Weekend Wrap-Up: Suicide Slumps to $43.54 million, Sausage Soars with $34.26 million

August 16, 2016

Sausage Party

The overall box office was a little weaker than expected with Suicide Squad falling nearly as fast as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice did. On the other hand, Sausage Party opened better than expected earning a solid second place. Overall, the box office pulled in $172 million over the weekend, which is 25% smaller than last weekend. Compared to the same weekend last year, the box office was 16% higher and that’s the most important number. Year-to-date, 2016 has pulled in $7.43 billion, putting it 5.3% ahead of last year’s pace. The box office just needs to maintain its $380 million lead throughout the rest of the summer to be considered a success.

Suicide Squad fell 67% to $43.54 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $222.64 million after just ten days of release. This is more than it cost to make, which is a great sign. However, given this fall, the film might not cross $300 million domestically, meaning it will have to rely on international and home market numbers to break even. It should have no trouble getting there. However, its reviews suggest it will do further long term damage to the D.C. Extended Universe brand.

Sausage Party scored a solid second place with $34.26 million during its opening weekend. Additionally, its reviews are among the best of the summer wide releases. If its reviews turn into long legs, it will have a shot at $100 million domestically. Additionally, there’s not a lot of direct competition, or even relatively close competition until the third weekend of September. However, its internal multiplier and its CinemaScore indicate shorter legs. I’m sure the studio would love if this film got to the century mark, but the film cost just $19 million to make, so it doesn’t need to get there to break even.

Pete’s Dragon opened in third place with $21.51 million over the weekend. This is $10 million less than expectations, but it isn’t a bad start for a film that cost $65 million to make. Its reviews should help its legs and if it can get past $120 million worldwide, then it will break even sooner rather than later.

Jason Bourne held on better than expected down just $13.85 million pushing its running tally to $127.01 million. It will get to $150 million with ease, which is about average for the franchise and enough to break even early in the film’s home market run.

Bad Moms managed to grab fifth place with $11.36 million over the weekend for a three-week total of $71.37 million. It dipped just 19%, which means $100 million is now within reach... barely. I wouldn’t bet it would reach the century mark, as it is going to start losing theaters. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it got there either.

Florence Foster Jenkins missed expectations with $6.60 million in 1,528 theaters over the weekend. Its small theater count obviously hurt, but it can’t be solely blamed, as its theater average was the lowest of the three “wide” releases at just $4,320. Its reviews could lead to long legs, as long as the theater owners don’t drop it as soon as contractually able to.

Nine Lives was the only film in the sophomore class not in the top five. It fell 44% to $3.53 million over the weekend for a ten-day total of $13.58 million. It could have been worse, but that’s damning it with faint praise.

- Weekend Box Office Chart

- Pete’s Dragon Comparisons
- Sausage Party Comparisons
- Florence Foster Jenkins Comparisons

Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Jason Bourne, Sausage Party, Suicide Squad, Florence Foster Jenkins, Pete’s Dragon, Bad Moms, Nine Lives, Bourne, DC Extended Universe