Weekend Wrap-Up: Galaxy gets the Summer Going with $146.51 million

May 8, 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

For the eighth year in a row, a Marvel movie started the summer blockbuster season. This time around, it was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, which earned $146.51 million, or roughly 75% of the total weekend box office of $194 million. That figure is nearly double the box office from last week, an increase of 97%, to be more precise. Unfortunately, this is also 19% lower than the same weekend last year when Captain America: Civil War dominated the chart. 2017 is still ahead of 2016, but the gap has narrowed to 4.5% at $3.88 billion to $3.71 billion.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 missed expectations, but still had a stunning opening of $146.51 million. This is the sixth biggest May opening and the fifth biggest opening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Additionally, the film’s reviews are 82% positive and it earned an A from CinemaScore, both of which suggest long legs. At least long legs for this type of film. It won’t match the original in that regard, but $350 million domestically is a good milestone to aim for at this point.

The Fate of the Furious was well back with $8.58 million over the weekend for a total of $207.18 million after four weeks of release. The film is starting to lose theaters at an accelerated pace so it won’t stick around in the top five for too much longer, but it is a monster hit, so the studio won’t be upset about that.

The Boss Baby rose a spot to third with $5.98 million over the weekend for a total of $156.54 million after six weeks of release. Unless it loses a lot of theaters on Friday, it will stick around in the top five for one more week.

How to be a Latin Lover fell 58% to $5.14 million over the weekend for a total of $20.55 million after two weeks of release. It won’t make as much as Instructions Not Included made at the box office, but it has already made enough to encourage other studios to make films aimed at Hispanics.

Beauty and the Beast recaptured a place in the top five with $5.09 million over the weekend for a total of $487.74 million after seven weeks of release. At this point, getting to $500 million domestically seems all but a sure bet.

The Circle just fell out of the top five with $3.96 million over the weekend for a total of $15.65 million after two weeks of release. Maybe it will find an audience on the home market. The only other film in the sophomore class in the top ten was Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which fell to seventh place with $3.39 million over the weekend for a total of $16.33 million after two weeks of release. It is the biggest Bollywood hit, both domestically and worldwide. It is such a huge hit, that more Hollywood studios should be looking at Bollywood for films to import or actors to hire.

- Weekend Box Office Chart

- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Comparisons

Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, The Boss Baby, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Beauty and the Beast, The Fate of the Furious, The Circle, How to Be a Latin Lover, Marvel Cinematic Universe