Invaders from space and a hungry shark couldn’t overpower a tiny blue tang’s search for her parents. Finding Dory blew the competition away to the tune of $73 million dollars at the box office, posting the best second weekend for an animated feature. Many celebratory drinks are being poured at the Disney offices as we speak, while Fox is hoping that worldwide earnings will help boost Independence Day: Resurgence‘s lackluster domestic performance. If it really tanks next weekend, you can kiss any dreams of an Independence Day trilogy goodbye.
Still, it wasn’t a bad weekend for everyone. The Shallows outperformed industry expectations and will be recorded as a win for Sony. It’s nice to see a summer movie season where horror is riding high, even if fare like The Conjuring 2 doesn’t hit the notes it needs to.
A few tidbits from the numbers:
- Finding Dory made more in its second weekend than all of the four new releases made combined. Ellen DeGeneres is probably adding a hot tub extension to her Olympic-sized pool of money right now.
- Pixar’s seventeen films now have a total of $10 billion dollars to their name when it comes to worldwide grosses. Mickey Mouse is very happy he made friends with that hopping lamp.
The Numbers Game
Each week, I will guess how much wide-release films will be making on their opening weekend. My estimates come from my heart and my gut. You’d think I’d use my brain but that makes far too much sense. Fandom editor Nick Nunziata will also be providing his guesses because two stabs in the dark are better than one.
Last Week:
Independence Day: Resurgence
My Guess: $80,000,000
Nick’s Guess: $59,000,000
Actual: $41,600,000
Result: I need to start being way more pessimistic with my predictions. But even Nick thought this would soar higher. Not a good sign for Jeff Goldblum and friends.
The Shallows
My Guess: $45,000,000
Nick’s Guess: $20,000,000
Actual: $16,700,000
Result: My optimism fails me yet again and Nick gobbles up another win.
Free State of Jones
My Guess: $19,500,000
Nick’s Guess: $12,000,000
Actual: $7,772,000
Result: Matthew McConaughey couldn’t propel this lackluster movie higher. I may start adapting a The Price Is Right strategy and start bidding $1.
The Neon Demon
My Guess: $7,000,000
Nick’s Guess: $1,500,000
Actual: $606.594
Result: Refn’s weirdo horror film dies on the indie vine, and I start looking for a new job because Fandom probably thinks my predictions are an embarrassment at this point.
This week:
The BFG
Steven Spielberg adapting Roald Dahl would normally be cause for celebration, but this one looks fairly unexciting thanks to the marketing being unable to sell people on the thrust of the story. It’s a shame since this is the last script Melissa Mathison got produced before her death. This is a must-see for film fans since Mathison and Spielberg famously collaborated together on E.T., but the weak previews and competition from Finding Dory is probably going to sink this one.
My guess: $28,000,000
Nick’s guess: $25,000,000
The Legend of Tarzan
Does the public really care about Tarzan anymore? I bet if The Legend of Tarzan had some bigger names and better trailers they would, but this one looks bland and uninventive. As someone who loves pulpy adventure, I hope the movie will be better than what we’ve seen, but I don’t predict audiences are fans like myself.
My guess: $29,000,000
Nick’s guess: $33,000,000
The Purge: Election Year
If this was any other year, I’d be less inclined to give The Purge: Election Year an advantage over bigger blockbuster fare. But this election cycle has been a madhouse and it’s only getting started. The anger and cynicism of 2016 could actually help bolster The Purge: Election Year‘s performance, and their marketing has been a pitch-perfect example of biting satire. 2016 has given us a lot of entertainment that seems centered around frustration and political conflict, so the stars could align for this one.
My guess: $31,000,000
Nick’s guess: $27,000,000
See you next week!
Source: Box Office Mojo
