By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
The Weekend Report
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice wasn’t the only story in the Easter marketplace but its estimated $168.3 million debut did account for approximately 66% of session revenues. There was still good news for the frame’s other national newcomer My Big Fat Greek Wedding that opened at third with $18.1 million.
In Canada, Cannes-prized The Lobster bowed to a solid $61,300 at seven sites and Hank Williams’ biopic I Saw the Light displayed comparable strength of $48,700 from five honkytonks. Holidays in India offered a spate of entries including Telugu Oopiri (Thozha in Tamil versions) that opened with a potent $911,000 and Punjabi Ambarsariya with an excellent $411,000. Hindi Rocky Handsome didn’t connect, with only $88,300.
Weekend revenues climbed to roughly $255 million for a whopping 101% ascendency from seven days earlier, as well as a not too shabby 72% climb from 2015 which was not Easter weekend. A year back, openings of Home and Get Hard led viewing with respective bows of $52.1 million and $33.8 million.
Box office pundits as well as Batman v. Superman’s studio were predicting a domestic debut in the neighborhood of $160 million and considering the stakes, all were able to exhale a collective sigh of relief. If estimates hold, the superhero pairing ranks as Warner Bros. biggest opening as well as the best debut for a DC comics character. It was not a critic’s darling and audience exit polling was soft. Still, the matchup is likely headed for $350 million domestic.
Internationally, the film opened day-and-date in 66 markets, with initial estimates north of $250 million. It ranks as the studio’s second biggest foreign debut to the Harry Potter finale. Leading the charge was its $57 million gross in China but all major markets opened to outstanding results with Mexico, Hong Kong, India and Argentina setting new records for a WB picture.
On the domestic front Batman v. Superman had a 62% male audience with 60% aged 25-years and older. It also had an unusually high 41% opting for 3D engagements and IMAX shows (approximately 9% of playdates) accounted for 11% of box offie.
A lot has happened since My Big Fat Greek Wedding opened in 2002 and opaa-ed its way to become the all-time highest grossing romantic comedy. Stakes were high but the sequel didn’t have to reach lofty heights. Tracking suggested a $16 million to $18 million debut and the studio is elated to come out on the high end. It’s also optimistic that like its inspiration it will eventually have a high multiple. The opening crowd was 76% female with 60% aged 35-years and older.
Greek 2 added an additional $8 million from 14 international market launches including a potent Australian debut as well as the UK, Germany and Mexico.
| Weekend (estimates) March 25 – 27, 2016 | |||||
| Title | Distributor | Gross (avg) | % chng | Thtrs | Cume |
| Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice | WB | 168.3 (39,680) | NEW | 4242 | 168.3 |
| Zootopia | BV | 23.2 (6,330) | -38% | 3670 | 240.6 |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Uni | 18.1 (5,770) | NEW | 3133 | 18.1 |
| Allegiant | Lionsgate | 9.6 (2,560) | -67% | 3740 | 46.7 |
| Miracles from Heaven | Sony | 9.0 (2,950) | -39% | 3047 | 33.6 |
| 10 Cloverfield Lane | Par | 5.9 (2,110) | -53% | 2802 | 55.9 |
| Deadpool | Fox | 4.8 (2,070) | -40% | 2336 | 349.3 |
| London Has Fallen | Focus/VVS | 2.9 (1,330) | -58% | 2173 | 55.6 |
| Hello, My Name is Doris | Roadside Attractions | 1.6 (3,260) | 59% | 488 | 3.2 |
| Eye in the Sky | Bleecker Street | .95 (7,720) | 124% | 123 | 1.8 |
| Oopiri/Thozha | PVP | .91 (5,590) | NEW | 163 | 1 |
| Risen | Sony | .89 (1,400) | -22% | 634 | 36 |
| Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | Par | .87 (1,030) | -69% | 847 | 21.3 |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | BV | .79 (1,430) | -18% | 552 | 933.6 |
| The Perfect Match | Lionsgate | .66 (1,010) | -67% | 658 | 8.7 |
| Kapoor & Son – Since 1921 | Fox Intl | .59 (3,860) | -40% | 153 | 1.9 |
| Kung Fu Panda 3 | Fox | .54 (1,130) | -44% | 480 | 139.4 |
| The Revenant | Fox | .43 (850) | -64% | 506 | 182.1 |
| Ambarsariya | White Hill | .41 (8,060) | NEW | 51 | 0.41 |
| The Young Messiah | Focus | .27 (310) | -75% | 874 | 6.3 |
| Gods of Egypt | Lionsgate | .23 (490) | -79% | 473 | 30.2 |
| How to Be Single | WB | .23 I1,210) | -43% | 188 | 46.3 |
| The Lady in the Van | Sony Classics | .22 (1,030) | -45% | 216 | 9.2 |
| Eddie the Eagle | Fox | .17 (660) | -71% | 262 | 15.2 |
| Daddy’s Home | Par | .17 (830) | -55% | 208 | 150.1 |
| Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) | $249.60 | ||||
| % Change (Last Year) | 72% | ||||
| % Change (Last Week) | 101% | ||||
| Also debuting/expanding | |||||
| Spotlight | Open Road/eOne | .15 (730) | -64% | 206 | 44.3 |
| Le Petit prince | Seville | .11 (1,230) | -24% | 88 | 1.3 |
| Embrace of the Serpent | Oscillosope/Raven | .10 (1,360) | -34% | 75 | 1 |
| Midnight Special | WB | .10 (19,640) | -48% | 5 | 0.36 |
| Rocky Handsome | Big Pictures | 88,300 (1,400) | 63 | 0.09 | |
| Born to Be Blue | IFC/eOne | 75,400 (5,390) | 274% | 14 | 0.16 |
| Knight of Cups | Broad Green | 66,900 (980) | -38% | 68 | 0.45 |
| The Lobster | Mongrel | 61,300 (8,760) | 7 | 0.06 | |
| I Saw the Light | Sony Classics | 48,700 (9,740) | 5 | 0.05 | |
| Krisha | A24 | 37,500 (1,700) | 279% | 22 | 0.05 |
| Fastball | Gravitas | 16,700 (800) | 21 | 0.02 | |
| April and the Extraordinary World | Gkids | 11,600 (11,600) | 1 | 0.01 | |
| Valley of Love | Strand | 9,500 (4,750) | 2 | 0.01 | |
| They’re Watching | Amplify | 6,800 (380) | 18 | 0.01 | |
| Get a Job | Lionsgate | 6,600 (730) | 9 | 0.01 | |
| Look at us Now, Mother! | WMM | 5,700 (1,420) | 4 | 0.01 | |
| Jane Wants a Boyfriend | Filmbuff | 5,000 (830) | 6 | 0.01 | |
| Domestic Market Share (January 1 – March 24, 2016) | |||||
| Distributor (releases) | Box Office | Market Share | |||
| 20th Century Fox (10) | 745.1 | 29.80% | |||
| Buena Vista (5) | 539.8 | 21.60% | |||
| Paramount (7) | 287.1 | 11.50% | |||
| Universal (6) | 161.1 | 6.50% | |||
| Lionsgate (10) | 157.3 | 6.30% | |||
| Sony (11) | 136.3 | 5.50% | |||
| Focus (5) | 105.1 | 4.20% | |||
| Warner Bros. (8) | 100.6 | 4.00% | |||
| Weinstein Co. (6) | 51.4 | 2.10% | |||
| Open Road (3) | 39.8 | 1.60% | |||
| STX (2) | 33.9 | 1.40% | |||
| A24 (3) | 30.9 | 1.20% | |||
| Fox Searchlight (2) | 15.1 | 0.60% | |||
| Other * (105) | 91.8 | 3.70% | |||
| 2495.3 | 100% | ||||
| * none greater than 0.4% | |||||
| Top Limited Releases (January 1 – March 24, 2016) * | |||||
| Title | Distributor | Box Office | |||
| The Lady in the Van | Sony Classics | 8,946,500 | |||
| Carol * | Weinstein Co. | 8,900,328 | |||
| The Danish Girl * | Focus | 6,607,578 | |||
| 45 Years | IFC/Mongrel | 4,459,959 | |||
| Anomalisa | Par | 3,683,877 | |||
| Where to Invade Next | Drafthouse/Mongrel | 3,535,120 | |||
| The Mermaid | Sony | 3,184,583 | |||
| 2016 Oscar Nominated Shorts | Magnolia | 2,816,816 | |||
| Ip Man 3 | Well Go | 2,758,588 | |||
| Sherlock: The Abominable Bride | Fathom | 2,598,723 | |||
| Airlift | B4U | 2,355,084 | |||
| Nannaku Pramatho | CineGalaxy | 2,123,996 | |||
| Los Domirriquenos | Duende | 1,755,486 | |||
| Busco Novio para mi Mujer | Lionsgate | 1,741,889 | |||
| Neerja | Fox Intl | 1,710,563 | |||
| * does not include 2015 box office | |||||
