Weekend Estimates: Openers Falter to Give Butler Second Win

August 25, 2013

Lee Daniels' The Butler will enjoy a second weekend atop the box office chart thanks in part to a good hold, at 31% down from last weekend, but also because of a major misfire for Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on its opening weekend. The fantasy adventure will only muster about $9.3 million Friday-Sunday for $14.05 million after five days in release -- a big disappointment for a film that reportedly cost $60 million to produce. International markets will make up some of the gap, and a sequel is still said to be in the works, but North America won't contribute much if anything to the coffers after marketing costs are taken into account. The rest of the chart has some bright spots though.

In second place, We're the Millers fell only 25% in its third weekend. It has now amassed $91.7 million, and should cruise through $100 million, particularly if it benefits from a good Labor Day weekend.

The World's End, the final film in the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, will have the best opening for the franchise with $8.9 million or so, and a respectable $5,773 theater average.

The weekend's other wide release, You're Next will post a so-so $7.05 million from 2,437 theaters, which is in line with expectations for a film that sat on Lionsgate's shelf for a while.

A film expanding wide this weekend is Blue Jasmine, which continues to earn accolades and will earn about $4.3 million from 1,283 theaters. Its $3,352 average suggests it won't expand much further, but it will stick around for a long, long time.

Also expanding, The Spectacular Now is expected to earn about $650,000 from 154 theaters for a decent average of $4,221. In a World... continues to do well with $303,130 expected from 75 venues.

Among the openers in limited release, two films stand out. Chinese actioner The Grandmaster will bring in around $130,000 from 7 theaters, and Short Term 12 is expected to earn approximately $60,000 in 4 locations for an average of $15,000. Both films will expand, but the latter is probably the one to watch for a broader breakout.

- Weekend Estimates

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, We’re the Millers, Lee Daniels' The Butler, The World's End, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, You're Next, Blue Jasmine, Yi dai zong shi, The Spectacular Now, In a World..., Short Term 12, Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy