By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com

The Weekend Report

Fifty Shades Freed topped weekend moviegoing with an estimated $38.8 million, followed by two other national newcomers, the free adaptation of Peter Rabbit, with $24.8 million, while clipped-from-the-headlines The 15:17 to Paris went hand-to-hand for $12.4 million.

The annual Oscar-nominated shorts program had its strongest start of $512,000. Among exclusives the downbeat Brooklyn families drama Golden Exits had the most encouraging start of $12,600 from a single walk-up, its own 35mm engagement, and just prior to video-on-demand.

Crosscultural La Boda da Valentina opened simultaneously in Mexico with domestic earnings of $1.1 million. Indian imports opened during national holidays but only Hindi Pad Man ($730,000) and Telugu TholiPrema ($611,000) broke through.

Revenues for the session generated more than $140 million and expanded an impressive 45%. It lagged behind 2017 by 27% when debuts of The Lego Batman Movie, Fifty Shades Darker and John Wick: Chapter Two led with openings of $53 million, $46.6 million and $30.4 million.

Critics have largely dismissed the sexual candor and kink of the billion-dollar-grossing Fifty Shades franchise, but audiences have embraced its sanitized sauciness. Tracking was in line with its first number. The concluding episode attracted a 75% female audience with 55% aged 25 and younger. The tale of the happy couple opened in 57 international markets as well, to an estimated $98 million. Top territories included Germany with $10.6 million, the UK $8.8 million and Franc $8.6 million.

Beatrix Potter’s beloved bunny exceeded tracking that suggested an $18-$20 million debut. The live-action animated mélange (a la Stuart Little) transported him to contemporary realms. Studio exit demos identified the audience as 58% female with 63% of the crowd 25 and younger. Family stats were unavailable but 34% classified as parents.

The run-up to The 15:17 to Paris was worrisome, including the casting of the real-life trio (non-actors) who foiled a terrorist plot cast as themselves. Real or imagined borders blurred and the result provided modest response, a $12-$14 million opening. While perceived as a “boys’ movie,” exit demos revealed a 51% female audience with 86% of ticket buyers aged 25 and younger. Internationally, the film opened day-and-date in 23 markets to a modest $5.3 million. The top-grossing territories were Italy with $1.5 million and France, where much of the country was shut down by crippling blizzards, with $1.4 million.

Weekend (estimates) February 9 – 11, 2018
Title Distributor Gross (avg) % chng Thtr Cume
Fifty Shades Freed Uni 38.8 (10,290) NEW 3768 38.8
Peter Rabbit Sony 24.8 (6,650) NEW 3725 24.8
The 15:17 to Paris WB 12.4 (4,070) NEW 3042 12.4
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Sony 9.7 (3,100) -12% 3126 365.5
The Greatest Showman Fox 6.3 (2,670) -18% 2373 146.5
Maze Runner: The Death Cure WB 5.8 (1,990) -44% 2923 48.8
Winchester CBS/VVS 4.9 (1.980) -47% 2480 17
The Post Fox 3.4 (1,820) -35% 1865 72.7
The Shape of Water Fox Searchlight 3.0 (1,670) -33% 1780 49.7
Den of Thieves STX/VVS 2.9 (1,950) -37% 1468 40.9
12 Strong WB 2.6 (1,390) -44% 1901 41.9
Hostiles Ent Stud/Elev 2.5 (1,150) -50% 2214 25.7
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Fox Searchlight 2.1 (1,680) -29% 1273 45.3
I, Tonya Neon 1.4 (1,270) -44% 1088 25.1
Darkest Hour Focus 1.3 (1,250) -45% 1045 51.5
Star Wars: The Last Jedi BV 1.3 (1,530) -46% 830 616.7
Forever My Girl Roadside/Elev 1.2 (1,080) -49% 1088 14.5
La Boda de Valentina Lionsgate 1.1 (3,440) NEW 331 1.1
Paddington 2 WB 1.1 (790) -66% 1429 38.4
Phantom Thread Focus 1.0 (1,750) -54% 558 16.2
Padmaavat Viva 1.0 (3,678) -58% 279 10.6
Lady Bird A24/Elevation .87 (1,370) -34% 634 45.2
Coco BV .81 (970) -53% 833 206.1
Pad Man Sony .73 (4,810) NEW 152 0.73
Insidious: The Last Key Uni/Sony .66 (1,210) -55% 545 66.8
Call Me By Your Name Sony Classics .65 (1,360) -27% 475 13.9
TholiPrema Creative .61 (4,460) NEW 137 0.77
The Commuter Lionsgate/VVS .57 (970) -66% 590 35.5
2018 Oscar Shorts Magnolia .51 (3,390) 151 0.51
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) $134.00
% Change (Last Year) -27%
% Change (Last Week) 45%
Also debuting/expanding
A Fantastic Woman Sony Classics .12 (5,900) 84% 20 0.23
The Insult Cohen Media .10 (2,070) -6% 50 0.45
Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes ABS .10 (2,930) -52% 34 0.85
Aadhi Maxlab 56,900 (1,390) 41 0.06
Inttelligent 1.2: 4 51,300 (620) 83 0.05
Kalakalappu 2 Cinemax 35,400 (1,360) 26 0.04
Gayatri 24 Frames 21,600 (440) 49 0.02
First We Take Brooklyn 2B Films 13,200 (4,400) 3 0.01
Golden Exits Vertical 12,600 (12,600) 1 0.01
Permission Good Deed 10,900 (840) 13 0.01
La Confession MK2 10,100 (2,020) 5 0.01
Basmati Blues Shout! Factory 7,200 (720) 10 0.01
The Female Brain IFC 6,800 (3,400) 2 0.01
Domestic Market Share (January 2 – February 8, 2018
Distributor (releases) Box Office (millions) Market Share
20th Century Fox (5) 222.5 20.90%
Sony (6) 206.9 19.50%
Buena Vista (3) 119.4 11.20%
Universal (5) 103.7 9.80%
Warner Bros. (8) 82.6 7.80%
STX (3) 54.4 5.10%
Fox Searchlight (2) 48.7 4.60%
Focus (2) 44.8 4.20%
Lionsgate (3) 41.1 3.90%
Entertainment (1) 22.2 2.10%
Neon (1) 19.6 1.80%
A24 (3) 14.5 1.40%
Roadside Attractions (1) 12.5 1.20%
CBS (1) 11.2 1.00%
Paramount (2) 7.6 0.70%
Other (51) 50.7 4.80%
1062.4 100%
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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