The Weekend Report

Jurassic World took the hat trick as top viewing choice for the frame with an estimated $54.2 million and set a new speed record for a movie grossing $500 million. It now ranks fifth among all time domestic box office champs (unadjusted). And still radiating joy in second position was Inside Out with $52.2 million. Neither of the session’s new wide releases performed up to expectations with Ted 2 napping third in the lineup with $32.9 million and Max, the Afghan vet pooch, grossing $12.2 million. In the niches Punjabi Sardaar Ji had a potent start of $394,000 while new Tamil and Telugu films flamed out. Also strong was Filipino comedy Just the Way You Are that grossed $293,000.

Alan Rickman’s period tale of garden design at Versailles, A Little Chaos, had a less-than-green thumb at $184,000 from 83 playdates The best of the exclusives (cue zither) was the a long-in-the-works restoration of 1948’s The Third Man with $21,700 from two screens.

Weekend revenues generated roughly $185 million, which translated into a 27% decline from seven days ago. That marked a modest 2% rise from 2014 when the debut of Transformers: Age of Extinction led with $100 million with 22 Jump Street not quite right behind $15.8 million.

Industry anticipation and early tracking had indicated that Ted 2 would be competitive with Jurassic World and Inside Out. But as opening day approached the bar was lowered to a bit better than $40 million. Its appeal continued to erode with blistering reviews and social media response that may have affected second day box office. Core fans were disappointed and crossover business was less than brisk.

Studio exit demos identified the audience as 59% male with 51% aged 25-years and older. The film also opened in 26 international territories with an estimated $20 million box office with Germany accounting for $4 million and both Russia and Australia grossing $3.2 million.

Though superficially a callback to the days of Rin Tin Tin, Max centers on the canine war vet’s adjustment to polite society with a caring family. The saccharine content fell short of tracking estimates of $16 million to $18 million. Its opening audience was 55% female with 57% of viewers aged 25-years and older. Its intent to grab a sizeable family audience was thwarted by Inside Out.

On the alternative side Me and Earl and the Dying Girl upped its exposure but is struggling to create a significant momentum. The season has yet to find an outsider title with breakout potential.

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