May 31-June 2 Box Office Predictions

The closeout of May and dawn of June at the box office will be even rougher than the Memorial Day weekend… and that weekend was rough at multiplexes (more on that below). The anime sports pic Haiyku!! The Dumpster Battle is the only significant new release as it aims for a top five showing where the #1 pic could struggle to top double digits. My detailed prediction post on the newcomer can be accessed here:

With my mid single digits projection (it could go higher), I have Dumpster placing fifth.

There could be a photo finish for #1 after a frame in which the new holiday pictures bombed. I have Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga falling in the high 50s after its poor performance and The Garfield Movie dipping over 50%. That might give the tabby cat the (not exactly) bragging rights in 1st.

IF should hold in third with a smaller decline than the sophomore weekend competitors. Heck, it could contend for the top spot if Furiosa and Garfield go downhill even more. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is likely to hold in fourth and here’s how I have it all playing out:

1. The Garfield Movie

Predicted Gross: $12 million

2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Predicted Gross: $11.3 million

3. IF

Predicted Gross: $10.1 million

4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Predicted Gross: $8.5 million

5. Haiyku!! The Dumpster Battle

Predicted Gross: $3.9 million

Box Office Results (May 24-27)

And now to the dumpster fire that just happened. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga managed to be first with $32.3 million over the Friday to Monday four-day expanded frame. That’s well below what predecessor Fury Road achieved some nine years ago and way under my $47.2 million prediction. **Please note that my percentage drops listed above are for the three-day Friday to Sunday portion of the weekend where this earned just $26.3 million.

The Garfield Movie also debuted on the lowest end of its anticipated range in second with $31.2 million compared to my $41.5 million take. Its B+ Cinemascore grade is subpar for a family feature (IF got an A) and I’m skeptical its legs will be sturdy.

IF fell to third in weekend #2 with $22.3 million, a tad ahead of my $20.6 million call. The two-week tally is $64 million.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was fourth with $17.6 million (I said $18 million) as it inched up to $127 million. This is really the only significant success story of the summer thus far… or at least it’s generally performing in line with expectations.

The Fall Guy rounded out the top five with $7.9 million. I went lower at $5.8 million, but it’s only up to $74 million after four weeks.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 was sixth with $7 million (I said $5.6 million) as the low budget horror sequel is at $22 million.

Finally, Sight from Angel Studios struggled for eyeballs with $3.7 million in seventh. I thought it might get more with $5.3 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

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