By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com

The Weekend Report

They expected big … but not huuuge. Deadpool bowed to a record-breaking estimated $135.3 million for the three-day portion (all figures reflect three day figures) of the Presidents holiday session. Two other films launched nationally with upbeat response to How to Be Single at $18.2 million and a disappointing $14.3 million for Zoolander No. 2.

Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next had a good start of $894,000 at 308 embarcations. Newcomers in exclusive release were dull, including Dheepan with $18,300 from eight screens in Québec, and Denmark’s Oscar shortlisted A War grossing $7,700 at five venues.

In the niches, Telugu Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gadh was solid with $475,000 while Hindi Fitoor teetered to $313,000. In Québec, the animated version of the venerable The Little Prince bowed to $153,000. It’s been in international release for six months and grossed $105 million and opens next month in the U.S.

Revenues for the frame were eyeing a record $240 million plus box office that translated into a jaw-dropping 160% boost from last weekend and an impressive 10% improvement from 2015. A year ago Fifty Shades of Grey set a new benchmark for Presidents weekend of $74.9 million with Kingsman rattling the cage with a $31.4 million debut.

The X-Men’s Deadpool repped the cynical side of the comic franchise and an unlikely character to carry a full movie. But early previews indicated he had a larger than anticipated fan base and the picture’s opening generated the sort of numbers that suggest he was “the” super hero audiences were waiting to arrive. Despite an R-rating, the opening audience was 47% aged 25-years and younger.

Early tracking suggested a potent bow in the $60 million range but that shot up to $80 million ($100 million for four-days) as opening day loomed. The film easily smashed the box office record for Presidents holiday releases and also set a new bench mark for an R-Rated movie (previously Matrix: Reloaded at $91.7 million) along with some more arcane records. It was also the studio’s best ever debut that had been held by Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith with $108.4 million.

Deadpool opened a few days earlier in several international and through its opening weekend grossed an estimated $125 million from 61 territories. Only a handful of major territories have yet to open, including Japan, Italy, South Korea and an as yet undated China.

The expectation for How to Be Single and Zoolander No. 2 was for a heated battle with each expected to gross in the high teens to the low 20s. In the end the adaptation of Liz Tuccillo’s YA book trumped the long-gestating sequel to the 2001 fashion statement. Single exit demos were unavailable but Zoolander 2 was 51% female with 62% aged 25-years and older.

Internationally the Zoolander sequel had a 20-territory launch including the UK, Australia and Italy for $8.5 million. How to Be Single also dipped its toe into international waters including Russia, Taiwan and Italy for a comparable initial take of $8.1 million.

With tonight’s BAFTAs and Oscar only two Sundays away, the prime contenders continued to hold their own. Still, the prospect of significant post-award theatrical boosts dissipated long ago with ancillaries now the main beneficiary.

Weekend (estimates) February 12 – 14, 2016
Title Distributor Gross (average) % chng Thtrs Cume
Deadpool Fox 135.3 (38,030) NEW 3558 135.3
Kung Fu Panda 3 Fox 19.2 (5,000) -10% 3844 93.5
How to Be Single WB 18.2 (5,450) NEW 3343 18.2
Zoolander No. 2 Par 14.3 (4,220) NEW 3394 14.3
Hail, Caesar! Uni 6.6 (2,920) -42% 2248 21.3
The Revenant Fox 6.5 (2,890) -6% 2266 158.8
Star Wars: The Force Awakens BV 6.2 (3,410) -12% 1810 914.8
The Choice Lionsgate 5.3 (2,010) -13% 2631 12.8
Ride Along 2 Uni 4.1 (2,640) -10% 1562 82.6
The Boy STX/eOne 2.8 (1,950) -31% 1450 30.7
The Finest Hours BV 2.8 (1,600) -43% 1734 23.3
The 5th Wave Sony 2.5 (1,760) -33% 1444 29.4
Pride + Prejudice + Zombies Sony/eOne 2.4 (830) -54% 2931 9.3
Dirty Grandpa Lionsgate/VVS 2.0 (1,240) -50% 1612 32.6
13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Par 1.6 (1,700) -45% 932 50.5
The Big Short Par 1.4 (2,580) -19% 535 65.7
Brooklyn Fox Searchlight/Mongrel 1.1 (2,240) -6% 495 34.1
Daddy’s Home Par .97 (1,830) -34% 532 146.6
Where to Invade Next Drafthouse .89 (2,900) NEW 308 0.89
Spotlight Open Road/eOne .71 (1,570) -15% 455 37.2
The Lady in the Van Sony Classics .53 (4,090) 51% 130 1.9
45 Years IFC/Mongrel .49 (2,070) -6% 237 2.9
Fifty Shades of Black Open Road/D Films .48 (990) -77% 485 10.6
Krisha Gaadi Veera Prema Gadh Pixel Dreams .47 (4,060) NEW 117 0.52
The Good Dinosaur BV .47 (1,690) 151% 277 121.2
Room 424/Elevation .41 (1,290) -44% 316 12
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) $235.90
% Change (Last Year) 10%
% Change (Last Week) 160%
Also debuting/expanding
Fitoor UTV .31 (2,130) 147 0.31
2016 Oscar Shorts Magnolia .29 (1,700) -31% 173 1.7
Le Petit prince Seville .15 (2,840) 54 0.15
The Monkey King 2 China Lion .14 (4,270) -15% 33 0.45
Carol Weinstein Co. .14 (1,020) -35% 141 12.1
Ip Man 3 Well Go .13 (2,710) -52% 49 2.4
Son of Saul Sony Classics 69,400 (1,390) -23% 50 0.98
Anomalisa Par 68,200 (950) -57% 72 2.4
From Vegas to Macau III Media Asia 67,800 (4,840) -46% 14 0.29
Trumbo Bleecker/eOne 55,700 (980) 43% 57 7.8
Mustang Cohen/Mongrel 49,200 (1,410) -26% 35 0.8
Dough Menemsha 44,700 (4,970) 9 0.04
Un + une TVA 37,500 (3,120) 12 0.04
Jil Jung Juk Praneeth 37,100 (840) 44 0.04
Dheepan Metropole 18,300 (2,290) 8 0.02
Touched with Fire Roadside Attractions 14,600 (2,430) 6 0.01
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong Gravitas 14,200 (1,580) 9 0.01
The New Year’s Eve of Old Lee China Lion 10,300 (1,720) 6 0.01
Until Forever Gateway 7,900 (2,630) 3 0.01
A War Magnolia 7,700 (1,540) 5 0.01
Providence Faith Flix 6,100 (870) 7 0.01
Mountains May Depart Kino 4,600 (4,600) 1 0.01
Bad Hurt Screen Media 4,200 (840) 5 0.01
Domestic Market Share (January 1 – February 11, 2016)
Distributor (releases) Box Office Market Share
20th Century Fox (8) 298.8 24.40%
Buena Vista (4) 288.8 23.60%
Paramount (5) 173.2 14.10%
Universal (5) 132.3 10.80%
Lionsgate (6) 62.9 5.10%
Sony (7) 54.8 4.50%
Weinstein Co. (6) 49.7 4.10%
Focus (2) 32.4 2.70%
STX (2) 26.2 2.10%
Warner Bros. (6) 26.1 2.10%
Open Road (2) 19.5 1.60%
Fox Searchlight (2) 11.1 0.90%
Other * (54) 48.5 4.00%
1224.3 100%
* none greater than 0.45%
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Leonard Klady's Friday Estimates
Friday Screens % Chg Cume
Title Gross Thtr % Chgn Cume
Venom 33 4250 NEW 33
A Star is Born 15.7 3686 NEW 15.7
Smallfoot 3.5 4131 -46% 31.3
Night School 3.5 3019 -63% 37.9
The House Wirh a Clock in its Walls 1.8 3463 -43% 49.5
A Simple Favor 1 2408 -50% 46.6
The Nun 0.75 2264 -52% 111.5
Hell Fest 0.6 2297 -70% 7.4
Crazy Rich Asians 0.6 1466 -51% 167.6
The Predator 0.25 1643 -77% 49.3
Also Debuting
The Hate U Give 0.17 36
Shine 85,600 609
Exes Baggage 75,900 62
NOTA 71,300 138
96 61,600 62
Andhadhun 55,000 54
Afsar 45,400 33
Project Gutenberg 36,000 17
Love Yatri 22,300 41
Hello, Mrs. Money 22,200 37
Studio 54 5,300 1
Loving Pablo 4,200 15
3-Day Estimates Weekend % Chg Cume
No Good Dead 24.4 (11,230) NEW 24.4
Dolphin Tale 2 16.6 (4,540) NEW 16.6
Guardians of the Galaxy 7.9 (2,550) -23% 305.8
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4.8 (1,630) -26% 181.1
The Drop 4.4 (5,480) NEW 4.4
Let's Be Cops 4.3 (1,570) -22% 73
If I Stay 4.0 (1,320) -28% 44.9
The November Man 2.8 (1,030) -36% 22.5
The Giver 2.5 (1,120) -26% 41.2
The Hundred-Foot Journey 2.5 (1,270) -21% 49.4