Weekend Wrap-Up: Think Sinks, But Still Comes out on Top
June 24, 2014
This weekend was a disaster. Think Like a Man Too couldn't even live up to the original's opening, which is terrible for a sequel. Jersey Boys opened on the low end of lower expectations. Unfortunately, the holdovers weren't able to take advantage of the weak openings and the overall box office plummeted 22% to just $146 million. Compared to last year, the overall box office was down 39%. That's a disaster. There's no other way to describe it. Last year's number one film, Monster University made more money during its opening day than Think Like a Man Too made during the full weekend. It made more during its opening weekend than the top three films this year made. Even worse, 2014 has lost its lead over 2013. Granted, it is still close at $4.86 billion to $4.88 million, or just 0.3%, but it wasn't that long ago that 2014 was on a record-setting pace. Transformers: Age of Extinction should help turn things around next weekend, but I don't think that film will help in the long run.
Think Like a Man Too opened with $29.24 million over the weekend, which is more than 10% lower than Think Like a Man's opening weekend. Additionally, its reviews plummeted, although the audience reaction is still strong. Given the Sequel Effect, it will like have shorter legs. That said, it cost $24 million to make, so I suspect there will be another installment in the franchise.
22 Jump Street was close behind with $27.46 million over the weekend for a total of $109.91 million after ten days of release. The original took 22 days to get to $100 million, while this film got there in just nine days, which is great news. It did cost more to make, but it has already pulled in enough domestically to cover its production budget and will likely make more than enough internationally to cover its P&A budget, so it will have a nice profit even before it reaches the home market.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 fell 50% to just $24.72 million over the weekend for a total of $94.60 million after two weeks of release. It is still making enough to earn a profit, but many thought it would top the first film at the box office. It certainly earned the reviews to justify bigger success.
Jersey Boys opened in fourth place with $13.32 million over the weekend, which is a little lower than expected. The reviews are mixed, but thanks to an older target demographic, it will likely have good legs. It won't last long enough to be a huge hit, but it could do relatively well.
Maleficent rounded out the top five with $12.91 million over the weekend for a total of $185.88 million. At this pace, it will have no trouble getting to $200 million, but it probably won't get there this coming weekend.
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Maleficent, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Think Like a Man Too, 22 Jump Street, Jersey Boys, Think Like a Man