Based on the well-known works of Beatrix Potter, Sony Pictures is hoping family audiences will hop to Peter Rabbit when it debuts next weekend. The mix of live-action and CG animation features the voices of James Corden in the title role along with Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, and Sia. Familiar faces physically present include Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, and Sam Neill. Will Gluck, maker of Easy A and the recent Annie remake, directs.
Rabbit could be in a solid position to attract kids and their parents now that box office juggernaut Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is finally winding down. Many are still familiar with the source material that first appeared in literary form in 1902.
I’ll estimate that the reported $50 million production makes a bit under $20 million out of the gate.
Peter Rabbit opening weekend prediction: $18.7 million
For the third Valentine’s Day frame in the past four years, the romantic adventures of Anastasia and Christian will be on display for moviegoers when Fifty Shades Freed opens next weekend. Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan return with James Foley (who made previous entry Fifty Shades Darker) directing. Costars include Kim Basinger, Eric Johnson, Marcia Gay Harden, and Rita Ora.
This is the third and final chapter of the franchise based on E.L. James’s sultry bestsellers. The trailer reminds us to not miss the climax (get it?). The series has been a popular one for Universal Pictures, but there was a significant dip between 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey and 2017 sequel Darker. Three years ago, Grey premiered to $85 million with an eventual $166 million domestic haul. Darker managed $46 million for its start with $114 million overall.
Freed appears likely to follow that downward trend, but its drop shouldn’t be nearly as pronounced as the last one. Current estimates have this hovering around the $40 million mark and that seems about right. I’ll say it falls just under that as fans bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Grey.
Fifty Shades Freed opening weekend prediction: $38.4 million
Blogger’s Note (01/31): I am revisiting my Winchester prediction from $14.1 million to $9.1 million, which means I’m estimating it goes from first to third.
In what should be a rather lackluster weekend with the Super Bowl being played and the month’s heavy hitters waiting in the wings, Helen Mirren led horror pic Winchester is the only wide release hitting screens as February arrives. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:
My low teens predictions for Winchester still might be enough for it to nab the top spot, though it could find itself in a battle with both Jumanji and current top spot holder Maze Runner: The Death Cure.
The Greatest Showman and Hostiles (coming off a stronger than expected wide release) should round out the top five. And with that, my top 5 projections for the weekend:
1. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Predicted Gross: $12.4 million
2. Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Predicted Gross: $10.6 million
3. Winchester
Predicted Gross: $9.1 million
4. The Greatest Showman
Predicted Gross: $7.9 million
5. Hostiles
Predicted Gross: $5.8 million
Box Office Results (January 26-28)
It took nearly a month, but Maze Runner: The Death Cure became the first 2018 title to become #1 at the box office. The third entry in the YA action franchise took in $24.1 million, a bit ahead of my $22.8 million projection. That’s under the previous two entries (which both topped $30 million out of the gate), but decent considering the two-year plus layover between parts 2 and 3.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle dropped to second after three weeks on top with $16.1 million (ahead of my $14.9 million forecast) for $337 million overall.
The lone surprise of the weekend would be Hostiles with Christian Bale, which greatly exceeded expectations with $10.1 million in third place. The well-reviewed Western expanded its theater count and placed on the high-end of estimates. I didn’t even have it in my top 5 and predicted a meager $4.8 million. Oops.
The Greatest Showman was fourth with $9.5 million (I said $8.5 million) for a total of $126 million.
The Post rounded out the top five with $9.1 million (I said $9.4 million) for $58 million overall.
Finally, I had 12 Strong in the top five but Hostiles messed that equation up. It grossed $8.6 million compared to my $8.9 million prediction for $28 million in two weeks.
Blogger’s Note (01/31): I am revisiting my Winchester prediction from $14.1 million to $9.1 million
Helen Mirren goes into horror mode next weekend with the release of Winchester. The supernatural period piece comes from Michael and Peter Spierig, directors of Daybreakers and last year’s Jigsaw. Costars include Jason Clarke, Angus Sampson, and Sarah Snook.
Subtitled The House that Ghosts Built, the Lionsgate release is hoping to bring in genre fans. Horror pics have experienced a good run over the last several months and that could propel this to a more than anticipated debut.
That said, while there’s no competition opening against it, there is a certain football game between New England and Philadelphia on Sunday. The Super Bowl weekend is typically not a robust one at the box office as February heavy hitters wait in the wings.
I’ll project a low to mid teens debut.
Winchester opening weekend prediction: $9.1 million
The month of January at the box office ends with one big new release and it’s Maze Runner: The Death Cure. The third franchise entry will look to finally dislodge Jumanji from its perch atop the charts. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:
As you can see, I have Death not reaching the heights of its two predecessors. That said, even with a low 20s debut, it should be enough to allow it to become the first 2018 release to open #1 in 2018.
The other wide release is the expansion of Hostiles with Christian Bale. Despite stellar reviews, the once awards hopeful has been flying under the radar and posting lackluster per screen averages in its limited release. Current screen counts show it rolling out to 3000 screens. I’m a little skeptical it reaches that many (we’ll see on Thursday). If it does, I’ll peg its opening at $4.8 million and that leaves it outside the top five. If the theater count changes by Thursday, so will my estimate.
With competition rather light this weekend, holdovers should experience smallish declines with the seemingly unstoppable Jumanji, The Post and The Greatest Showman perhaps being the largest benefactors.
And with that, my top 5 projections for the weekend:
1. Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Predicted Gross: $22.8 million
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Predicted Gross: $14.9 million
3. ThePost
Predicted Gross: $9.4 million
4. 12 Strong
Predicted Gross: $8.9 million
5. The Greatest Showman
Predicted Gross: $8.5 million
Box Office Results (January 19-21)
For the third weekend in a row, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle dominated the box office charts while newcomers posted better than expected results. The franchise reboot took in $19.5 million and I was right there with my estimate of $19.6 million. It’s taken in $316 million overall.
The Chris Hemsworth led true life military tale 12 Strong took the runner-up position with a decent $15.8 million, topping my $13.9 million. That’s a smidge above what was expected of it.
The story of the weekend may well be the over performance of Gerard Butler’s Den of Thieves, which surprised everyone with a robust $15.2 million debut in third… way above my $6.1 million projection. It actually had the highest per screen average of all the wide releases over the weekend.
The Post was fourth in its second weekend of release with $11.7 million, shy of my $14 million projection for a total of $44 million.
The Greatest Showman rounded out the top 5 with $10.6 million (I said $9.9 million) for a tally of $113 million.
Finally, I incorrectly had The Commuter inside the top 5, but it was seventh with $6.6 million (I said $7.6 million). It’s two-week total is $25 million.
And that does it for now as far as box office predictions…
However, if you missed my FINAL Oscar predictions (they’re out tomorrow morning), you can find them here:
Concluding a trilogy started in 2014, Maze Runner: The Death Cure races into theaters next Friday. Based on the James Dashner series of YA books, the sci-fi action pic stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Walton Goggins, Barry Pepper, and Patricia Clarkson. Wes Ball, who directed the first two installments, returns behind the camera. Reviews are so so thus far with a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The reported $83 million production was originally scheduled for release in February 2017 until an injury suffered by star O’Brien on the set delayed production. The nearly two and a half-year lag time between sequels could be a hindrance to its potential.
In September 2014, the original Runner opened to $32 million with an eventual $102 million domestic haul. Sequel The Scorch Trials arrived one year later to diminishing returns – a $30 million debut and $81 million overall take. Enough of the fan base may stick around, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Death take in about 25% less out of the gate than its predecessor in 2015.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure opening weekend prediction: $22.8 million
Blogger’s Note (01/18/18): I am revising my 12 Strong prediction from $17.9 million down to $13.9 million
Two new titles vie for action fan attention this weekend as military themed 12 Strong and heist themed Den of Thieves debut. You can find my detailed prediction posts on both of them here:
12 Strong could potentially make a play for the top spot, but I suspect Jumanji will continue its dominance in first place. Looking over the post MLK weekend from years past, it’s not rare for holdovers to experience smallish declines. I suspect that will hold true for Jumanji and ThePost.
Along those lines, TheGreatestShowman should drop to fourth with TheCommuter roundingoutthetop5. My $6.1 million estimate for DenofThieves puts it outside my high five.
And with that – here they are!
1. Jumanji: WelcometotheJungle
Predicted Gross: $19.6 million
2. ThePost
Predicted Gross: $14 million
3. 12Strong
Predicted Gross: $13.9 million
4. TheGreatestShowman
Predicted Gross: $9.9 million
5. TheCommuter
Predicted Gross: $7.6 million
BoxOfficeResults (January12–15)
Jumanji continued its remarkable run atop the charts over the four day MLK weekend with $35.1 million, edging past my prediction of $32.7 million. The smash sequel has amassed $291 million since its Christmas time debut.
There were plenty of new releases and expansions this weekend and Steven Spielberg’s Oscar hopeful ThePost fared best in second with $23 million, in line with my $22.3 million estimate.
TheGreatestShowman continued its stellar run with $16.1 million, singing beyond my $12.6 million prediction. It’s ready to join the century club as it stands at $98 million.
Liam Neeson took fourth with TheCommuter as it opened with a fairly solid $15.8 million (I was a touch lower at $14.6 million).
One of the surprises of the weekend was the disappointing performance for critically acclaimed kiddie sequel Paddington2, debuting in fifth with a mediocre $15 million. I had it pegged for a #2 premiere at $22.4 million. Oops.
StarWars: TheLastJedi was sixth with $14.6 million (I said $15.5 million) for $594 million total.
Insidious: TheLastKey fell from second to seventh with $14.3 million compared to my $13.2 million estimate. It’s earned $50 million in its two weeks of release.
In eighth place, ProudMary with Taraji P. Henson had a muted start with $11.7 million, well under my $18.5 million projection.
PitchPerfect3 was ninth with $7.3 million. My prediction? $7.3 million. Woot woot. The three-quel is also on the cusp of nine figures with $96 million.
I incorrectly had DarkestHour outside the top 10, but it placed 10th with $5.4 million and $36 million.
Den of Thieves hopes to steal away some box office bucks next Friday. The heist thriller is headlined by Gerard Butler with a supporting cast including 50 Cent, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Pablo Schreiber. Christian Gudegast, who wrote the screenplay for Butler’s sequel London Has Fallen, directs.
Butler’s box office drawing power has been mixed since he broke out in 2007’s 300. Films ending in the words “has fallen” have performed well, as have The Bounty Hunter and Law Abiding Citizen. Others like Gamer and Gods of Egypt have not.
Thieves doesn’t look like a candidate to be a breakout. Action competition is a factor as 12 Strong opens the same day and Proud Mary and The Commuter will be in their sophomore frames.
I’ll predict this struggles to open in double digits and misses the mark.
Den of Thieves opening weekend prediction: $6.1 million
Blogger’s Note (01/18/18): I am revising my 12 Strong prediction from $17.9 million down to $13.9 million
Warner Bros is hoping to show a force of box office strength when 12 Strong debuts in theaters next Friday. Subtitled The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers, the action drama recounts the true story of the first fighters sent overseas immediately following the 9/11 attacks. Marking the directorial debut of former war photojournalist Nicolai Fuglsig, the cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, Trevante Rhodes, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle.
Over the last few years, January has proven to be fertile ground for similarly themed pics. In 2014, Lone Survivor debuted to a terrific $37 million. Two years ago, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi took in a little over $19 million out of the gate, though it opened over the four-day MLK frame. The pinnacle of the genre (and openings for the month of January overall) was in 2015 when American Sniper astonished prognosticators with $107 million for its four-day MLK weekend premiere.
As you can see, it isn’t rare to see these true life war tales perform quite nicely with moviegoers. Hemsworth brings some star power and he’s just coming off the franchise best performance of his Thor series.
That said, expectations are certainly more in line with Benghazi and not Survivor and definitely not Sniper. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a debut slightly over $20 million, but I’ll estimate Strong takes in high teens for its start.
12 Strong opening weekend prediction: $13.9 million
It’s our third four-day weekend in four frames as the MLK holiday is Monday and there’s four new pictures debuting wide. They are: family geared sequel Paddington2, Steven Spielberg Oscar hopeful ThePost, Liam Neeson thriller TheCommuter, and Taraji P. Henson action flick ProudMary. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on each of them here:
None are likely to dislodge Jumanji: WelcometotheJungle from its perch atop the charts. The MLK weekend typically sees minor drops from the previous one. As to which newbie garners the most cash… well, that’s an excellent question. I’m giving Paddington the slightest edge over ThePost for the two spot. I also anticipate a healthy debut for ProudMary over TheCommuter, which could open outside the top 5 depending on the StarWars hold.
As for the current #2, Insidious: TheLastKey, it could fall to 7th after an impressive premiere (more on that below). Horror pics historically suffer more precipitous drops than other genres. Lots to consider on this unpredictable weekend and here are my top ten estimates for Friday through Monday:
1. Jumanji: WelcometotheJungle
Predicted Gross: $32.7 million (representing a drop of 12%)
2. Paddington2
Predicted Gross: $22.4 million
3. ThePost
Predicted Gross: $22.3 million
4. ProudMary
Predicted Gross: $18.5 million
5. StarWars: TheLastJedi
Predicted Gross: $15.5 million (representing a drop of 35%)
6. TheCommuter
Predicted Gross: $14.6 million
7. Insidious: TheLastKey
Predicted Gross: $13.2 million (representing a drop of 55%)
8. TheGreatestShowman
Predicted Gross: $12.6 million (representing a drop of 8%)
9. PitchPerfect3
Predicted Gross: $7.3 million (representing a drop of 28%)
10. Ferdinand
Predicted Gross: $6.5 million (representing a drop of 15%)
BoxOfficeResults (January5–7)
As expected, Jumanji vaulted over StarWars in its third weekend to #1 with $37.2 million, easily outpacing my $29.1 million forecast for $245 million overall. The 90s reboot is performing fantastically and should continue its reign this weekend.
The other story of the weekend was the terrific performance of Insidious: TheLastKey, exceeding all expectations at $29.5 million in second compared to my meager $18.6 million estimate. It’s yet another success story for Blumhouse after a sizzling 2017.
TheLastKey dropped TheLastJedi to third with $23.7 million, in line with my $24.8 million projection. Episode VIII has taken in $572 million.
TheGreatestShowman continued its nice run in fourth with $13.7 million (I was lower at $10.6 million) for $76 million total.
Finally, PitchPerfect3 rounded out the top five with $10.2 million (I said $8 million) to bring its coffers to $86 million.
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