Three new films open in wide release with two other rather high-profile entries debuting in more limited release. The trio of newbies going wide are the Kevin James sequel Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, horror pic Unfriended, and Disney nature documentary Monkey Kingdom. You can review my detailed prediction posts on each of them here:
https://toddmthatcher.com/2015/04/11/paul-blart-mall-cop-2-box-office-prediction/
https://toddmthatcher.com/2015/04/12/unfriended-box-office-prediction/
https://toddmthatcher.com/2015/04/12/monkey-kingdom-box-office-prediction/
Blart would love to replicate the $31 million debut accomplished by its predecessor in 2009. If it manages that, it would definitely challenge the third weekend of juggernaut Furious 7 for the top spot. However, that seems unlikely and James appears poised for the runner-up position.
Unfriended certainly has the potential for a robust opening (many horror flicks over perform), but I have it only posting so-so numbers. Monkey Kingdom will be lucky to break into the top five and my prediction has it not accomplishing that kind of business.
As for holdovers, Furious should three-peat at the top while the four and five spots should be filled by Home and The Longest Ride.
Outside of the top five, the spy thriller Child 44 with Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman rolls out on only about 800 screens while the crime drama True Story with James Franco and Jonah Hill premieres in approximately 550 venues. Due to their low number of screens, their openings should be fairly minor and I didn’t bother to do individual posts about them. I’ll say Child 44 earns $2.1 million while True Story makes $3.7 million.
And with that, my top six predictions for the weekend:
1. Furious 7
Predicted Gross: $30.4 million (representing a drop of 49%)
2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Predicted Gross: $21.4 million
3. Unfriended
Predicted Gross: $12.6 million
4. Home
Predicted Gross: $12.3 million (representing a drop of 34%)
5. The Longest Ride
Predicted Gross: $7 million (representing a drop of 46%)
6. Monkey Kingdom Predicted Gross: $5.9 million
Box Office Results (April 10-12)
As expected, Furious 7 easily topped the charts in weekend #2 with $59.5 million, just above my $56.5M estimate. The blockbuster has amassed an amazing $251 million in just ten days and is likely to rule the entire month of April at the top spot.
Dreamworks animated Home continued its solid run with $18.5 million in its third weekend, topping my $15.3M projection. Its made $129 million so far.
The Nicholas Sparks adapted romantic drama The Longest Ride had a middling premiere with $13 million, close to my $12.2M prediction. With no star power, it struggled a bit to reach its target audience.
Get Hard was fourth with $8.2 million (compared to my $6.1M prediction). The Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart teaming has earned $70 million at press time. The five spot belonged to Cinderella with $7.1 million, in line with my $7.3M projection and its total stands at $180M.
Elsewhere down the chart, the Helen Mirren/Ryan Reynolds drama Woman in Gold expanded its theater count for a respectable 7th place showing at $5.4 million.
And that’ll do it for now, folks! Until next time…
All My Life... I Wanted To Be A Blogster 