Weekend Estimates: Universally Good Weekend at the Box Office

August 18, 2019

Good Boys

Good Boys and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw are topping the weekend box office chart, so while the overall box office isn’t doing well, Universal is having a great weekend. Good Boys is leading the way with $21.0 million, which is not only better than our predictions, but better than Universal’s projections based on Friday’s estimates. It’s not all rosy, as the film’s reviews and its B plus from CinemaScore don’t suggest really long legs, while this is not the type of film to do well internationally. In fact, it is only pulling in $2.1 million during its opening weekend overseas, including $1.0 million in the U.K.

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw is holding on better than anticipated with $14.14 million over the weekend for a three-week total of $133.74 million. This is not enough to break even for a $200 million film, but fortunately it is doing much, much better internationally. It is earning $45.7 million this weekend for a total of $303.3 million so far. This includes a $15.0 million opening in South Korea this weekend. Furthermore, it has yet to open in China and should be a monster hit in that market.

The Lion King is matching expectations perfectly with an estimated $11.9 million over the weekend. It will get to $500 million domestically very shortly. It is even more impressive internationally, down just 38% to $33.8 million over the weekend for totals of $939.1 million internationally and $1.435 billion worldwide. The film is on pace to reach $1 billion internationally, even if it had no new markets left to open in. Since it debuts in Italy next weekend, it will have no trouble getting to that milestone shortly.

The Angry Birds Movie is struggling with just $10.5 million over the three-day weekend for a six-day debut of $16.2 million. By comparison, the first film earned $38.2 million during its opening weekend. The film’s reviews and its B plus from CinemaScore, not to mention the Sequel Effect, all suggest shorter legs. It is performing better internationally with $19.4 million over the weekend and $30.2 million so far. This includes a $10.0 million debut in China.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is close behind with an estimated $10.05 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $40.22 million. A 52% sophomore decline is really good for a horror film and it suggests this one could have long enough legs to justify a sequel or two.

It looks like 47 Meters Down: Uncaged is going to miss the top five with just $9.0 million over the weekend. Its reviews and its C plus from CinemaScore weren’t not assets, while there are too many horror films that were released this summer. That said, it only cost $5 million to make, so it isn’t a bomb either.

The only new release to earn critical praise was Blinded By the Light, but that won’t be enough to save the film. It is earning an estimated $4.45 million during its opening weekend, putting it just below the Mendoza Line. It likely won’t last in theaters long enough for its word-of-mouth to become a major factor, but I can see it developing a cult following on the home market.

Where’s You Go, Bernadette is performing even worse with just $3.45 million during its opening weekend. It has some of the worst reviews of the weekend and moviegoers only gave it a B from CinemaScore, so it won’t stick around for long.

Mission Mangal is the biggest limited release of the week earning $1.31 million in 263 theaters. That’s a solid debut for a film from India.

- Weekend Box Office Chart

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Where’d You Go Bernadette, The Lion King, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Good Boys, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Blinded by the Light, Mission Mangal