Movie wasn't exactly well-revered among audiences ("B-" CinemaScore), and didn't pull in amazing business per se. And two other options for kids in theaters didn't help matters for it either. On the more positive side, reviews were stronger than the original, and the CinemaScore was an improved "B+" as well. It should play through Labor Day weekend, but on a $65 million budget (plus marketing), it's nowhere near a good launch. Sony did expect a $15 million 6-day launch, while analysts thought mostly above $20 million.





After its solid start last week, Scary Stories in the Dark fell an expected 52% to $10.1 million. The PG-13 horror pic has earned a solid $40.2 million in 10 days, against a $25 million budget. It should continue to play solidly over the next couple weeks.

Meanwhile, in a rare miss for shark films, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged fell short of expectations. The sequel earned $9 million in sixth place (mild $3,155 per-venue average). That's behind the 2017 original's $11 million launch (and about half of The Shallows' $17 million launch from 2016), and also behind the studios' optimistic $14-17 million forecast. On the more positive side, distributor Entertainment Studios kept the budget at a light $12 million, which means overall red ink should be minimal. Reviews were mixed, while audiences gave it a mixed "C+" CinemaScore.

With a lot of competition from families, Dora and the Lost City of Gold fell 51% in its sophomore frame to $8.5 million. In 10 days, the Nick adaptation has earned a decent $33.9 million. Two more weeks of summer play should help it to find some better legging in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood continues to play like a champ in the midst of all the new films coming out. Quentin Tarantino's latest was off just 35% in its fourth weekend to $7.6 million, for a very solid $114.3 million pick-up in 24 days. It also opened in many overseas markets this weekend, pulling in a terrific $54 million for a $180 million worldwide gross so far.

Opening in ninth place with disappointing numbers was Bruce Springsteen-inspired film Blinded by the Light. The critically-acclaimed, widely-promoted musical dramedy earned an uninspired $4.5 million (weak $1,929 per-venue average). That's one-quarter of the business similar film Yesterday pulled in ($17 million) back at the end of June. The budget was held low at $15 million, but distributor Warner Bros. definitely was hoping for more out of this one. I'm honestly baffled, as I thought this would do much better. But it could be the fact that this weekend had so much to offer that this just got lost in the midst of all the mess. Audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore, and there is some minor awards season buzz spreading for it.

Rounding out the Top 10 in its second frame is The Art of Racing in the Rain. The dog pic was down 46% to $4.4 million, for a weak $16.9 million gross in 10 days. The Fox release will most likely wind up around $25 million stateside.

Meanwhile, in 11th place, Annapurna Pictures was unable to get a decent audience out for Where'd You Go, Bernadette? The book adaptation earned a weak $3.5 million (equally-weak $1,438 per-venue average). Despite boasting Cate Blanchett starring and Richard Linklater directing, the film just didn't connect with the female audience like many hoped it would, and the studio had low confidence in it in the first place (the film moved release dates four times). Reviews were mixed and audiences gave it a mixed "B" CinemaScore. This will likely fade fast.

And that's about it. Next weekend, business slows as action threequel Angel Has Fallen will compete against the Kendrick Brothers' latest Overcomer and horror pic Ready or Not. Its' sure to be a quiet end to summer (as always). I'll have a predictions post up Thursday. :) Hope all has a great week!