July 14-16 Box Office Predictions

Tom Cruise hopes to follow up the biggest hit of his career with a franchise best opening for the signature franchise as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One opens on Wednesday. It is the only newcomer out and you can peruse detailed prediction post on it here:

Cruise’s star power is the highest it’s been in years coming off the nearly billion and a half plus earning Top Gun: Maverick from last summer. In order to post the largest start among the seven missions, Reckoning will need to top the $61 million made by predecessor Fallout in 2018. I’m projecting it will do so with over $10 million to spare and bring in over $100 million when counting its Wednesday and Thursday numbers.

The real battle should be for second place. Coming off a surprise victory, Insidious: The Red Door should experience the heftiest decline (mid 60s) of the top five. This might cause a drop of 1st to 4th if Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny falls in the 50-55% range.

Sound of Freedom, the thriller from upstart Angel Studios, was the real story of the previous frame (more on that below). With an A+ Cinemascore grade, it should have the smallest decline other than Elemental in fifth position. If the dip is lower than my estimated 40%, it might just manage to rise from third to second. I’ll give Indy the slight edge. However, it might be worth keeping an eye on daily grosses throughout the week.

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

1. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Predicted Gross: $72.7 million (Friday to Sunday); $102.3 million (Wednesday to Sunday)

2. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Predicted Gross: $12.7 million

3. Sound of Freedom

Predicted Gross: $12.1 million

4. Insidious: The Red Door

Predicted Gross: $11.4 million

5. Elemental

Predicted Gross: $7.9 million

Box Office Results (July 7-9)

As mentioned, horror fans were ready for scares as Insidious: The Red Door opened impressively. The fifth pic in the series which started in 2010 posted the second highest debut behind #2 in 2013 with $33 million. That’s beyond my $25.2 million prediction as the Sony/Blumhouse production has already doubled its reported $16 million budget.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was second in weekend #2 after its lackluster beginning. Sliding 55%, the $27.4 million gross was on pace with my $28 million take. The fifth go-round in this franchise is at $122 million after ten disappointing days for Disney.

The aforementioned Sound of Freedom employed shrewd marketing tactics that included a pay it forward method where viewers could purchase tickets for others. Jim Caviezel’s tale of taking on human traffickers reached its intended conservative and faith-based crowd and then some. The Friday to Sunday haul was $19.6 million for third place, easily outpacing my $12.5 million estimate. Since its unveiling on Tuesday, July 4th, the total is $41 million. Needless to say, Angel Studios has established itself as a player in the box office game.

Elemental was fourth with $10 million, ahead of my $8 million projection. Pixar’s latest finally crossed the century mark at $109 million.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse rounded out the top five with $8 million (I said $7.8 million) for $357 million overall.

Finally, critically acclaimed raunchy comedy Joy Ride stalled. It was sixth with just $5.8 million compared to my $8.4 million prediction.

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

Insidious: The Red Door Box Office Prediction

Sony hopes for happy horror returns when Insidious: The Red Door opens on July 7th. The fifth feature in the franchise that began in 2010, costar Patrick Wilson takes over the directorial reins. Joining him in the cast are Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor, and Lin Shaye.

The PG-13 supernatural saga is the first Insidious entry in five and a half years. It is said to serve to serve as a direct sequel to parts 1 and 2. 2013’s second chapter was the financial zenith with a $40 million premiere and $83 million eventual domestic take. Chapter 3 in 2015 did $22 million out of the gate and $52 million overall. 2018’s Insidious: The Last Key improved on its predecessor with $29 million in its initial weekend and $67 million total.

Door could be helped with the lack of genre fare in the marketplace (its TV teaser spot with Wilson getting a frightening MRI is pretty effective too). I don’t think it’ll quite reach the near $30 million of Key, but mid 20s sounds like the correct prognosis.

Insidious: The Red Door opening weekend prediction: $25.2 million

For my Joy Ride prediction, click here:

For my Sound of Freedom prediction, click here:

Insidious: The Last Key Box Office Prediction

The first new wide release of 2018 is out next Friday when Insidious: The Last Key enters theaters. This is the fourth chapter in the franchise that began in 2011. Like Chapter 3, it’s a prequel to the events of the first two. In other words, no Patrick Wilson or Rose Byrne (the stars of the originals). James Wan, director and 1 and 2, produces with Adam Robitel behind the camera. Leigh Whannell, who’s served as writer for all of them, costars along with Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson, Josh Stewart, and Bruce Davison.

One factor that could assist The Last Key is the absence of horror flicks in the marketplace at the moment. That said, this franchise has been losing its luster. The 2011 original debuted to $13 million but legged out very nicely for its genre with an eventual $54 million gross. The 2013 sequel was the pinnacle with a terrific $40 million opening weekend and $83 million total tally. Chapter 3 in 2015 premiered to $22 million, but ended up as the lowest earner of the series with $52 million. 

I don’t see a compelling reason why part 4 will rebound. For comparison sake, I could see this performing similarly to 2014’s Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, which opened in the first weekend of January to just over $18 million. Like this, that was an entry in a franchise whose steam had dissipated. That number seems to be where Key fits best.

Insidious: The Last Key opening weekend prediction: $18.6 million