The Weekend Report

The third weekend of The Fate of the Furious again led weekend viewing with an estimated $19.4 million and a global gross that crossed into the rarified realm of $1 billion box office. The session had but one wide national release but it was international day-and-date newcomers that stole the thunder. The storm came from the Hispanic comedy How to Be a Latin Lover that ranked second with $11.8 million and highly-anticipated Indian historic epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which smashed global records, including a U.S. debut of $10.3 million.

That left the Dave Eggers’ adaptation The Circle smarting with a wan $9.3 million debut. Also left in the dust was low-budget street magician drama Sleight with $1.6 million.

A pair of Chinese imports – Love Off the Cuff and Battle of Memories – got solid starts of $292,000 and $214,000, respectively. Exclusive newcomers were largely dullish, although nonfiction Obit grossed $14,000 at two venues and could build momentum. In Canada ,the biopic Maudie is proving to be a solid success with a $750,000 cume, with an U.S. debut slated for May.

Revenues for the session pushed toward $105 million and dipped 10% from last weekend. It was infinitesimally better than the 9% decline from 2016 when the third weekend of The Jungle Book led with $43.7 million, and newcomers Keanu and Mother’s Day opened at $9.6 million and $9.4 million.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 got a week’s jump on its domestic launch in 37 foreign markets, with an estimated $101 million first foray. Top markets include the UK with $15.5 million, Australia grossing $11.6 million and Germany with an $8.3 million debut.

Telugu Baahubali debuted in 2015 to the biggest box office debut in Indian film history. It was an industry shocker that a non-Hindi film woiuld achieve that level of global acceptance, even with multiple dubbed versions. It went on to gross more than $100 million worldwide ($9.3 million in the U.S.) and set a new box office benchmark in India.

Based on ninth century events about the foundation of Janism, the sweeping spectacle’s second part was expected to equal the original in popularity. But it shattered all expectations with opening box office that already is better than the first film’s lifetime performance in Hindi India, the U.S. and other climes. Early estimates indicate a $70 million worldwide opening weekend. Domestically, it’s reported that some venues are charging $30 and some reports cite ducats as high as $40. It may prove to be the crossover success the Indian film industry has been hoping to achieve across decades of frustration.

Baahubali 2 also had the biggest launch for an Indian film in IMAX engagements. Its 66 screens globally (45 in the U.S.) grossed an estimated $2.3 million that are records for a foreign-language production.

Also hoeing the crossover garden is the Spanglish How to Be a Latin Lover, with the biggest U.S. debut of a movie straddling the border. It was expected to debut around $5-$6 miillion. The film opens next weekend in Mexico, where lead actor Eugenio Derbez is a major star. Domestically, the film drew a crowd that was 55% female. The bad news is that 75% of viewers were aged 25 and older, with 89% identifying themselves as Hispanic. Wider acceptance is pending.

Although it was not perceived as significantly commercial, industry trackers slated the opening of The Circle at $13-$15 million. Its audience was 62% female with 72% aged 25 and older and 44% in the key demo of 18-34.

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