Weekend Wrap-Up: New Releases are on the Outside

July 6, 2015

Inside Out

It was not a good weekend for new releases, as the top two spots went to holdovers. Fortunately, Inside Out earned first place over Jurassic World, because I had no idea what I was going to do for an image this time around. (That's not true. I was going to look for pictures of corgis dressed as dinosaurs.) Neither Terminator: Genisys or Magic Mike XXL matched expectations. At least Terminator: Genisys came close. Overall, the box office plummeted 26% from last weekend to just $135 million. Granted, that's still 2.2% higher than the same weekend last year, but boy have we come down from the highs we saw just a few weeks ago. Year-to-date, 2015 has earned $5.62 billion, which is 6.0% above 2014's pace of $5.31 million. 2015 would really need to sink for a number of weeks before that lead was in trouble, but after this week, that scenario is a little more likely.

Inside Out rose to first place with $29.77 million over the weekend for a total of $245.89 million after three weeks of release. It should have the legs to reach $300 million, even with direct competition opening this weekend. It will end its run as one of the biggest hits of the year and will nearly certainly be remembered as one of the best.

Jurassic World slipped to second place with $29.24 million over the weekend for a total of $556.54 million after four weeks of release. It has climbed into fourth place on the All-Time Domestic Box Office chart ahead of The Dark Knight and it has its sights on The Avengers.

Terminator: Genisys was next with openings of $27.02 million over the three-day weekend for a five-day opening of $42.47 million. That's not a good opening, especially for a film that cost $155 million to make. Worse still, its reviews suggest weak legs at the box office. Fortunately, it did do better internationally, perhaps well enough to eventually break even. That said, I don't think the studio will be jumping at the chance to make more installments in this franchise.

Magic Mike XXL opened on first place on Wednesday, but it fell to fourth place the next day and remained there over the full weekend. This resulted in the film earning just $12.86 million over the three-day weekend for a total opening of $27.89 million. It earned less over five days than many thought it would earn over three days. On the other hand, the film's reviews are not bad and the first Magic Mike film had really good legs. Finally, the film only cost $14.5 million to make, so it could still be profitable for the studio. There won't be another installment in the franchise, not unless it goes direct-to-video. ... There probably will be another installment in the franchise.

Ted 2 rounded out the top five with $11.17 million over the weekend for a ten-day total of $58.50 million. By this time next week, the film will be at close to $70 million, which is likely what the movie cost to make. If it can simply match its domestic run internationally, then it will break even early in its home market run. If not, it could still get there eventually.

Max was the only other sophomore film and it earned sixth place with $6.62 million over the weekend for a total of $25.38 million after two. This is more than it cost to make, but its international prospects are really weak. Maybe it will break even eventually, but it won't be seen as a financial success.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl grabbed ninth place with $1.25 million over the weekend for a total of $3.93 million after four weeks of release. Its per theater average is too low to expect any significant expansion beyond this point, but it will get to $5 million, which is very good for a limited release.


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Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Jurassic World, Minions, Inside Out, Terminator: Genisys, Ted 2, Magic Mike XXL, Max, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Terminator, Magic Mike