Weekend Wrap-Up: Perfection, Times Two

May 19, 2015

Pitch Perfect 2

The overall box office was a little stronger than expected, including the number one film. Pitch Perfect 2 did something very few sequels do. It opened with more during its first weekend than its predecessor made in total. Mad Max: Fury Road also opened with more than Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome earned in total, but it has 30 years of inflation and population growth of roughly 33% to help it out, so it is a less impressive feat. Because both wide releases were so strong, the overall box office grew by 40% from last weekend to $184 million. This was also 3.4% higher than the same weekend last year, which allowed 2015 to maintain its lead over 2014. At the moment, 2015 is ahead of 2014 by 3.2% or $120 million at $3.78 billion to $3.66 billion.

Pitch Perfect 2 opened with $69.22 million during its opening weekend of release. This is on the very high end of expectations and, as previously stated, more than the first Pitch Perfect made in total. On the down side, its reviews are good, but they have fallen substantially since before the weekend and are now significantly below its predecessor's reviews. I don't think it will earn the same legs, but with Memorial Day coming up next weekend, the film should still become a monster hit, more than doubling most box office analysts' predictions.

Mad Max: Fury Road opened in second place with $45.43 million over the weekend. This is an excellent opening for an R-rated movie. It should also have strong legs, thanks in part to the holiday weekend coming up, but also due to its reviews. A Tomatometer Score of 98% positive is, well, Oscar worthy. Unfortunately, it is the wrong genre to win awards and will have to settle for financial success. Speaking of financial success, there is already talk of a sequel: The Wasteland. While a sequel makes perfect sense, I also really want this movie to inspire a video game. A Car Wars-like racing RPG game where you design and build your own cars, arm them, and fight / race against others and increase your skill and upgrade your car(s). Someone, get on that!

The Avengers: Age of Ultron held on a little better than expected added $38.86 million over the weekend to its running tally, which now sits at $372.03 million. It has climbed into first place for the year and by this time next week, it will be the first film of 2015 to reach $400 million. Add in its international numbers and the movie is already a financial success.

Hot Pursuit fell faster than expected down 59% to $5.72 million over the weekend for a total of $23.45 million after ten days of release. Calling it a flop might be going a little too far, as it only cost $35 million to make. It might earn that back, eventually.

There was a virtual three-way tie for third place with Furious 7 leading this group with $3.65 million over the weekend for a total of $343.78 million. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 pulled in $3.54 million over the weekend for a month-long total of $62.87 million. Finally, The Age of Adaline fell to seventh place with $3.13 million over the weekend for a total of $37.00 million. All three of these films topped expectations, albeit by small margins in the case of Adaline.


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Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, The Age of Adaline, Mad Max: Fury Road, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Furious 7, Pitch Perfect 2, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Hot Pursuit