Overall business ended up increasing a slim 0.9% from this same weekend last year, which had the remake of Predator on top with $24 million.
As expected, It: Chapter 2 remained in first place. It didn't hold as well as its predecessor, but it also held better than other films in its genre. The anticipated sequel was off 55% to $40.7 million, for a strong $153.8 million in 10 days. In comparison, the first It was off 51% in its sophomore frame, while last year's The Nun plummeted 66%. While the first film had earned over $60 million more through this point, to expect the sequel to build on huge numbers might have been too unrealistic. With no horror competition the remainder of the month, it should have enough juice to get past $200 million stateside, and might even reach $250 million if it remains a player through Halloween. Overseas, it's pulled in $175 million in some markets for an early $330 million worldwide total.
Opening in second place in a much-needed win for distributor STX is Hustlers. The female-driven crime comedy managed to earn a very good $33.2 million in its debut, ahead of even the most generous of expectations (its' $10,225 per-venue average was the highest of the weekend). Buzz for the film had built over the past month, with strong reviews in its' favor as well (though audiences were less enthusiastic with a "B-" CinemaScore). Regardless of how it plays in the coming weeks, Hustlers is already a solid win in the face of a $20 million budget. It's also worth noting that this movie had the third-biggest opening this year for a film that wasn't a sequel or remake, behind Us and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Behind those two, the rest of the Top 10 ended up at $5 million or less as theaters slowly adjust into the fall season. Angel Has Fallen continued to play well in third place, off 27% to $4.4 million, for a very solid $60.4 million pick-up in 24 days. Good Boys was right behind it, off a light 22% in its fifth frame to $4.3 million. The R-rated comedy has earned a good $73.3 million in one month of release, as it benefits from a lack of comedy competition. The Lion King spent a ninth-straight weekend in the Top 5, as the Disney remake was off a light 18% to $3.6 million. In 63 days, the blockbuster has earned a gargantuan $534 million, and currently ranks as the 12th-biggest movie of all-time domestically. It's about to pass The Dark Knight ($535 million) for 11th place, and currently ranks seventh on the all-time list worldwide.
Hobbs and Shaw and Overcomer once again tied, with just $35,000 separating the two different films. The Fast and Furious spin-off was down 27% in its seventh weekend to $2.77 million, for a decent (if unspectacular) $168.3 million gross in 49 days. It's also approaching $750 million worldwide. Meanwhile, the Kendrick Brothers' latest was off a light 26% to $2.73 million, for a fairly decent $29 million pick-up in 24 days.
That leaves the weekend's other new wide release in a disastrous start in eighth place. Failing to drum up any anticipation or buzz, The Goldfinch earned just $2.6 million, for a pathetic $1,039 per-venue average. With weak reviews from its Toronto Film Festival premiere plus not much of a marketing effort, the book adaptation is another big miss for Warner Bros. that really should have been saved for its' upcoming HBOMax streaming service instead. Thankfully WB has It to boost any money lost from this title, which carried a $45 million budget. Audiences gave it a "B" CinemaScore.
Expanding a bit further to 1,500 locations, the critically-acclaimed The Peanut Butter Falcon held onto a spot in the Top 10 for a second-straight week. The dramedy was off a miniscule 10% to $1.9 million, for a pretty good $15 million pick-up in six weeks. Rounding out the Top 10 in its sixth week is Dora and the Lost City of Gold. The Nick adaptation was off 21% to $1.85 million, for a meh $56.7 million pick-up in 42 days. However, the international gross has been the big disappointment here, with just $35 million pulled in from most territories.
That's about it. Next weekend, three possible breakouts are set to open. Brad Pitt is hoping to drum up awards season buzz for his outer space thriller Ad Astra, some famous Brits are making a return in Downton Abbey, and Sylvester Stallone returns to one of his most famous roles in Rambo: Last Blood. Look for a predictions post on Thursday. :)
