Box Office: ‘Ant-Man’ avoids a ‘Trainwreck’ with $22.6 million Friday for no. 1

Marvel's “Ant-Man” was no. 1 at the box office on Friday, but the results are not as avenging as the studio might have hoped for.  The shrinking superhero tale pulled in $22.6 million and is expected to earn between $55-60 million for the three-day.  That would be Marvel Studios smallest debut since “The Incredible Hulk” in 2008.  Granted, “Ant-Man” may over perform with Saturday matinees (it earned an A Cinemascore grade), but it has to be a somewhat disappointing start for the Disney division.

Dropping to no. 2 was Universal Studios latest blockbuster, “Minions.”  The “Despicable Me” spinoff earned another $14.6 million for a stellar $181 million in just eight days.  That's a little over $33 million ahead of where “Inside Out” was at the same period last month.  Globally “Minions” is a monster earning over $468.8 million so far.  

Debuting in third was the Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer collaboration “Trainwreck.”  The well-received comedy is another hit for Universal Studios pulling in $10.7 million on its first day.  It could finish the three-day frame with $28-30 million. That's a pretty remarkable success considering its Schumer's first major film role.

The aforementioned “Inside Out” continued its strong run in fourth with another $3.3 million and $298 million so far.  Sometime today the Pete Doctor directed flick will become only the third Pixar release after “Toy Story 3” and “Finding Nemo” to earn over $300 million.

“Jurassic World” took the fifth slot with $3.2 million and $602.9 million.  The long awaited fourth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise is now just the fourth picture to cross the $600 million mark.  It should surpass “Marvel's The Avengers” for no. 3 all-time next weekend.

Look for complete weekend results tomorrow on HitFix.

For more box office insight and movie buzz follow @TheGregoryE

×