January 26-28 Box Office Predictions

The month of January seems destined to go out with a whimper as thriller Miller’s Girl with Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega is the sole wide release. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

The top five may look very similar to this previous frame except the earnings will be even smaller. Mean Girls could manage a third weekend at #1 with a drop close to 50%. If it drops more precipitously, that could open the door for Wonka or The Beekeeper to vault over it.

Migration and Anyone but You are likely to stay put in fourth and fifth.

You’ll notice I haven’t discussed Miller’s Girl yet and that’s because my $2.2 million leaves it on the outside looking in.

Here’s my top 5 forecast:

1. Mean Girls

Predicted Gross: $6 million

2. Wonka

Predicted Gross: $5.3 million

3. The Beekeeper

Predicted Gross: $5.1 million

4. Migration

Predicted Gross: $4.5 million

5. Anyone but You

Predicted Gross: $4.2 million

Box Office Results (January 19-21)

Mean Girls, despite a hefty 59% drop, was perched in 1st for the second weekend with $11.6 million. That’s just under my $12.6 million prediction as the ten-day gross reached $50 million.

Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper was the runner-up again with $8.6 million (right on target with my $8.7 million projection) for $31 million thus far.

Wonka was third with an additional $6.7 million (I said $6 million) to bring its haul to $187 million with $200 million approaching.

Migration made $5.4 million for fourth. I went with $4.9 million as the animated feature is getting to nine digits with $94 million.

Anyone but You continued its impressive run in fifth with $5.4 million, on pace with my $5.5 million call. The tally is $64 million.

Lastly, sci-fi thriller I.S.S. was a dud. It started off in seventh with $3 million, in range with my $2.6 million take.

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

January 19-21 Box Office Predictions

The space station set sci-fi thriller I.S.S. is the only wide release debut in what should be a sluggish weekend at the box office. Our newcomer may struggle to make the top five and you can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:

After a fetching start (more on that below), Mean Girls should remain #1 for the second weekend. However, with a weak B Cinemascore grade, a drop in the mid to high 50s is possible. It still might be the only title to get beyond $10 million as the typical January slowdown commences.

Jason Statham’s action thriller The Beekeeper, after its stronger than anticipated premiere, should be keeping its spot at #2 with a mid to high 40s decline.

The rest of the top five should consist of holiday leftovers with Wonka, Anyone but You, and Migration all experiencing meager dips.

Back to I.S.S. I’m just not seeing a launch of any magnitude and my $2.6 million forecast does indeed mean a showing outside the high five.

Here’s how I do see it:

1. Mean Girls

Predicted Gross: $12.6 million

2. The Beekeeper

Predicted Gross: $8.7 million

3. Wonka

Predicted Gross: $6 million

4. Anyone but You

Predicted Gross: $5.5 million

5. Migration

Predicted Gross: $4.9 million

Box Office Results (January 12-15)

It was a robust premiere for the latest take on Mean Girls as the musical comedy scored $33.6 million over the four-day MLK weekend. That’s over my $27.6 million prediction and at the peak end of its anticipated range.

The Beekeeper also exceeded expectations with $18.7 million, well over my $10.6 million projection. It proved to be a viable option for action fans despite bad weather and playoff football. P.S. – now that my Browns are out, go Texans (Buckeye CJ Stroud) or Lions (long suffering fanbase).

Wonka was third with $11 million, not matching my $12.9 million call. The hit of the holidays has amassed $178 million after five weeks with $200 million domestic in its sights.

Migration was fourth with $8.5 million (I said $8.3 million) as it approaches the century mark with $88 million in four weekends.

Anyone but You rounded out the top five and also grossed $8.5 million for its impressive four-week haul of $56 million. A went with a little more at $9.5 million.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was sixth with $6.3 million, under my $7.6 million guesstimate, for $109 million overall since its Christmas weekend bow.

Badly reviewed horror flick Night Swim plummeted from 2nd to 7th with $5.4 million (I said $6.1 million) for two-week earnings of $20 million.

Finally, Biblical dramedy The Book of Clarence couldn’t find an audience. It was ninth with a mere $3 million compared to my projection of $5.5 million.

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

I.S.S. Box Office Prediction

I.S.S. isn’t a comedy about a group of rambunctious teens serving in-school suspension. The title stands for International Space Station in the sci-fi thriller from Gabriela Cowperthwaite, best known for directing the documentary Blackfish. Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Maria Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbaek star.

Critics first boarded I.S.S. back in June at the Tribeca Film Festival where it launched with solid notices (93% on RT). Bleecker Street acquired the rights last fall for the January 19th premiere. The release date doesn’t indicate much confidence (despite the reviews). It also doesn’t help that Bleecker’s distribution library is littered with box office disappointments (Mafia Mamma anyone?). If this manages to reach $5 million, I’d be a little surprised.

I.S.S. opening weekend prediction: $2.6 million