The Weekend Report

Hardly autumnal weekend moviegoing lit up with two national debuts. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials bowed at the top of the charts to an estimated $30.2 million the gangster opus Black Mass arrived with $23.1 million. There was also good news for the platforming Everest peaking at $7.5 million but religious conversion drama Captive failed to inspire with a $1.4 million tally.

Also encouraging was the $205,000 opening of the bygone chess showdown Pawn Sacrifice at 33 locations. But it was the drug odyssey Sicario that proved most potent with a $390,000 gross from a mere six encampments.

Session revenues approached $115 million for an 11% bump from seven days earlier and was 10% improved from 2014. A year back the first episode of the Maze Runner franchise bowed to $32.5 million with second spot to another deb A Walk Among the Tombstones at $12.7 million.

In the niches, Indian imports saw OK results of $271,000 for Hindi Katti Batti and moribund returns of $25,300 for Telugu Courier Boy Kalyan and Tamil Mayuri (Maya) grossing $40,200. South Korean import Veteran generated a solid $323,000 and in Francophone Canada, hockey-themed graphic novel adaptation Paul à Québec was off to a good first face-off of $184,000.

Scorch Trials exceeded tracking expectations of $25 million. The film opened a week earlier in 21 international territories, including Mexico, Australia and the UK to $26.7 million and put a pin into blather about an imploded series. Domestically, the YA tale was right on target with its core crowd with 63% of the audience age 25-years and younger and a slight female tilt of 53%. The dystopian saga expanded its international scope this weekend to 66 territories and added roughly $43 million to its larder.

Black Mass, the lurid history of “Whitey” Bulger and Boston’s Winter Hill Gang also bested pundits. Buttressed by key reviews and Johnny Depp’s appeal the film swung 56% male with 89% crowd that was 25-years and older. The strong debut should bring in younger folk in the coming weeks.

An unusual roll of the dice, Everest went out exclusively to 545 IMAX 3-D engagements. Studio estimators were hoping for a $5 million start to establish a base and easily topped that. Internationally, it opened day-and-day in 36 countries and generated a potent $28 million estimate with about 60% of that tally coming from large format engagements.

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