October 27-29 Box Office Predictions

Based on the hugely popular series of video games, the PG-13 horror flick Five Nights at Freddy’s looks to dominate the Halloween frame. It is the only wide release as October draws to a close and you can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

There is a wide range of possibility for Freddy’s and I think it is ready for a debut just north of $60 million. That would easily top the rest of the top five combined.

The battle for the runner-up spot will be decided by the respective third and second weekend drops for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Killers of the Flower Moon. The former had an understandable mid 6os plummet as Swifties wanted to rush out and see it immediately. Moon hopes for smallish declines in the frames ahead. I have Ms. Swift edging Killers as her concert film enters its third and final outing in multiplexes.

The Exorcist: Believer should be fourth with PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie rounding out the top five. Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Predicted Gross: $68.3 million

2. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Predicted Gross: $14.2 million

3. Killers of the Flower Moon

Predicted Gross: $13.4 million

4. The Exorcist: Believer

Predicted Gross: $3.5 million

5. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Predicted Gross: $2.9 million

Box Office Results (October 20-22)

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour belonged at #1 again as the record-setting concert experience drew another $33.2 million, a tad under my $35.6 million projection. That gives it a two weekend take of $131 million.

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon came in at the bottom end of its expected range with $23.2 million. I was more generous at $32.7 million. While not a flop (especially considering it was first slated for an Apple TV streaming start), it is underwhelming considering the awards buzz, Leo star power, and $200 million reported budget. The Oscar hopeful will hope to leg out during November.

The Exorcist: Believer was third with $5.6 million compared to my $6.9 million forecast. The three-week total is a fair $54 million.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie sat in the four spot with $4.4 million (I said $4.7 million) for $56 million after four frames.

Rounding out the top five was a holiday themed re-release of 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas on its 30th anniversary. The Tim Burton produced classic added another $4.2 million to its coffers. I failed to put it in the mix.

That took Saw X out of the high five in sixth with $3.6 million (I went with $4.1 million). The four-week gross is $47 million.

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

October 20-22 Box Office Predictions

Blogger’s Update (10/18): And it’s a big one… by lowering my projection of Killers from $38.7 million to $32.7 million, that puts Eras at #1 for the second weekend in a row.

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s sixth collaboration faces off against Taylor Swift’s second cinematic touring weekend as Oscar hopeful Killers of the Flower Moon blossoms on Friday. It could shape up to be a close battle for the top spot. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on Killers here:

With rave reviews and awards buzz, Moon could fill multiplexes up with adult moviegoers who turned Oppenheimer into a smash hit over the summer. While it won’t reach as high, I believe a low 30s premiere is certainly doable.

Whether that puts it in first is a huge question mark. That’s because the sophomore frame of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is tricky to figure out. The concert doc didn’t reach the lofty expectations that kept rising prior to its start (more on that below). Yet it still scored a massive debut that set every record possible for its genre. The deal that Ms. Swift cut with theaters is a unique one, to say the least. Eras is not playing on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. That could certainly increase the demand during the second weekend. However, it probably goes without saying that its gross is likely to be front loaded due to her fans rushing out to see it (a whole bunch of its business came from presales). I’ll be honest. I’m at a loss for how far it dips coming up. I will speculate high 60s to possibly low 70s and that would put it just behind my Killers estimate.

Holdover sequels of the horror and family variety should fill the 3-5 slots as The Exorcist: Believer, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and Saw X look to post decent holds in the 30s-low 40s range.

Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Predicted Gross: $35.6 million

2. Killers of the Flower Moon

Predicted Gross: $32.7 million

3. The Exorcist: Believer

Predicted Gross: $6.9 million

4. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Predicted Gross: $4.7 million

5. Saw X

Predicted Gross: $4.1 million

Box Office Results (October 13-15)

It isn’t often that Taylor Swift doesn’t reach the levels of financial success that are anticipated, but it might have been a case of expectations being too sky high. The Eras Tour was projected to top the all-time October weekend record held by Joker at $96 million. I had it doing so with room to spare at $139.6 million. It wasn’t to be as it achieved the second largest debut at $92.8 million. By the way, that triples the previous best concert doc start held by Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour. In other words, it’s still a rather remarkable performance.

The Exorcist: Believer dropped to second with an understandable $10.9 million, a bit above my $9.7 million take. The direct sequel to the 1973 classic sits at $44 million after ten days as it hopes for meager declines as we approach Halloween.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie was third with $6.8 million (on pace with my $6.6 million forecast) for $49 million after three weeks.

Saw X reaped the benefit of horror fans looking for a scare. Dropping just 28%, Jigsaw and company took in $5.6 million compared to my $4.1 million prediction. Total is $41 million thus far.

The Creator rounded out the top five at $4.3 million (I said $3.5 million) for a three-week tally of just $32 million.

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

October 13-15 Box Office Predictions

This coming weekend should be very lucky for a songstress you may have heard of named Taylor Swift. Her cinematic airing of The Eras Tour is out on approximately 4000 screens as it looks to dominate the box office. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

The power of Swift has propelled the concert doc to hefty pre sales totaling over $100 million worldwide. I’m projecting the domestic take will fall just shy of $140 million. That would give it the third best premiere of 2023 behind only Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

No other studio dared to open anything against Taylor and her army of Swifties. In fact, The Exorcist Believer moved up its release date to this past weekend. It had a so-so start (more on that below). With a meh C Cinemascore grade, I look for it to fall in the low to mid 60s in its sophomore frame.

The rest of the top five will be filled with holdovers likely dropping in the low to high 40s. Everything should slide a spot with PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Sax X, and The Creator populating 3-5 in their third weekends.

Here’s how I think it’ll play out:

1. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Predicted Gross: $139.6 million

2. The Exorcist: Believer

Predicted Gross: $9.7 million

3. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Predicted Gross: $6.6 million

4. Saw X

Predicted Gross: $4.1 million

5. The Creator

Predicted Gross: $3.5 million

Box Office Results (October 6-8)

David Gordon Green’s take on another iconic horror franchise couldn’t come close to his Halloween numbers as The Exorcist: Believer fell slightly short of expectations. The poorly reviewed direct sequel to the 1973 classic scared up $26.4 million compared to my $31.9 million prediction. That’s not terrible, but Universal reportedly ponied up $400 million for the rights to the series with two sequels planned. A mid 20s beginning (coupled with that unimpressive Cinemascore grade) could spell trouble ahead.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie was second with $11.3 million, a bit under my $12.8 million forecast. The animated sequel has grossed a sturdy $38 million in ten days of release.

Saw X had an understandable 57% decline for third with $7.8 million (I was close with $8.3 million). Jigsaw and company’s tenth go-round has $32 million in the bank thus far.

The Creator was fourth with $6.2 million (I said $5.9 million) for a disappointing $25 million in its first two weeks.

I incorrectly didn’t project numbers for The Blind and A Haunting in Venice. They were 5th and 6th respectively with $3.2 million and $2.6 million. The Blind has made $10 million in two weeks while Venice is at $35 million after four frames.

The error was placing The Nun II in fifth. It was seventh with $2.6 million. My prediction? $2.6 million! This horror sequel has achieved $81 million.

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

October 6-8 Box Office Predictions

Universal Pictures hopes to scare up big business in the first full weekend of October with The Exorcist: Believer. It’s the only new release coming out after a handful of pics were out this past frame. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

David Gordon Green’s direct sequel to the 1973 horror classic (with Ellen Burstyn returning to her Oscar nominated role) looks to be a financial success like the filmmaker’s recent Halloween trilogy. I’m thinking it might accomplish that goal and my forecast is at the higher end of its anticipated range at over $30 million.

All holdovers seem destined to slide a spot. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie had a better than anticipated start (more on that below) and the sophomore dip should be the smallest of last weekend’s newcomers. Falls for Saw X and The Creator should be heftier with The Nun II rounding out the top five in its fifth outing.

Here’s how I see it playing out:

1. The Exorcist: Believer

Predicted Gross: $31.9 million

2. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Predicted Gross: $12.8 million

3. Saw X

Predicted Gross: $8.3 million

4. The Creator

Predicted Gross: $5.9 million

5. The Nun II

Predicted Gross: $2.6 million

Box Office Results (September 29-October 1)

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie eclipsed the earnings of its 2021 predecessor (which opened during the COVID challenges) and was easily the top dog of the weekend with $22.7 million. That’s ahead of my $16.3 million call as the animated sequel based on the Nickelodeon series brought in family audiences.

Saw X, which surprisingly received the best reviews of the nearly 20-year-old franchise, was second and slightly beat projections with $18.3 million. I went lower with $15.7 million. That’s an improvement over previous entries Jigsaw (2017) and Spiral (2021) while a far cry from the $30M+ that earlier editions managed.

I was off base in saying sci-fi thriller The Creator from Gareth Edwards would capture the #1 position. With a third place premiere at $14 million, it fell short of my $17.9 million take. Look for it to fade quickly as its overseas grosses were also underwhelming.

The Nun II, after three weeks in 1st, was fourth with $4.7 million. My prediction? $4.7 million! The four-week tally is a sturdy $76 million.

I failed to see that The Blind might be in the top 5. Recounting the early days of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, the Fathom Events feature did manage the 5 spot with $4.3 million and $5.1 million since its Thursday bow.

The final wide release was Dumb Money as it expanded nationwide and disappeared in seventh with $3.3 million (I said $5.5 million). The overall three-week gross is a weak $7 million.

And that’s all for now, folks! Until next time…

September 29-October 1 Box Office Predictions

After the worst box office weekend of 2023, Hollywood hopes to rebound with a quartet of new releases. We have sci-fi action pic The Creator from Gareth Edwards, the return of Jigsaw in Saw X, animated canine sequel PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and the wide expansion of the GameStop stock dramedy Dumb Money. My detailed prediction posts on all of them can be accessed here:

The newcomers should manage to populate the 1-4 slots. The Creator seems poised for #1 though I’m projecting it’ll fall under $20 million for a so-so high teens start.

As for the runner-up position, it could be either of the sequels. The Saw franchise seems to have run out of steam in recent years. My low double digits estimate means a third place start as I see PAW getting into the low teens.

Dumb Money has done fair business in limited release and the expansion might mean mid single digits for fourth position. The lone holdover in the top five should be unlikely three-week champ The Nun II.

Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. The Creator

Predicted Gross: $17.9 million

2. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Predicted Gross: $16.3 million

3. Saw X

Predicted Gross: $15.7 million

4. Dumb Money

Predicted Gross: $5.5 million

5. The Nun II

Predicted Gross: $4.7 million

Box Office Results (September 22-24)

Neither Hercule Poirot last weekend nor Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone could dethrone The Nun II from a third weekend atop the charts. The horror sequel edged Expend4bles with $8.5 million, a little above my $7.5 million take. The three-week total is $69 million.

Expend4bles was a huge disappointment in second with only $8 million compared to my $12.8 million prediction. The nine year break between sequels probably didn’t help, but I would’ve thought it could at least hit $10 million.

A Haunting in Venice had a scary 56% drop for third in its sophomore frame with $6.3 million. I was a bit more generous at $7.2 million. The ten-day tally is a weak $25 million.

The Equalizer 3 was fourth with $4.9 million, on target with my $4.7 million forecast for $81 million overall.

Barbie rounded out the top five with $3.2 million (I said $3.1 million) for a 2023 best $630 million in ten weeks.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 was sixth with $3 million. I went with $2.6 million and the romantic comedy threequel has grossed $23 million after three weeks.

That’s all for now, folks! Until next time…

September 22-24 Box Office Predictions

Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone look to top the charts as Expend4bles, the fourth entry in the action franchise, is the only new wide release this weekend. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

I have it just under the teens and that’s a far cry from the mid 30s/high 20s premieres that parts 1 and 2 achieved. It’s also below the $15.8 million that The Expendables 3 made in 2014. That said, given the weak box office frame happening, it should be enough for a #1 debut.

Just as the competition for #1 was a photo finish this past weekend (more on that below), The Nun II and A Haunting in Venice should duke it out for the runner-up spot.

Nos. 4 and 5 should go to holdover threequels The Equalizer 3 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. However, Barbie might manage to stay fifth depending on the Greek drop and the fact that it’s playing on IMAX screens this weekend.

Here’s how I think it’ll shake out from 1-6:

1. Expend4bles

Predicted Gross: $12.8 million

2. The Nun II

Predicted Gross: $7.5 million

3. A Haunting in Venice

Predicted Gross: $7.2 million

4. The Equalizer 3

Predicted Gross: $4.9 million

5. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $3.1 million

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

Predicted Gross: $2.6 million

Box Office Results (September 15-17)

In a minor upset, The Nun II managed to remain #1 for a second weekend. That upends the conventional wisdom that A Haunting in Venice would claim the top slot. With a better than expected 55% fall (decent for the horror genre), The Nun II made $14.5 million compared to my $10.9 million projection. The scary sequel has made $56 million in two weeks.

A Haunting in Venice, the third Kenneth Branagh entry in his Hercule Poirot series, was a close second with $14.2 million. That’s right on track with my $14.6 million take. Considering last year’s Death on the Nile struggled as well, I wouldn’t anticipate seeing the mustachioed detective for a fourth mystery.

The Equalizer 3 was third with $7.2 million, in line with my $7 million call. Denzel Washington’s alleged capper to his franchise has made $73 million in three weeks.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 saw a sophomore frame decline above 50% with $4.7 million (I was more generous at $5.9 million). Total is just $18 million.

Barbie rounded out the top five with $3.8 million (I said $3.6 million) to bring its nine-week haul to $625 million.

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

September 15-17 Box Office Predictions

Sequel heavy September chugs along this weekend as Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice continues his Hercule Poirot series and seeks a #1 start. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

The follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and last year’s Death on the Nile is actually receiving some of the best reviews of the trio. I suspect it may manage to top what Nile did while only reaching about half of what Express grossed out of the gate.

After a solid if unspectacular start, The Nun II may see a high 60s plummet that’s fairly normal for its genre. That would mean a second place showing barely in the double digits.

Holdover threequels The Equalizer 3 and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 will likely populate the 3-4 slots with drops in the low to mid 40s while Barbie should round out the top five. I figure the year’s biggest hit will remain in the high five as I look for Jawan to have a hefty decline after its impressive premiere (more on that below).

Here’s how I envision that top five:

1. A Haunting in Venice

Predicted Gross: $14.6 million

2. The Nun II

Predicted Gross: $10.9 million

3. The Equalizer 3

Predicted Gross: $7 million

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

Predicted Gross: $5.9 million

5. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $3.6 million

Box Office Results (September 8-10)

The Nun II didn’t come anywhere near the franchise Conjuring Universe peak $53 million that its predecessor made in 2018. It still scared up a respectable $32.6 million, under my $38.7 million prognosis.

The Equalizer 3 tumbled in the mid 60s during its sophomore frame with $12 million, below my $15.4 million call. The two-week total is $61 million as it hopes to hit $100 million like parts 1 and 2. It’s a legit question mark as to whether it gets there.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 debuted in line with my expectations with a meh $10 million (I said $10.3 million). That is slightly better than other estimates though it’s well under the $16 million of part 2 from 2016.

Acclaimed Hindi action flick Jawan admittedly was not on my radar screen like it should’ve been. The $6.1 million haul put it in fourth place with the second strongest per theater average after The Nun II.

Barbie rounded out the top five with $5.7 million (I went with $6.4 million) as its eight week total rose to a massive $620 million.

I incorrectly had Blue Beetle in the top five, but it was sixth with $3.8 million. I was right on pace with $3.9 million. The DCU disappointment made $63 million in four weeks.

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

September 1-4 Box Office Predictions

Denzel Washington hopes for a fruitful holiday weekend at the box office with The Equalizer 3. It aims to have the second best Labor Day debut of all time as the only newcomer of the frame. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

The third feature in the action trilogy should have little trouble achieving that 2nd best mark. Labor Day weekend is normally one where studios avoid breaking out the big guns. In 2021, Marvel ignored that tradition with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and its $94 million beginning. The runner-up opening belongs to 2007’s Halloween remake at $30 million and I’ve got Equalizer a shade under $40 million.

With an extra day of grosses, the weekend should see meager declines and even some increases for holdovers. I believe this should allow Barbie to stay put in second for the third week in a row while current champ Gran Turismo drops to third. The four to six slots should be a combination of Blue Beetle, Oppenheimer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. I have that trio separated by just over a million so their positions could fluctuate.

Here’s how I envision that top six and keep in mind these estimates are for the four-day:

1. The Equalizer 3

Predicted Gross: $39.2 million

2. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $16.2 million

3. Gran Turismo

Predicted Gross: $12.1 million

4. Blue Beetle

Predicted Gross: $9.5 million

5. Oppenheimer

Predicted Gross: $9.1 million

6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Predicted Gross: $8.4 million

Box Office Results (August 25-27)

National Cinema Day on Sunday helped some pics post small declines, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Playstation based Gran Turismo from a so-so start. The racing drama took in $17.4 million, a tad below my $19.3 million projection. That’s good enough for first, but hardly provides Sony with bragging rights. With an A Cinemascore, it’ll hope for legs over Labor Day and could be successful as I only have it falling around 15%.

Barbie was second with $15.1 million compared to my $16.5 million take. The year’s largest hit is up to $592 million in six weeks.

Blue Beetle went from 1st to 3rd with $12.1 million, a shade under my $13.2 million prediction. The DCU flop stands at only $45 million after ten days.

Oppenheimer was fourth with $8.2 million (I said $8.1 million) as the epic has amassed $299 million thus far.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem rounded out the top five with $7.2 million, in range with my $6.8 million estimate. The four-week total is $99 million.

Finally, two newcomers failed to find a crowd. Liam Neeson’s Retribution opened in line with the star’s recent action flicks with $3.5 million for eighth position. That is better than my call of $2.4 million. The nine slot went to sports drama The Hill with $2.3 million as it couldn’t climb to my $3.3 million guesstimate.

That does it for now, folks! Catch my podcast by searching Movies at the Speed of Speculation wherever you prefer to stream. Until next time…

August 25-27 Box Office Predictions

Blogger’s Update (08/23): I’ve downgraded my Turismo prediction from $24.3M to $19.3M.

The month of August closes out with a trio of new titles and National Cinema Day happening on Sunday with ticket prices at $4 in thousands of theaters. The Playstation based racing drama Gran Turismo, faith-based baseball drama The Hill, and Liam Neeson’s action thriller Retribution premiere and you can access my detailed prediction posts on them here:

With high familiarity for the video game source material and decent enough reviews, Gran Turismo should place first with a mid 20s haul. The National Cinema Day bargain prices on Sunday could push this to grosses similar to what Blue Beetle made in its opening.

Speaking of Beetle, it may drop from first to third in its sophomore frame after a poor start (more on that below). That’s because Barbie should see a smaller decline and remain in second.

As for other holdovers, Oppenheimer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem should each ease a spot to fourth and fifth.

That’s because I don’t envision The Hill or Retribution hitting the top five. The former could exceed my forecast if it breaks through with Christian audiences. I have it at $3.3 million. With Retribution, I see no compelling reason why it wouldn’t open on pace with recent Neeson pics and that’d mean an opening of just over $3 million. I’ll go a tad less with $2.4 million.

Here’s how I see that high five playing out:

1. Gran Turismo

Predicted Gross: $19.3 million

2. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $16.5 million

3. Blue Beetle

Predicted Gross: $13.2 million

4. Oppenheimer

Predicted Gross: $8.1 million

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Predicted Gross: $6.8 million

Box Office Results (August 18-20)

Good news and bad news for Warner Bros as Barbie became the studio’s largest domestic earner of all time over 2008’s The Dark Knight. Obviously that’s the good news.

WB saw Barbie‘s four-week reign atop the charts by the WB’s Blue Beetle. Yet that’s kinda the bad news because its $25 million beginning is the lowest in the decade plus history of the DCU. It did manage to barely top my $23.7 million take, but it’s still a subpar start.

As for Barbie, it was second with $21 million. That’s just under my $22.5 million projection as its $566 million total set for the aforementioned record.

Oppenheimer was third with $10.7 million compared to my $12.7 million estimate for a five-week tally of $285 million.

Fourth place belonged to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with $8.5 million (I said $9.2 million) for $88 million in three weeks.

Rounding out the top five in disappointing fashion was Strays. The R rated comedy featuring Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx voicing dirty dogs tanked with $8.2 million. I was kinder at $13.5 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Catch my podcast by searching Movies at the Speed of Speculation on your preferred streaming platform. Until next time…

August 18-20 Box Office Predictions

The DCEU hopes to halt a string of disappointments with Blue Beetle while Strays features the vocal canine stylings of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx. Both pics will attempt to dethrone Barbie after four weeks on top. My individual prediction posts on the newcomers can be accessed here:

Warner Bros and DC Comics have seen some underwhelming returns as of late with Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and this summer’s mega flop The Flash. I don’t anticipate their fortunes will turn with Beetle. A best case scenario might be $30 million. My projection below $25 million does give it an ever so slight edge over Barbie (which I see falling in the mid 30s in its fifth outing). Yet I doubt WB/DC will be bragging.

As for Strays, the R-rated comedy might have benefitted from Ferrell and Foxx hitting the promotion circuit. With the SAG-AFTRA strike, that’s not an option. This genre has struggled in recent years anyway. My low to mid teens take puts it in third with a start similar to No Hard Feelings from a few weeks back.

Oppenheimer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem should fill out the rest of the top five and here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Blue Beetle

Predicted Gross: $23.7 million

2. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $22.5 million

3. Strays

Predicted Gross: $13.5 million

4. Oppenheimer

Predicted Gross: $12.7 million

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Predicted Gross: $9.2 million

Box Office Results (August 11-13)

The summer phenomenon that is Barbenheimer returned to rule the charts with Barbie leading the way. In its fourth frame, it took in $33.8 million and that’s good for the ninth best fourth weekend in history. It’s also a touch higher than my $30.4 million forecast as it climbed to $526 million overall.

Oppenheimer returned to the runner-up slot with $18.8 million, on target with my $19 million take. Christopher Nolan’s epic was down only 35% and it’s up to $264 million.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem rose from fourth to third with $15.2 million in its sophomore weekend. My prediction? $15.2 million! The acclaimed animated reboot has made $72 million.

As anticipated, Meg 2: The Trench suffered the heftiest drop of the holdovers (57%). Falling from second to fourth, the shark sequel grossed $12.8 million (I said $12 million) to bring its tally to $54 million. On the brighter side, it’s making a killing overseas like its 2018 predecessor.

Finally, The Last Voyage of the Demeter bombed in fifth with $6.5 million. Dubbed the “Dracula on a Boat” movie, audiences weren’t intrigued as it premiered on pace with my $6.4 million projection. With a B- Cinemascore, looking for it to sink even further next weekend.

And that does it for now, folks! Check out my podcast by searching Movies at the Speed of Speculation on your favorite listening stream. Until next time…