The Weekend Report

Dunkirk held onto the top spot at the weekend box office … but only barely. Christopher Nolan’s World War II episode grossed an estimated $27.8 million while incoming The Emoji Movie surprised naysayers with a $25.5 million debut. The frame’s other new national release, Atomic Blonde. charted fourth with $18.6 million.

Exclusive bows included dynamic starts for a few awards contenders. The follow-up to Oscar winner An Inconvenient Truth, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, grossed $130,000 on four screens. It will expand to 100 playdates next weekend. Detroit, focused on a personal drama within that city’s 1967 riots, opened to $360,000 from 20 incendiary engagements. Also off to hot starts were New York-set Yiddish-language Menashe with $56,300, and gonzo comedy Bigsby Bear opening to $43,800 from three screens.

Among international day-and-dates, Indian imports had promising starts. Punjabi Vekh Baraatan Challiyan had a potent $241,000 from 38 screens while Hindi Mubarakan opened to $280,000 at 128 venues. China’s Wolf Warrior II also got the thumbs up with $183,000 tally at 53 dens.

Revenues for the session edged toward $150 million and dipped 19% from the prior weekend. It was 23% lagging behind 2016 when the debut of Jason Bourne led with $59.2 million followed by Star Trek Beyond with $24.7 and newcomer Bad Moms grossing $23.8 million.

Confidence wasn’t overwhelming for the animated The Emoji Movie from any sector of the industry. Top end estimates slotted it at $20 million as late as matinee figures rolled in on Friday. Some insiders doubted it would outperform Atomic Blonde. The verdict changed Saturday morning with prospects it might become the weekend box office leader.

A studio spokesperson said he was “overwhelmed” by the response and “greatly encouraged” by commercial prospects with more than a month left in the summer season.

Withering reviews had no impact on its core crowd. Exit demos identified viewers as 64% aged 25 and younger with 78% grouped as families including 17% segmented as parents.

Though never seen as a wonder woman, Atomic Blonde was expected to debut with slightly more than $20 million. The ultraviolent spy yarn was generally well-received by critics but its Friday to Saturday boost was only 16% and barring overseas performance saw its prospects dim for a follow-up. Its likely muted commercial prospects are also reflected in exit demos that saw a slight male tilt of 51% with 62% of the audience aged 25 and older

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