The Weekend Report

There was no contest in the face-off between Legoworld and Lingerieland. The gap between the $55.1 million bow of The Lego Batman Movie and $46.8 million Fifty Shades Darker was tighter than anticipated. The week’s other newcomer, John Wick: Chapter 2, kicked out a potent bow of $29.4 million.

Some estimates for The Batman Lego Movie went as high as $70 million but as opening day loomed the consensus was for an opening in the low $60 millions. The gross may have been blunted by the Abbot and Costello Meets Frankenstein factor, where new elements confuse the issue. That also occurred thirty-four years ago when Superman 3 cast Richard Pryor and viewers weren’t sure whether they would get a comedy or an adventure. Studio exit demos identified the audience as 52% female and 52% 25 and younger. Lego Batman also bowed day-and-date in 60 foreign markets to an estimated $37 million with top toyboxes including the UK at $9.3 million, $2.6 million in Mexico and Russia with $2.2 million.

Revenues for the frame hovered around $190 million for a significant 94% boost from last weekend. It was nonetheless 33% below 2016 when the launch of Deadpool arrived with a staggering $152.2 million.

In international day-and-dates, Hindi Jolly LLB 2 had a solid start of $753,000 while Telugu Singam 3 was a case of diminishing returns with a $242,000 tally. China’s Duckweed quacked an excellent $163,000 from 27 screens, and in exclusive play A United Kingdom had a strong $68,700 box office from four engagements. And never underestimate feline power, as embodied in Istanbul city life through the eyes of a teeming cast of cats in Kedi, which grossed $37,300 from a single litter.

Expectations were strong for Fifty Shades Darker with predictions in the range of $40-$42 million that it exceeded. Although critical response tended toward laughter, a core crowd turned out, with women once again dominating at 70% and an audience that was 56% 30 and younger and the core 18-35-year old corridor comprising 66% of the total.

Fifty Shades Darker bowed in 57 international markets to a potent $100 million. It was top choice in 51 including Germany at $11 million, the UK with $9.3 million, Brazil grossing $7.5 million and Australia a tidy $6 million.

When John Wick debuted in 2014 the tale of a disaffected hit man surprised with solid box office and ongoing interest in ancillaries. Its sequel was expected to be effective counterprogramming, with top end projections of $25 million. Viewers broke down as 64% male with 74% 25 and older.

With Oscar a fortnight away, nominated animated, documentary and live-action shorts arrived in theaters with a potent $648,000. Also new was short-listed foreign-language nominee Land of Mine from Denmark, which grossed a disappointing $14,400 from three beaches. The top beneficiaries of Academy recognition continue to be I Am Not Your Negro and Iran’s foreign-language submission The Salesman. Oscar’s best picture finalists are struggling to hold playdates as new movies enter the marketplace. Hidden Figures is withstanding the competitive buffeting, but a win would be a true upset in light of its director’s absence on the ballot.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•