Weekend Wrap-Up: Jason Bourne Treks to the top of the Chart with $59.22 million
August 2, 2016
There was no surprise at the top of the weekend box office chart, as Jason Bourne easily won with $59.22 million. This was on the high end of expectations, but not quite as strong as Star Trek Beyond’s opening last weekend. Both of the other two new releases, Bad Moms and Nerve, also did well. In fact, none of the films we talked about before the weekend missed expectations. The overall box office was down a little compared to last weekend, but a 3.1% decline is hardly noteworthy. More importantly, the box office was 30% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2016 saw its lead over 2015 nearly double to $260 million or 4.0%. Being ahead $6.84 billion to $6.58 billion at this point of the year is a good position to be in, but it wouldn’t take a major collapse for 2016 to fall behind 2015 by year’s end.
Jason Bourne earned first place with $59.22 million over the weekend. This is just a hair below Star Trek Beyond’s opening last weekend, but it managed this feat on a $120 million budget, which is great news for the studio. On the downside, its reviews have fallen below the overall positive level and the audience reaction isn’t that much better at just 67% positive. There is an argument to be made that the franchise just doesn’t fit with the times anymore. We will learn next week when we see its sophomore stint drop-off. The previous films in the franchise have all earned good legs, so lets see if this film does the same.
Star Trek Beyond fell 59% over the weekend, which is not surprising, as nearly every $100 million film to open this summer has fallen 58% or 59% during its sophomore stint. The film added $24.75 million to its running tally, which now sits at $106.47 million. It will quickly enter the top ten on the yearly domestic chart, while it is too soon to tell where it will finish worldwide. It did cost a lot to make, $185 million, so it will need help breaking even.
Bad Moms was right behind with $23.82 million during its opening weekend. This isn’t as good an opening as Trainwreck earned, but it is the best in the studio’s history. Moreover, the film cost $20 million to make and reportedly only $20 million to advertise, so unless its legs are terrible, it will break even sooner rather than later. Its reviews are good and the word-of-mouth is even better, so it will have no trouble getting to $50 million and $60 million isn’t out of the question.
The Secret Life of Pets earned $18.92 million over the weekend for a total of $296.88 million after 24 days of release. It will get to $300 million before the weekend and might get as far as $350 million by the end of its run.
Ice Age: Collision Course earned fifth place with $10.99 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $42.60 million. The film will fizzle out before it hits $75 million domestically and even though it is doing a lot better internationally it is not do well enough to justify another installment in the franchise.
Lights Out fell just 50% during its second weekend of release, which is excellent for a horror film. It pulled in $10.80 million over the weekend for a ten-day total of $42.87 million. $60 million seems likely at this point, meaning it will break even just on its domestic totals. If it can find an audience internationally, it will be pure gravy.
Ghostbusters was next with $10.13 million over the weekend for a total of $106.50 million after three weeks of release. Hitting the $100 million mark in three weeks means no one can rightfully call it a flop, but it will still need help internationally and on the home market to break even.
The final wide release of the week was Nerve, which earned eighth place with $9.45 million over the weekend for a total opening of $15.50 million. The film only cost $20 million to make and while it didn’t win over critics, the audience reaction has been better. I think the studio is happy with this start. They will be even happier if it become a hit on the home market.
- Jason Bourne Comparisons
- Bad Moms Comparisons
- Nerve Comparisons
Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Ghostbusters, The Secret Life of Pets, Jason Bourne, Ice Age: Collision Course, Lights Out, Star Trek Beyond, Bad Moms, Nerve, Bourne, Ice Age