There was only one new wide release this weekend (a bomb), while James Franco’s Disaster Artist expanded into 840 theaters. However, it was an otherwise very quiet weekend as the box-office gets into formation to prepare for the arrival of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and its projected $200 million opening weekend next week. It’s going to be a huge weekend that’s likely going to blow everything else (aside from Ferdinand) off the map.
In the meantime, Coco gets one more weekend at the top, amassing a solid $19 million for a total of $136 million, so far. I suspect that Ferdinand will make a huge dent in Coco’s box office next weekend, but the two should both continue to do well over the holidays, just as Moana and Sing managed to keep busy for all of December 2016. Coco has also added $172 million internationally, including $55 million in Mexico, where it’s the biggest movie of 2017.
Justice League also got to take advantage of one last weekend before The Last Jedi steals a lot of its theaters. It made nearly $10 million in its fourth weekend and finally crossed the $200 million mark (it sits at $211 million). It’s also closing in on $600 million worldwide. It’s going to eke out a profit, but not a big one, which is why D.C. is completely restructuring its efforts this week.
In third place, Wonder continues to hum along, as it made nearly made as much in its fourth weekend as Justice League. It added $9.3 million to bring its overall total to $100 million, although the $20 million film is not making much of a splash internationally, where it’s only raised $13 million in revenue.
James Franco’s phenomenally fun The Disaster Artist added 800 theaters and climbed into fourth place this weekend, generating a tidy $6.4 million (or a little more than what The Room cost to make). The Disaster Artist cost $10 million to make but it should have no problem earning that money back as it expands in the coming weeks and probably even makes a minor splash on the awards circuit. It’s a delightful origins story, and one I think is reversing some of the apathy people have felt for James Franco in recent years.
Numbers five through nine are all holdovers. Thor: Ragnarok added $6 million to officially cross the $300 million mark (it’s made $822 million worldwide); Daddy’s Home 2 collected $5.7 million and has now made $90 million stateside; the $5 million haul of Murder on the Orient Express brings it to $92 million; The Star crossed $30 million with a $3.7 million take; while Lady Bird has quietly earned $22 million now with the $3.5 million it made this weekend.
Finally, a movie called Just Getting Started opened this weekend in over 2,000 theaters. The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, and Rene Russo. It only earned $3.5 million. That will make it around the 56th worst opening of all time for a movie released in over 2,000 theaters. What I find most remarkable about Just Getting Started, however, is how few outlets actually reviewed it. It is sporting a 9 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but only 11 critics have reviewed the film, and only six “top critics” made the effort. Most outlets just couldn’t be bothered, and those who have seen the trailer will understand why.
There were a few arthouse flicks to note, as well, this weekend. Three Billboards fell 40 percent in its second weekend of semi-wide release, but it earned another $2.7 million to push it over the $20 million mark. Meanwhile, I, Tonya had a solid start on four screens with $84,000 per theater. Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water performed very well in 40 theaters with a $29,000 per screen average. Call Me By Your Name, which is rolling out really slowly (it’s still in only 9 theaters after three weeks of release) earned $28,000 per theater; and Darkest Hour made an OK $783,000 in 53 theaters for a $14,000 per theater average. Finally, Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel is not doing well. It earned only $3,000 per theater on 47 screens.
Next week: Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the animated film, Ferdinand. Strap in, folks.
(Via Deadline, Box Office Mojo)
