Weekend Wrap-Up: Deadpool Dominates Box Office, But Can’t Compete with Original

May 22, 2018

Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2 didn’t live up to expectations at the box office, but you can’t really complain about a $125.51 million opening weekend. The other new releases were Book Club, which did acceptable business, while the less said about Show Dogs’ debut the better. Overall, the box office rose 51% from last weekend earning $209 million. This is 69% higher than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2018 is now ahead of 2017 by a margin of $290 million or 7.0% at $4.49 billion to $4.20 billion. Because Infinity War opened a week earlier than usual, it has been hard to compare the overall box office, but now it is safe to say 2018 has a sizable lead over 2017, one that should grow next weekend as well.

Deadpool 2 got off to a fast start with a new R-rated record for previews, but cooled throughout the rest of the weekend earning $125.51 million. This is still the second best opening weekend for an R-rated movie, behind only the original Deadpool. Additionally, the film’s reviews are strong and it earned an A from CinemaScore, plus next weekend is a long weekend, so its legs should be relatively good. Additionally, the film cost $110 million to make, so the studio’s share of its worldwide opening of $300 million is already more than it cost to make. It could break even by the end of the month, assuming its advertising budget isn’t more than it cost to make.

Infinity War added $29.45 million over the weekend to its running total, which now sits at $595.81 million. It will get to $600 million, very likely on Tuesday. It won’t catch up to Black Panther domestically, but it is already a wildly profitable movie.

Book Club did respectable business with $13.58 million during its opening weekend. Its reviews are just below the overall positive level, while it earned an A minus from CinemaScore, so its word-of-mouth should be okay. Furthermore, more mature women tend to reward films with long legs, so it has a shot at $50 million domestically.

Life of the Party was next with $7.60 million over the weekend for a two-week total of $30.92 million. The film cost $30 million to make, so has a shot at breaking even early in its home market run, if it can find an audience internationally. If not, it should still break even, eventually.

Breaking In rounded out the top five with $6.83 million over the weekend for a ten-day total of $29.11 million. The film cost a mere $6 million to make and it is very likely its combined budget is less than $29 million. Even without an international audience, the film should still break even early in its home market run.

Show Dogs flopped with just $6.02 million over the weekend in over 3,200 theaters, meaning it opened below the Mendoza Line ($2,000/theater). The film’s reviews are only 23% positive, while its A minus from CinemaScore is not good for a family film. Furthermore, most theaters will be looking to drop this film as soon as possible. Only the lack of direct competition will keep it in theaters beyond its contractual obligations.

- Weekend Box Office Chart

- Deadpool 2 Comparisons
- Book Club Comparisons
- Show Dogs Comparisons

Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Life of the Party, Show Dogs, Book Club, Breaking In