The Weekend Report

Add a franchise to the list. Guardians of the Galaxy swept up roughly half of weekend box office biz with a commanding estimated $93.2 million debut. That left the other national newcomer Get On Up working hard to secure third position with $14.1 million.

Among exclusive bows there was encouraging initial response for the dark Irish walk along the Via Doloroso, Calvary, with $71,600 from four confessionals. The frame also featured noteworthy expansions for Boyhood and Magic in the Moonlight.

In the niches a couple of Indian imports were off to solid starts. The Tamil Jigarthanda grosed $138,000 at 22 venues while the Telugu Run Raja Run had a $119,000 box office from 16 playdates. In Quebec the $100 million-plus grossing French comedy Qu’est ce qu’on a fait au bon dieu? (What have we done, good god?) was off to good response of $132,000 at 31 locations.

Session revenues climbed to more than $185 million, expanding business 20% from last weekend. It also reversed month-long b.o. declines, with a 36% upturn from 2013. Twelve months back, the opening of 2 Guns led with $27.1 million with The Wolverine right behind with $21.3 million and the $17.5 million launch of Smurfs 3 a disappointing third.

The Marvel magic continued with Guardians of the Galaxy. While hardly one of the pulper’s better-known titles, previews and early reviews elevated interest in the film that translated into the biggest Thursday preview gross of 2014 with $11 million. Tracking for the sci-fi adventure generally pegged a potent bounty of between $85 million and $90 million and some pundits held out hope for a 9-figure opening following Thursday’s result.

The film skewed slightly male at 56% with 55% of the initial crowd aged 25-years and older. Studio exits also identified 26% of the audience as families.

Guardians also opened day-and-date in 42 international territories to an estimated $66 million. It was Putin’ on the ritz in Russia with $13 million. Other notable bows were $11 million in the UK, $6.5 million in Mexico and $4.7 million in South Korea.

Papa had a truly mixed bag for the Godfather of Soul James Brown. Critics were divided about Get On Up but regardless gave actor Chad Boseman an awards worthy thumbs up. Tracking was not encouraging and the film fell mid-way between estimates of $13 million to $15 million. Unlike Ray. the new film has an awfully long haul to award season. It also has to expand its audience from opening weekend studio demos that identified it as 70% African American. Talk about art imitating life. The film also tilted 63% female with 90% of the audience aged 25-years and older.

On the alternative side. Boyhood added 204 engagements and continued to maintain excellent per screens. There were also strong results for the expansion of Magic in the Moonlight and just OK returns for the aggressive roll out of A Most Wanted Man.

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