Weekend Wrap-Up: Kong Climbs to the Top of the Box Office with $61.03 million

March 14, 2017

Kong: Skull Island

Kong: Skull Island dominated the box office earning $61.03 million over the weekend. This is much better than predicted and this if reports are true, this is because it was a huge hit with families. Skull Island’s success hurt Logan, which fell to second place with $38.11 million over the weekend. Overall, the box office fell 13% from last weekend, but that’s still 22% more than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date is even more impressive. Back-to-back wins for 2017 has cut 2016’s lead to 0.8% at just $17 million. If Beauty and the Beast does as well as some expect it to do, 2017 could take the lead by the end of this coming weekend.

Kong: Skull Island roared into first place with $61.03 million over the weekend, which is over 33% more than our prediction. There were reports of families with kids under 10 years old going to the movie throughout the weekend, which explains the 3.03 internal multiplier. Additionally, many schools are on spring break, so it could do well during the weekdays as well. Add in the film’s 80% positive reviews and Skull Island should rush past $150 million domestically. It might even match its $190 million production budget. If so, its chances of breaking even will be nearly 100%.

Logan fell 57% to $38.11 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $152.92 million. A 57% decline is more than I was expecting, but still not bad for a comic book movie and it is on pace to hit $200 million with ease. I guess you could be disappointed that the movie didn’t live up to its reviews, but it did have to deal with better than expected direct competition.

Get Out added $20.74 million to its running tally, which now sits at $110.73 million. Jordan Peele became the first African-American director to earn more than $100 million with their debut film. That’s really impressive. I suspect he will have free rein for his next film. I wonder what studio will offer him a $100 million blockbuster first.

The Shack earned $10.01 million over the weekend for a total of $32.23 million. ... Its weekend total and running tally are both palindromes. Weird. It should finish with more than $50 million making it a solid midlevel hit.

The Lego Batman Movie rounded out the top five with $7.6 million over the weekend and it has $158.82 million after a month of release. When you add in the film’s international numbers, it is 90% of the way to profitability.

The only sophomore film not in the top five was Before I Fall, which fell just 36% to $3.00 million over the weekend for a total of $8.93 million after two. Had it opened well, this hold would have been a great sign for its long term success. However, its theater average is under $1,300, so theaters will be dropping it quickly regardless of its legs. Maybe it will become a surprise hit on the home market. VOD is giving lots of films a second life.

Weekend Box Office Chart

- Kong: Skull Island Comparisons

Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Logan, Kong: Skull Island, The Lego Batman Movie, Beauty and the Beast, The Shack, Get Out, Before I Fall, Jordan Peele