Weekend Estimates: Time for Pirates to Sail into the Sunset?

May 28th, 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is dominating proceedings at the box office this weekend, with Disney projecting an opening of $62.2 million for three days, and $76.6 million over the complete Memorial Day holiday weekend. As I’ve said a few times this year, any other studio would kill for numbers like those, but this marks the third straight decline in the franchise’s fortunes. Dead Man’s Chest had the best opening for any Pirates film, with $135.6 million in 2006; At World’s End did $114.7 million over Memorial Day weekend in 2007; and then On Stranger Tides delivered a $90.2-million debut, also over Memorial Day weekend in 2011. With this kind of start, Dead Men will struggle to deliver $200 million domestically, although its international performance will help make up the numbers. More...

Friday Estimates: Dead Men Tops Chart, but Struggles, with $23.40 million

May 27th, 2017

As expected, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales earned first place at the Friday box office. Unfortunately, it missed the low end of expectations with $23.40 million, putting it on pace for a $62 million three-day weekend and a $73 million total opening. The film’s reviews are just 32% positive, putting it in a tie with On Stranger Tides for worst in the franchise. On the other hand, the film earned an A minus from CinemaScore compared to a B plus for the previous installment, so that should help its legs a little. That said, the film cost $230 million to make, so unless it is a monster hit at the international box office, there’s little hope the sequel teased in the end credits will happen. More...

Buena Vista Social Club: Adios Trailer

May 26th, 2017

Music documentary opens today ... Full Movie Details. More...

Theater Counts: Pirates Launches in 4,276 Theaters

May 26th, 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales will crash into 4,276 theaters this weekend, according to Disney. That will set a franchise record, ahead of On Stranger Tides’ 4,155-theater debut back in 2011, and equal Avengers: Age of Ultron as the 17th-widest opening of all time. The film certainly has enough ammunition for a $100 million opening, but expectations are much more subdued: we are expecting something around $67 million. More...

Thursday Night Previews: Dead Men are not Lively, Baywatch Going Unseen

May 26th, 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales will have no trouble earning first place at the weekend box office, not after earning $5.5 million in previews last night. This would have given it number one for the night, if the numbers weren’t rolled into its Friday debut. On Stranger Tides managed $4.7 million during its midnight shows, but it was truly a midnight show, rather than starting at 7 pm like Dead Men Tell No Tales did. This is 30% higher than Alien: Covenant managed last week, but well behind the $8.2 million X-Men: Apocalypse managed this weekend last year. Dead Men Tell No Tales will need serious growth to match our previous prediction of $67 million / $82 million debut. On the positive side, it is a long weekend and that will undoubtedly help. On the negative side, its reviews are quite terrible. More...

Limited and VOD Releases: Strange List this Week

May 26th, 2017

A few films on this week’s list are earning 100% positive reviews. This includes Long Strange Trip, the Grateful Dead rockumentary. Despite these reviews, I would suggest waiting a week to see it on Video on Demand. More...

Contest: Wonder Why

May 25th, 2017

Next weekend is the first weekend of June and Wonder Woman is hoping to get the month off to a very fast start and should become one of the biggest hits of the year so far. (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is just hoping to thrive in a counter-programming role.) I’m not saying Wonder Woman will open with $100 million, but it could earn more during its opening weekend than the top four did the same weekend last year. Because it is going to dominate the box office so much, it is the only real choice for the target film in this week’s box office prediction contest. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office number for Wonder Woman.

Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going over, will win a Frankenprise consisting of their choice of either one TV on DVD release, two movies, or a kids package (could be a theatrical release, a couple of single-disc TV on DVD releases, or a full season TV on DVD release). Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), without going under, will also win a Frankenprize, as described above. Finally, we will be choosing an entrant from the group of people who haven't won, or haven't won recently, and they will win the final Frankenprize, as described above.

Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay! More...

Wonder Trailer

May 25th, 2017

Drama starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson opens November 17 ... Full Movie Details. More...

Weekend Predictions: Will New Releases Make a Splash, or are They Dead in the Water?

May 25th, 2017

It’s Memorial Day long weekend, which is historically one of the best long weekends at the box office all year. However, this year the two new releases are far from the best. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has the worst reviews in the franchise and its domestic box office will likely be the same. Sadly, Baywatch’s reviews are even worse. That said, they should still finish one-two over the weekend, while Alien: Covenant and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 will be in a race for third place. It likely won’t be close. Meanwhile, this weekend last year, X-Men: Apocalypse and Alice Through the Looking Glass opened one-two during the weekend with results that are similar to what Dead Men Tell No Tales / Baywatch are expected to make. I don’t know if 2017 will win in the year-over-year comparison, but it should be close. More...

International Box Office: Dangal Dominates China in Groundbreaking Run

May 25th, 2017

Dangal became the first Indian film to have its biggest single market not be India. It earned first place in China with $34.22 million over the weekend for totals of $113.55 million in China, $185.6 million internationally, and $198.0 million worldwide. It will shortly become the second Indian film to earn more than $200 million worldwide. More...