March 14-16 Box Office Predictions

Jack Quaid is unconventional hero Novocaine, Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender carry the romantic thriller Black Bag from Steven Soderbergh, and Daffy Duck and Porky Pig headline The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie this weekend. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the new trio here:

It could be a battle for the #1 spot. I’m projecting no feature will top $10 million though I believe Novocaine has the best shot and that it manages first place with only mild bragging rights.

I foresee Mickey 17 suffering a significant drop in its sophomore frame after a so-so start (more on that below). A mid to high 50s plummet would put it in second or maybe even third.

Black Bag, generating impressive reviews, could outdo my third place number but the adult drama should face trouble bringing in a younger crowd.

Speaking of younger crowds, Looney Tunes hopes to cash in on its well-known animated stars. Yet this seems to be severely under marketed and I have it in fifth behind Captain America: Brave New World.

Here’s how I have the high five shaking out:

1. Novocaine

Predicted Gross: $9.8 million

2. Mickey 17

Predicted Gross: $8.1 million

3. Black Bag

Predicted Gross: $7.3 million

4. Captain America: Brave New World

Predicted Gross: $5.7 million

5. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

Predicted Gross: $3.8 million

Box Office Results (March 7-9)

Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 ended Captain America‘s three-week #1 reign with $19 million. Given the reported price tag of around $120 million, that’s not a result to brag about. However, the sci-fi satire with Robert Pattinson did surpass my $17.9 million prediction.

Captain America: Brave New World fell to second with $8.3 million. I was on target at $8.4 million. The MCU adventure now stands at $176 million.

Last Breath was third with $4 million, a bit lower than my $4.6 million forecast for the survival flick. The two-week take is $14 million.

The Monkey was fourth with $3.9 million (I said $3.4 million) for $31 million after three weeks.

Paddington in Peru rounded out the top five at $3.7 million and I incorrectly had it outside the leading quintet. The sequel’s four-week gross is $36 million.

Finally, Rule Breakers from Angel Studios stumbled in ninth with a paltry $1.5 million. I was far more generous at $3.7 million.

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

March 7-9 Box Office Predictions

Mickey 17, Bong Joon-ho’s follow=up to his Oscar juggernaut Parasite, looks to rule the charts this weekend and end the three-week reign of Captain America: Brave New World. We also have Rule Breakers from Angel Studios and you can peruse my prediction posts on the newcomers here:

With a forecast in the upper teens (which isn’t oh so fine), I’m not as optimistic as some others on Mickey 17. The sci-fi satire with Robert Pattinson should benefit from the Joon-ho goodwill, but I’m not convinced that equates to a gross north of $20 million.

As for Rule Breakers with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, lower to mid single digits could place it in fourth or fifth with third being the best case scenario if it exceeds my projection.

Captain America: Brave New World should slide to second with a low to mid 40s dip while Last Breath and The Monkey populate the remainder of the top five.

Here’s how I see it playing out:

1. Mickey 17

Predicted Gross: $17.9 million

2. Captain America: Brave New World

Predicted Gross: $8.4 million

3. Last Breath

Predicted Gross: $4.6 million

4. Rule Breakers

Predicted Gross: $3.7 million

5. The Monkey

Predicted Gross: $3.4 million

Box Office Results (February 28-March 2)

It was a three-peat for the MCU’s Captain America: Brave New World with $14.8 million added to its coffers. That’s ahead of my $11.8 million guesstimate as the superhero tale has taken in $163 million with $200 million in its domestic sights (though it might fall a little short of that).

Survival thriller Last Breath starring Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu was runner-up with $7.8 million and that tops my glass half empty prediction of $4.8 million. That’s at the better end of its anticipated range.

The Monkey was third in its sophomore outing with $6.4 million, a tad ahead of my $5.7 million call. The horror comedy stands at $24 million after ten days.

Paddington in Peru was fourth with $4.5 million (I said $3.9 million) for $31 million overall after three weeks.

Dog Man rounded out the top five with $4.2 million (I went with $3.7 million). The five-week tally is $84 million as it will try and reach $100 million stateside.

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

February 28-March 2 Box Office Predictions

In what should be a quiet box office weekend, survival thriller Last Breath with Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu hopes to find an audience while Captain America: Brave New World seeks to three-peat. You can find my detailed prediction post on Breath here:

Despite a troubling 68% sophomore plummet, Captain America should manage a third weekend atop the charts due to lack of competition. It may, however, not even reach low teens this time around.

The best case scenario for Breath would be second place, but it could place anywhere from runner-up to fifth depending on drops of holdovers.

The Monkey, with a C+ Cinemascore grade, is likely to experience a heftier decline over family fare offerings Paddington in Peru and Dog Man (though it could remain in second).

Here’s how I see the top five shaking out in a cinematic frame where audiences might be more transfixed by the Oscars:

1. Captain America: Brave New World

Predicted Gross: $11.8 million

2. The Monkey

Predicted Gross: $5.7 million

3. Last Breath

Predicted Gross: $4.8 million

4. Paddington in Peru

Predicted Gross: $3.9 million

5. Dog Man

Predicted Gross: $3.7 million

Box Office Predictions (February 21-23)

As mentioned, the MCU’s 35th feature Captain America: Brave New World cratered in its second outing with a near 70% fall. It made $28.1 million, in line with my $29.6 million call, for a $141 million ten-day overall take.

Horror comedy The Monkey performed toward the lower end of its expected range at $14 million. I was more generous at $18.2 million. Look for it to fade quickly like Companion did.

Holdovers generally went under my forecasts with Paddington in Peru third at $6.5 million compared to my $8.9 million estimate. The two-week total is an underwhelming $25 million.

Dog Man was fourth with $5.8 million, under my $7.1 million prediction for $78 million in its four weeks of release.

Ne Zha 2 rounded out the top five and I incorrectly didn’t have it listed. The Chinese animated fantsy took in $3 million to bring its two-week tally to $14 million.

Heart Eyes was sixth with a ginormous 73% dip to $2.7 million in its third weekend for $26 million in the bank.

Finally, The Unbreakable Boy with Zachary Levi was another snoozer for Lionsgate in 8th. It made $2.3 million and I projected it at $3 million.

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

February 21-23 Box Office Predictions

The Monkey looks to swing a strong second place showing while The Unbreakable Boy hopes to break into the top five this weekend. Captain America: Brave New World should repeat in first. My detailed prediction posts on the newcomers can be accessed here:

Based on a Stephen King short story, The Monkey marks Osgood Perkins’s follow-up to last summer’s surprise hit Longlegs. I have this opening shy of $20 million which would put it in firmly in second.

Father-son drama The Unbreakable Boy with Zachary Levi seems like it’s getting dumped by distributor Lionsgate and my $3 million estimate puts it outside of the high 5.

Captain America: Brave New World performed in line with expectations over the Valentine’s/Presidents Day long weekend (more on that below). It also received the worst Cinemascore (B-) of any MCU title thus far. That could mean a decline in the mid 60s or even 70% (similar to the drop for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) could be at hand.

Paddington in Peru and Dog Man should each dip a spot to 3rd and 4th with Heart Eyes rounding out the top five.

Here’s how I envision it playing out:

1. Captain America: Brave New World

Predicted Gross: $29.6 million

2. The Monkey

Predicted Gross: $18.2 million

3. Paddington in Peru

Predicted Gross: $8.9 million

4. Dog Man

Predicted Gross: $7.1 million

5. Heart Eyes

Predicted Gross: $4.9 million

Box Office Results (February 14-17)

Captain America: Brave New World was the 35th Marvel Cinematic Universe experience and it was the 35th to debut atop the charts. The Friday to Sunday traditional weekend gross was $89.8 million with $100 million when factoring in President’s Day. That’s not as commanding as plenty of other MCU fare, but it surpassed my respective $78.9 million and $90.7 million estimates. As mentioned, that troubling audience reaction should mean substantial drops ahead.

Paddington in Peru kicked off in second place with $12.7 million from Friday to Sunday and $16 million for the four-day compared to my projections of $14.8 million and $17 million. The film is making the bulk of its bounty overseas though it could experience smallish declines in upcoming frames (its Cinemascore was an A).

Dog Man was third with $13.4 million (I said $14.1 million) as the animated tale brought its three-week total to $70 million.

The biggest surprise of the weekend was horror comedy Heart Eyes actually increasing its gross in weekend #2 with $10.8 million for fourth position. My radar was way off as I only had it pegged at $5.8 million. The overall tally stands at $22 million.

Chinese animated fantasy Ne Zha 2 was fifth with $8.3 million and I did not do a projection for it. That towers over its 2019 predecessor which premiered to just over one million.

Finally, Mufasa: The Lion King was sixth with $5.3 million (I said $5 million) for $241 million in its nine weeks.

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

February 14-17 Box Office Predictions

For this upcoming Valentine’s/Presidents Day weekend, Captain America: Brave New World hopes for the love from MCU fans while Paddington in Peru looks for a commanding runner-up start. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Obviously America, with Anthony Mackie donning the shield in place of Chris Evans, will easily reach first. I don’t expect it to reach anywhere near the heights of other MCU predecessors including 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. A four-day gross around $90 million seems feasible.

Paddington in Peru has already done impressive business overseas. My Friday to Monday estimate puts it in the high teens. That’s in range with the 2015 original and stronger than the 2018 sequel.

It is common for holdovers to experience small declines during this February four-day frame. Sometimes there’s even increases. I anticipate current champ Dog Man to post similar grosses to its sophomore outing (more on that below) while Mufasa may also have a minor bump. Heart Eyes could see its second weekend fortunes fall in the 25% range.

And with that, here’s my outlook on the weekend ahead and keep in mind that my figures for returning titles are for Friday-Monday:

1. Captain America: Brave New World

Predicted Gross: $78.9 million (Friday to Sunday); $90.7 million (Friday to Monday)

2. Paddington in Peru

Predicted Gross: $14.8 million (Friday to Sunday); $17 million (Friday to Monday)

3. Dog Man

Predicted Gross: $14.1 million

4. Heart Eyes

Predicted Gross: $5.8 million

5. Mufasa: The Lion King

Predicted Gross: $5 million

Box Office Results (February 7-9)

Multiplexes got defeated about as bad as the Kansas City Chiefs with the Super Bowl and a lack of enticing newcomers causing moviegoers to stay home. Dog Man from DreamWorks Animation remained in 1st with $13.8 million, but the 62% plummet was far more than I figured. I called it at $19.4 million and it’s made $54 million thus far.

Horror rom com Heart Eyes didn’t impress in 2nd with $8.3 million, below my $10.8 million take. Despite solid reviews, audiences didn’t bite.

Same goes for critically reviled action comedy Love Hurts with Ke Huy Quan. It stalled with $5.8 million compared to my $7.1 million forecast.

Mufasa: The Lion King was fourth with $4 million (I said $4.6 million) for an eight-week haul of $235 million.

Companion, another scary pic with impressive critical reaction, nevertheless nosedived 68% in its sophomore weekend for fifth. The $3 million gross was well under my $4.9 million prediction as its ten-day take is $15 million.

Finally, buddy comedy One of Them Days was sixth at $2.8 million. I was more generous at $4.4 million and the four-week total is $39 million.

That does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Paddington in Peru Box Office Prediction

After a seven year absence from the big screen, Sony hopes families are itching to watch Paddington in Peru over the Valentine’s/Presidents’ Day long weekend. The third feature in the franchise mixing live action/animation has Dougal Wilson taking over directorial duties from Paul King. Based on Michael Bond’s children’s books, Ben Whishaw returns to voice the titular bear. Other cast members include Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer (replacing Sally Hawkins), Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Imelda Staunton, Carla Tous, and Hayley Atwell.

Just over a decade ago, Paddington kicked off to $18.9 million from Friday to Sunday and $25.4 million over the extended MLK frame of 2015. Three years later, Paddington 2 started on the same holiday weekend to lesser results ($11 million for the three-day and $15 million when counting Monday). That’s despite fantastic reviews for the sequel as it notably sports a 99% RT rating.

Critical reaction for Peru is at 93% on that site though most notices say it falls short of its predecessors. In the United Kingdom, it achieved the best debut of the trilogy. The lengthy wait between features could prevent that from happening stateside though it is certainly achievable. I do think it will manage to outpace the second tale.

Paddington in Peru opening weekend prediction: $14.8 million (Friday to Sunday); $17 million (Friday to Monday)

For my Captain America: Brave New World prediction, click here:

Oscar Predictions: Paddington in Peru

The title character that first debuted over 65 years ago in Michael Bond’s children’s books is onscreen for the third time via Paddington in Peru. The mix of live-action and animation arrives a decade after Paddington and seven years after the sequel with Dougal Wilson taking over directorial duties from Paul King. Ben Whishaw is back voicing the bear with a supporting cast including Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer (replacing Sally Hawkins), Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, and Antonio Banderas. It arrives in the United Kingdom Friday with its North American release not coming until January 17th (therefore making it eligible for the Oscars after the next one).

This is, in fact, more of a BAFTA Predictions write-up than an Oscar one. Neither of Peru‘s predecessors generated Academy attention despite warm reviews. On the other hand, the British Academy bit. The original was nominated for Best British Film and for its Adapted Screenplay. Part 2 was up for the same pair of awards plus Hugh Grant in Supporting Actor. The pics went 0 for 5 in terms of victories.

The Rotten Tomatoes score for the third adventure is 91%. Yet it’s Metacritic that tells the real story. Paddington had 77 on that site while the sequel improved upon that with 88. Peru is stuck at 58. That probably means that BAFTA will not honor part 3 in any way. My Oscar… and BAFTA related… Prediction posts will continue…