Weekend Projections: Frankenstein D.O.A.
January 26, 2014
After tracking poorly for months, Lionsgate's I, Frankenstein arrived in theaters this weekend with a disappointing projected $8.275 million, according to the distributor, enough for only 6th place on a box office chart that's a jumble of Oscar hopefuls and less ambitious January fare. Ride Along tops the list with $21.1 million projected for the weekend by Universal, which also lays claim to this weekend's number two spot with Lone Survivor's $12.6 million.
Ride Along will finish the weekend with about $75 million in the bank, and should cruise to $100 million before it's done. That will make it the first $100 million movie in a leading role for both Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.
Frankenstein has been savaged by critics, and will quickly disappear from theaters. Lionsgate wasn't pushing it hard in the first place, and its 2,753 opening theater count in late January speaks volumes for the studio's faith in the film.
Oscar hopefuls growing in theater count and box office this weekend include Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, 12 Years a Slave and Nebraska. None rejoin the top 10, where Frozen remains the top Awards Season earner, in its third month in release.
Two films open with a theater average over $10,000. Gloria will average close to $20,000 in three theaters, and Visitors looks set to just get over the $10,000 bar.
Bruce Nash bruce.nash@the-numbers.com
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Dallas Buyers Club, Lone Survivor, Ride Along, Frozen, I, Frankenstein, Gloria, 12 Years a Slave, Nebraska, Visitors, Ice Cube, Kevin Hart