Weekend Wrap-Up: Spy High, but not a Monster Hit

June 9, 2015

Spy

None of the three new releases matched expectations and while the holdovers pulled their weight, it wasn't enough to help the overall box office. Spy didn't make it to $30 million during its opening weekend, but it came within a rounding error of that mark. Insidious Chapter 3 did very well compared to its production budget, but will likely be the weakest installment in the franchise. Meanwhile, if it weren't for its lower production budget, Entourage would be considered a bomb. Overall, the box office fell 4.3% from last weekend to $133 million. Worse still, the box office fell 18% from last year. Year-to-date, the overall box office has pulled in $4.39 billion, which is 1.2% above 2014's pace.

Spy opened in first place with $29.09 million over the weekend. Compared to the other two Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig films, this one opened better than Bridesmaids, but not as good as The Heat opened. On the other hand, its reviews are 95% positive, which is better than both other film's reviews. If its legs are as good as its reviews, then it will still have a shot at $100 million.

While San Andreas matched expectations nearly perfectly with $25.84 million over the weekend and thanks to weaker than expected competition, it managed to earn second place at the box office. After just ten days of release, the film has pulled in $98.47 million and should become the eleventh film released in 2015 to get to the century mark.

Insidious Chapter 3 was next with $22.69 million during its opening weekend. This is ahead of the first Insidious but behind Chapter 2. Additionally, its reviews are also in-between the first two installments' reviews. It is a sequel and a horror film, so its legs likely won't be good. It might not reach $40 million and anything about $50 million will be a real success. That said, even the low end is higher than its combined production and advertising budgets, so the studio should be happy.

Entourage only managed fourth place with $10.28 million over the weekend for a five-day opening of $17.67 million. Its run was very front-loaded and its reviews are weak. It seems the movie didn't appeal to people who were not already fans of the show. Had it been a more mainstream success, it would have introduced a lot more people to the TV show and these people might have gone out and bought the show on DVD / Blu-ray.

The three logjam films I talked about on Friday all earned between $7 million and $8 million, as predicted. However, it was Mad Max: Fury Road that earned fifth place with $7.83 million over the weekend for a total of $130.67 million after four weeks of release. Pitch Perfect 2 was right behind with $7.57 million giving it a total of $160.85 million, also after four weeks of release. Finally, Tomorrowland landed in seventh place with $7.20 million over the weekend for a three-week total of $76.41 million. It should earn just over $90 million, but I don't think the film has a shot at $100 million, even if the studio gives it a late push.

Further down the list we find The Avengers: Age of Ultron with $6.34 million over the weekend for a total of $438.15 million after six weeks of release. This puts it ahead of E.T. and into ninth place on the all time domestic chart. It won't be long till it overtakes Shrek 2 and The Dark Knight Rises isn't safe either.

Finally there's Aloha, which earned ninth place during its sophomore stint. It fell 66% to just $3.24 million over the weekend for a total of $16.28 million after ten days of release. The film only cost $37 million to make and it will barely earn more than half that domestically.


-

Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Mad Max: Fury Road, Entourage, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tomorrowland, Spy!, Insidious Chapter 3, San Andreas, Pitch Perfect 2, Aloha, Insidious, Melissa McCarthy, Paul Feig