May 16-18 Box Office Predictions

Blogger’s Update (05/14): Two days before its premiere, I am doing a significant upgrade on Final Destinaition from $35.2 million to $44.2 million

Final Destination Bloodlines looks to inject some life into multiplexes with the franchise returning after 14 dormant years. We also have music superstar Abel Tesfaye (better known as The Weeknd) headlining the musical thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow. My detailed prediction posts on the newcomers can be accessed here:

Bloodlines should be another winner for Warner Bros after the massive success of A Minecraft Movie and Sinners (the studio might account for 60 percent of the high 5 this weekend). I have the sixth entry in the series achieving the strongest start yet in the mid 30s.

As for Hurry Up Tomorrow (which also costars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan), it’s tricky to figure how many of The Weeknd’s fans will turn out this week(e)nd. Buzz seems quiet and it could fall anywhere between fourth and sixth place.

The New Avengers (recently known as Thunderbolts*) should drop to the runner-up slot after two weeks on top. The MCU adventure may see a dip in the low to mid 40s. Sinners looks to place third while Minecraft and The Accountant 2 could duke it out for 4th (depending on where Tomorrow falls).

Here’s how I see the top 6 shaking out:

1. Final Destination Bloodlines

Predicted Gross: $42.2 million

2. The New Avengers

Predicted Gross: $18.1 million

3. Sinners

Predicted Gross: $15.9 million

4. A Minecraft Movie

Predicted Gross: $5.2 million

5. The Accountant 2

Predicted Gross: $4.6 million

6. Hurry Up Tomorrow

Predicted Gross: $4.5 million

Box Office Results (May 9-11)

The New Avengers had a rather typical MCU slide at 56% with $32.3 million in its second outing. That’s on pace with my $33.8 million call. The decline is a bit more than Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with 54% but not as steep as the 62% that befell Eternals.

Sinners held firm in second with $22.1 million, a tad shy of my $24 million prediction. Ryan Coogler’s latest has bitten off $215 million after four weeks.

A Minecraft Movie was third with $7.6 million (I said $8.9 million) as the blockbuster stands at a mighty $408 million in its six weeks of play.

The Accountant 2 held better than I assumed in weekend #3 with $6.7 million compared to my $4.6 million estimate. Ben Affleck’s sequel is up to $51 million.

Finally, I didn’t do a projection for micro-budgeted slasher flick Clown in a Cornfield. Yet it managed to be fifth with $3.6 million on over 2000 screens.

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

Hurry Up Tomorrow Box Office Prediction

Lionsgate hopes that fans of The Weeknd turn out next weekend when Hurry Up Tomorrow drops May 16th. A companion piece to the singer’s sixth studio album released in late January, It Comes at Night and Waves director is behind the camera and co-wrote the screenplay with Abel Tesfaye (best known by the aforementioned stage name). Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan join the performer in the cast.

The musical thriller is unlikely to be The Weeknd’s Purple Rain though figuring how much of his fanbase will turn out is tricky. With a reported production budget of $20 million, it’ll hope to at least get to higher single digits at the start. I suspect many will save their money and watch on streaming.

Hurry Up Tomorrow opening weeknd (*) prediction: $4.5 million

For my Final Destination Bloodlines prediction, click here: