Tag: Box Office

February 11-13 Box Office Predictions

It’s been pretty easy to predict each weekend’s #1 film for a while – a lot of Spidey, a one-week interruption by Scream, and Johnny Knoxville and his pranksters in Jackass Forever. That gets a little more complicated this time around as three new pics enter the marketplace: Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express follow-up Death on the Nile, the Jennifer Lopez/Owen Wilson musical rom com Marry Me, and the latest Liam Neeson revenge saga Blacklight. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the trio right here:

Death on the Nile Box Office Prediction

Marry Me Box Office Prediction

Blacklight Box Office Prediction

Let’s start with Blacklight. Had this Neeson led tale (his granddaughter gets taken in it) come out in February a decade ago, we might be having a different conversation. However, grosses for these genre exercises with the actor have dwindled over the past couple of years (see Honest Thief and The Marksman). Therefore my $3.8 million estimate puts it at the tail end of the top five.

Then there’s Marry Me. It’s shrewdly placed during Valentine’s Day weekend where couples could be searching out something to view on date night. They will have the opportunity to do so with Marry Me in the theater and on Peacock and that could eat into the earnings. I have it barely topping double digits, but will admit that it could over perform and even snatch the #1 spot.

Jackass Forever is the fifth feature in the 20-year-old franchise and the fifth to open at #1. Looking over previous sophomore frame dips for earlier pics, I was surprised at their low drops. For 2002’s Jackass: The Movie, it was 44%.  2006’s Jackass: Number Two fell 49% while 2010’s Jackass 3D was the steepest at 57% (it was coming off a massive $50 million premiere). Spinoff Bad Grandpa in 2013 only had a 37% decline. I’ll say Forever loses about 50% That could be good enough for anywhere from the 1-3 slot depending on how Nile and Marry pan out. There could be a photo finish for that two spot.

Murder on the Orient Express tracked a solid $28 million haul just over four years ago. Yet it didn’t leg out particularly well and I question whether audiences are truly excited for another dose of Hercule Poirot and his many suspects. I suspect it should still make around half of what its predecessor took in. That would get it to #1, but we’re in a situation where we could have three genuine contenders for the top spot.

Spider-Man should stay in the top five with Moonfall potentially dropping out. The Roland Emmerich disaster tale managed just a C+ Cinemascore grade to go with its weak opening. A sophomore fall in the 60% range appears likely.

It’s also worth noting that there’s a certain game between the Bengals and Rams taking place Sunday. We usually don’t see three high-profile releases on Super Bowl weekend and it’s fair to assume grosses will take a hit on that date.

Here’s how I see it shaking out for your top 6:

1. Death on the Nile

Predicted Gross: $14.3 million

2. Jackass Forever

Predicted Gross: $11.3 million

3. Marry Me

Predicted Gross: $11.2 million

4. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Predicted Gross: $7.1 million

5. Blacklight

Predicted Gross: $3.8 million

6. Moonfall

Predicted Gross: $3.5 million

Box Office Results (February 4-6)

The Jackass franchise is five for five when it comes to opening #1 at the box office. Jackass Forever performed in line with estimates at $23.1 million, a touch ahead of my $21.8 million projection. It ranks fourth in terms of the quintet of debuts (just ahead of the original), but it’s certainly an impressive number given the circumstances.

As for Roland Emmerich’s disaster pic Moonfall… not so much. The big budget ($140 million) lunar saga cratered with only $9.8 million (I went higher with $12.8 million). As mentioned above, expect a precipitous drop in its sophomore frame.

Spider-Man: No Way Home was third with $9.5 million, swinging a bit above my $8.1 million take. The total has reached $748 million as it inches ever closer to 3rd domestically all-time (currently held by Avatar with $760 million).

Scream was fourth with $4.7 million (I said $4.4 million) and it’s scared up an overall tally of $68 million.

Sing 2 rounded out the top five with $4.2 million compared to my $3.6 million estimate. Total is $139 million.

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

Blacklight Box Office Prediction

Some 13 years after Taken kicked off a whole new action phase for its star, Liam Neeson is back in revenge mode with Blacklight (out February 11th). And this time… wait for it!… it’s his granddaughter who’s been snatched by nefarious criminals. Mark Williams, who worked with Neeson in Honest Thief, directs and the supporting cast includes Emmy Raver-Lampman, Taylor John Smith, and Aidan Quinn.

One look at the Blacklight trailer illuminates Neeson in his late career comfort zone. Post Taken, that’s resulted in moneymakers like Unknown, Non-Stop and, of course, the Taken sequels.

Lately, however, the grosses have slowed. Some of that might have been a result of releases that occurred in this COVID era. The aforementioned Thief in fall 2020 premiered to only $3.6 million. Last year, The Marksman took in $3.7 million over the four-day MLK frame. Pre pandemic, in 2019, Cold Pursuit started with $11 million (still far off from earlier efforts).

I don’t see a compelling why Blacklight would approach double digits (or even high single ones) and it won’t help that male viewers will be distracted by the Bengals vs. Rams on Sunday of its debut weekend. It might outdo Thief and The Marksman, but maybe not.

Blacklight opening weekend: $3.8 million

For my Death on the Nile prediction, click here:

Death on the Nile Box Office Prediction

For my Marry Me prediction, click here:

Marry Me Box Office Prediction

Marry Me Box Office Prediction

It’s been 20 years since the heyday of Jennifer Lopez rom coms like The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan, but the actress returns to the genre (with a heavy dose of music) on February 11th in Marry Me. Directed by Kat Coiro, Lopez stars as a spurned pop star who strikes up a romance with Owen Wilson. The supporting cast includes Maluma, John Bradley, and Sarah Silverman.

Originally scheduled for Valentine’s Day weekend 2021 before the inevitable COVID delay, it will be available on Peacock streaming same day. Clearly hoping for a healthy female turnout, plenty of viewers could opt to RSVP from home rather than walk down the theater aisle.

J-Lo’s last foray into this territory was 2018’s Second Act, which debuted over a packed Christmas weekend to only $6.5 million (it legged out decently to nearly $40 million). I’ll project Marry Me manages to top that figure, but it still could struggle to reach double digits. I’ll say it just manages to.

Marry Me opening weekend prediction: $11.2 million

For my Death on the Nile prediction, click here:

Death on the Nile Box Office Prediction

For my Blacklight prediction, click here:

Blacklight Box Office Prediction

Death on the Nile Box Office Prediction

Hercule Poirot is back in mystery solving form (quite a while after he was supposed to be) when Death on the Nile sets sail in theaters on February 11th. The follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express finds Kenneth Branagh back as the famed Agatha Christie sleuth. As he did with Express, the star directs himself. Tom Bateman reprises his role from the predecessor. The supporting cast includes Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer (the pic was shot was shot prior to troubling details about his personal life surfaced), Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.

Budgeted at a reported $90 million, Nile was originally slated for multiplexes in December 2020 before numerous COVID delays. In that time, Branagh made Belfast and it’s become one of the favorites to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

Back in 2017, Orient debuted to a better than anticipated $28 million. It stalled a bit in subsequent weekends, but eventually hit just over $100 million domestically. At that time, audiences gave it a B Cinemascore grade – not bad though certainly not impressive.

That calls into question whether moviegoers will be excited for another dose of Poirot and his suspects. Furthermore, Nile will attempt to skew towards a female crowd. Some could be distracted with the release of the Jennifer Lopez rom com Marry Me. There’s also a football game on Sunday that could eat into the grosses.

I deduce that this might make about half of what Express accomplished for its start.

Death on the Nile opening weekend prediction: $14.3 million

For my Marry Me prediction, click here:

Marry Me Box Office Prediction

For my Blacklight prediction, click here:

Blacklight Box Office Prediction

February 4-6 Box Office Predictions

February kicks off with two new entries that should place 1-2 on the charts. Johnny Knoxville and his pranksters return in Jackass Forever and the Roland Emmerich disaster pic Moonfall starring Halle Berry are the debuts and you can peruse my detailed prediction posts on them here:

Jackass Forever Box Office Prediction

Moonfall Box Office Prediction

It’s been years since we’ve seen a Jackass experience and I do question if younger viewers aren’t as familiar with the franchise. On the other hand, no film in the series (including 2013 spinoff Bad Grandpa) has opened below $20 million and I won’t predict that this will. My low 20s forecast easily puts it in first place.

As for Moonfall, I’ve got it premiering in the same range as 2017’s Geostorm and that’s in the lower double digits range. That should certainly be good for second, but is weak considering the reported $140 million price tag.

The trio of S sequels that have reigned supreme in the last couple of weeks – Spider-Man: No Way Home, Scream, Sing 2 – should all slide 2 spots and populate the rest of the top five.

Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Jackass Forever

Predicted Gross: $21.8 million

2. Moonfall

Predicted Gross: $12.8 million

3. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Predicted Gross: $8.1 million

4. Scream

Predicted Gross: $4.4 million

5. Sing 2

Predicted Gross: $3.6 million

Box Office Results (January 28-30)

In a weekend that saw no major releases, Spider-Man: No Way Home easily ruled for the sixth out of its seven weekends. The MCU sensation took in another $11 million, reaching a tad higher than my $10.3 million projection. It stands just $25 million away from overtaking Avatar as the third biggest domestic earner of all time.

Scream was in the runner-up position again and it held better than I anticipated. The horror sequel made $7.2 million in its third frame compared to my $5.5 million estimate and it’s grossed $62 million.

Sing 2 was third with $4.6 million, edging my $4.2 million take and it’s up to $134 million.

Redeeming Love was fourth in its sophomore outing with $1.7 million (I said $1.8 million) for $6 million overall.

The King’s Man rounded out the top five at $1.6 million (I went with $1.3 million). Tally is $33 million.

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

Moonfall Box Office Prediction

Roland Emmerich, maker of Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012, has never met a disaster scenario he didn’t like. So let’s have the moon hurtle toward Earth and potentially destroy humanity, shall we? That’s the concept of Moonfall, out February 4th. The sci-fi extravaganza comes with a whopping reported budget of $140 million and its cast includes Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Pena, Charlie Plummer, Kelly Yu, and Donald Sutherland.

This one could have a tough time making that budget back and it better hope for robust international grosses. Emmerich is not the drawing power he was a quarter century ago. His last feature, 2019’s Midway, started with just over $17 million (though it is worth noting that was slightly above expectations).

It also might not help that moviegoers looking for mindless entertainment have Jackass Forever debuting directly against it. The best scenario for Moonfall could be $20 million, but that could be a giant leap. I’m thinking a premiere similar to Geostorm (which started north of $13 million) might be where this lands.

Moonfall opening weekend prediction: $12.8 million

For my Jackass Forever prediction, click here:

Jackass Forever Box Office Prediction

Jackass Forever Box Office Prediction

Johnny Knoxville and his band of merry pranksters are back again in Jackass Forever, opening February 4th. It is the fourth theatrically released Jackass saga and it follows 2013’s successful spinoff Bad Grandpa. Jeff Tremaine is back in the director’s chair along with familiar pain enthusiasts Steve-O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Danger Ehren, Preston Lacy, and Bam Margera (who was fired from production but remains onscreen). There’s celebrity cameos from Eric Andre, Shaquille O’Neal, Machine Gun Kelly, and Tyler, the Creator.

The boys aren’t boys anymore as Knoxville is 50 and Forever will be a test of the franchise’s durability. Back in 2002, part one (which stemmed from the smash MTV show) made $22 million for its start. The first sequel in 2006 made off with $29 million in its opening while 2010’s Jackass 3D easily hit the series high point with a $50 million debut. By 2013, any doubts about the Jackass bankability were wiped away when Bad Grandpa hit $32 million out of the gate.

Younger viewers, eight years after the last installment, may not be as familiar with the brand. However, I’m hesitant to bet against them. No Jackass tale has premiered with less than $20 million and my hunch is that this won’t either. Low to mid 20s sounds about right.

Jackass Forever opening weekend prediction: $21.8 million

For my Moonfall prediction, click here:

Moonfall Box Office Prediction

January 28-30 Box Office Predictions

January should close out very quietly at the box office as we await more high profiles releases in February. There’s no newcomers this weekend as the trio of S sequels – Spider-Man: No Way Home, Scream, Sing 2 – should easily maintain the 1-2-3 positions. In fact, the top 5 is likely to remain unaltered with Redeeming Love in fourth and The King’s Man rounding out the top five.

I’m projecting drops in the 20s for Spidey, Sing and King’s while Scream and Love could lose around half of their previous haul.

Quite simply, not a whole lot to ponder this time around and here’s how I see the top 5 shaking out:

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Predicted Gross: $10.3 million

2. Scream

Predicted Gross: $5.5 million

3. Sing 2

Predicted Gross: $4.2 million

4. Redeeming Love

Predicted Gross: $1.8 million

5. The King’s Man

Predicted Gross: $1.3 million

Box Office Results (January 21-23)

Two newcomers couldn’t make a dent in multiplexes as MCU’s behemoth took back the top spot from Ghostface. No Way Home made $14 million in its sixth frame, ending out my $13 million estimate. It’s up to $720 million and perched 4th all-time domestically.

Scream dropped to second with $12.2 million (in line with my $12.7 million projection) for $51 million in its two weeks. The 59% fall is similar to Scream 4‘s 62% sophomore dip.

Sing 2 was third with $5.7 million (I said $5.3 million) for a five-week tally of $128 million.

The historical romance Redeeming Love premiered in fourth with $3.5 million. That’s certainly unimpressive, but it did manage to exceed my $2.4 million prediction.

The King’s Man rounded out the top five with $1.7 million (I went with $1.6 million) for $31 million overall.

Last and least, the long delayed The King’s Daughter (featuring Pierce Brosnan and a mermaid) should have stayed on the shelf. The fantasy adventure debuted in 8th with $750,000. I thought it might make $1 million and my generosity clearly got the best of me.

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

January 21-23 Box Office Predictions

The trio of S sequels – Scream, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sing 2 – should continue to dominate the box office charts despite the arrival of two newcomers this weekend. We have the historical romance Redeeming Love and long in the can fantasy adventure The King’s Daughter debuting. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on them here:

Redeeming Love Box Office Prediction

The King’s Daughter Box Office Prediction

The real drama could be for the #1 spot and that depends on how far Scream drops in its sophomore weekend and how well Spidey holds in its sixth. For some context, Scream 3 back in 2000 fell 53% in its second frame while 2011’s Scream 4 dip was steeper at 62%. With little competition, the fifth installment could see a drop more in part 3’s range, but it could also come close to 60%. No Way Home, if it descends in the mid 30s range, might give it a run for its money at the top. In fact, I’m giving the web slinger an ever so slight edge.

My projection of $2.4 million for Redeeming Love should mean a fourth place showing behind the fifth weekend for Sing 2. The five spot could go to The King’s Man, not the The King’s Daughter.

As mentioned, The King’s Daughter has been collecting dust on the shelf since the fifth year of the Obama administration (read my full post for all the details). I’m forecasting a measly $1 million and that should keep it outside the high five.

Here’s how I’m seeing the top five breaking down:

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Predicted Gross: $13 million

2. Scream

Predicted Gross: $12.7 million

3. Sing 2

Predicted Gross: $5.3 million

4. Redeeming Love

Predicted Gross: $2.4 million

5. The King’s Man

Predicted Gross: $1.6 million

Box Office Results (January 14-17)

The four-day MLK weekend knocked Spider-Man off his perch at #1 and delivered pleasing results for Scream. The well-reviewed fifth entry in the quarter century old series took in $33.8 million over the long frame, coming in a bit under my $36.4 million prediction. That’s good for the third best 3-day traditional start in the franchise after Scream 3 ($34 million) and Scream 2 ($32 million) as it made $30 million from Friday to Sunday.

After four weeks at #1, Spider-Man: No Way Home was second with $24.6 million, slightly ahead of my $22.7 million projection. The MCU juggernaut stands at $702 million and passed Black Panther to become the 4th highest domestic earner in history.

Sing 2 was third with $10.3 million (in range with my $9.4 million take) for $121 million overall.

The 355 was fourth in its sophomore outing with $2.7 million (I went with $3.1 million) for $8 million total.

The five spot belonged to The King’s Man at $2.6 million. I incorrectly had it outside the top five. It’s made $29 million.

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

The King’s Daughter Box Office Prediction

Over the past two years, we’ve become accustomed to movies experiencing significant delays. The King’s Daughter takes the crown. Not to be confused with the recently out The King’s Man, this was actually filmed before the first Kingsman was released. The principal photography was done during the early part of the fifth year of the Obama administration.

You didn’t read that incorrectly. The adventure fantasy from director Sean McNamara was completed in the spring of 2014 and has set on the shelf since. Pierce Brosnan plays King Louis XIV and the plot involves him stealing a mermaid’s life force to become immortal (you did read that correctly). Costars include Kara Scodelario, Benjamin Walker, William Hurt, Rachel Griffiths, Fan Bingbing, and Julie Andrews (who narrates).

The fact that Gravitas Ventures is even putting this out theatrically is surprising as the distributor usually goes the PVOD route. It’s reportedly not much of a release with an output of around 1000 screens. I certainly wouldn’t anticipate this making a splash. I’ll say it gets to a million bucks and that might be generous.

The King’s Daughter opening weekend prediction: $1 million

For my Redeeming Love prediction, click here:

Redeeming Love Box Office Prediction