Friday Estimates: COVID-19 Outbreak Takes Out Box Office

March 14, 2020

I Still Believe

I Still Believe debuted in first place with $4.0 million on Friday, putting it on pace for close to $11 million over the full weekend. On the positive side, this is what was predicted, so at least it is matching lowered expectations. On the negative side, it won’t be enough to remain in first place for long. Its reviews are mixed, but it did earn an A-rating from CinemaScore, which is easily the best of the three new releases that came out this week.

Bloodshot opened in second place on Friday with $3.78 million. This is a much weaker result than Thursday’s previews and Sony is projecting $9.33 million over the full weekend. This is still better than our prediction, but not enough to be a financial success. It is certainly not enough to start a franchise, which was the ultimate goal of this movie. I don’t expect long legs, as the movie is earning the worst reviews of the weekend and a mere B-rating from CinemaScore.

Last weekend, Onward and Sonic the Hedgehog were hit the hardest and this Friday, that trend continued. Onward plummeted 73% from its opening Friday to just $3.31 million as families went from being a little cautious about going out amid the COVID-19 outbreak to staying home almost entirely. The film will remain in first place over the full weekend, albeit with far less than predicted at just $12 million

The Hunt was next with $2.21 million on Friday for a projected opening weekend of just $6.3 million. This will barely keep it above the Mendoza Line over the full weekend. It earned the best reviews of the weekend, but the worst CinemaScore at just a C plus. This isn’t surprising, as the film’s social satire borders on Black Comedy and that’s a genre audiences rarely like.

The Invisible Man rounded out the top five on Friday with $1.83 million on Friday. However, since it is a holdover and its reviews are among the best this year, so it should bounce back over the rest of the weekend earning fourth place overtaking The Hunt.

- Friday Box Office Chart
- Thursday Box Office Chart

- Thursday Night Previews: Bloodshot Draws First Blood
- Weekend Predictions: Trio of Films Opening Wide could be Last Wide Releases for Weeks
- Theater Counts

Filed under: Friday Estimates, Onward, Sonic The Hedgehog, Bloodshot, The Invisible Man, The Hunt, I Still Believe