By Leonard Klady Klady@moviecitynews.com
The Weekend Report
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle took top spot for the holiday frame with an estimated $27.1 million. Not far behind with $18.6 million was The Post that went wide after three weeks in exclusives. (All figures reflect 3-day figures; chart will be updated tomorrow).
Three national debuts opened respectably. Ticking-clock The Commuter landed third with $13.2 million while family-targeted Paddington 2 cuddled up to $10.5 million. Proud Mary, advertised as kin of John Cassavetes’ 1980 thriller Gloria, bowed to $9.8 million.
Two Telugu films led the charge with Thaanaa Serndha Kootem grossing $303,000 and Agnyaathavaasi – Prince in Exile posting $278,000. The latter film had a potent pre-weekend box office of $2.2 million that rapidly evaporated. The elaborate Filipino fantasy adventure Ang Panday had an OK start of $111,000 while animated Mexican import Condorito was more cel than buy with $230,000 from 153 screens.
Most promising among exclusive newcomers was Lebanon’s Academy short-listed The Insult, which arrived with $24,100 from three engagements.
Revenues hovered around $155 million and slipped 7% from last weekend. It was a slight 2% improvement from 2017 when Hidden Figures led with $27.5 million and the top new entry. The Bye Bye Man, ranked fifth with $15.2 million.
Observers were nervous about whether The Post would have wide appeal, and unusual fluctuation in tracking put a cloud over expectation of a $20 million four-day result. But Spielberg hit the mark with an audience that was 55% female and 66% 35 and older. It remains in the Oscar chase and could bring in a younger audience as its run continues. Liam Neeson continued his reign as successor to Charles Bronson with The Commuter, which exceeded tracking expectations of $9 million to $10 million. Its crowd was 54% male with 70% of the audience over 30.
Originally set for release by the Weinstein Co., Paddington 2 was acquired by Warner Bros. as the indie began its a tailspin. The beloved Peruvian bear adrift in the UK opened two months ago overseas and has grossed $150 million. Expectations were more modest Stateside but it still came up short of expectations of a $15 million debut despite the appeal of the initial movie. Studio exit demos reflected a 57% female audience with 55% over 25.
Proud Mary got the wrong kind of publicity when the media harrumphed that its studio wasn’t screening for press. Tracking suggested nonetheless a decent debut of roughly $15 million that movie-goers failed to support and its ad campaign really failed to give a clear sense of its story. Those who showed were 58% female and 77% over 25.
Weekend (estimates) January 12 – 14, 2018 | |||||
Title | Distributor | Gross (avg) | % chng | Thtrs | Cume |
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | Sony | 27.1 (7,040) | -28% | 3849 | 283.2 |
The Post | Fox | 18.6 (6,610) | 998% | 2819 | 23.1 |
The Commuter | Lionsgate | 13.2 (4,570) | NEW | 2892 | 13.2 |
Insidious: The Last Key | Uni | 12.1 (3,850) | -59% | 3150 | 48.4 |
The Greatest Showman | Fox | 11.9 (4,040) | -14% | 2938 | 94.6 |
Star Wars: The Last Jedi | BV | 11.4 (3,680) | -52% | 3090 | 591.6 |
Paddington 2 | WB | 10.5 (2,950) | NEW | 3702 | 10.5 |
Proud Mary | Sony | 9.8 (4,600) | NEW | 2125 | 9.8 |
Pitch Perfect 3 | Uni | 5.6 (2,250) | -45% | 2505 | 94.6 |
Darkest Hour | Focus | 4.5 (2,650) | -26% | 1693 | 35.7 |
Molly’s Game | STX/eOne | 3.6 (2,120) | -47% | 1708 | 20.5 |
Ferdinand | Fox | 3.4 (1,560) | -56% | 2154 | 75.4 |
I, Tonya | Neon | 3.1 (5,960) | 26% | 517 | 9.8 |
Coco | BV | 3.0 (2,220) | -44% | 1362 | 196.6 |
The Shape of Water | Searchlight | 2.7 (3,680) | -15% | 723 | 26.4 |
Three Billboards | Searchlight | 2.3 (2,240) | 225% | 1022 | 28.5 |
Lady Bird | A24/Elevation | 1.6 (2,480) | 3% | 652 | 36.6 |
Wonder | Lionsgate | 1.2 (1,190) | -51% | 970 | 128.6 |
All the Money in the World | Sony | 1.1 (800) | -68% | 1408 | 23 |
Phantom Thread | Focus | 1.1 (18,060) | 367% | 62 | 2.2 |
Call Me By Your Name | Sony Classics | .68 (3,920) | -9% | 174 | 7.2 |
Marshall | Open Road | .40 (1,050) | 6533% | 378 | 9.9 |
The Disaster Artist | A24/Elevation | .44 (1,190) | -41% | 371 | 20.3 |
Thor: Ragnarok | BV | .37 (1,520) | -29% | 242 | 313 |
Thaanaa Serndha Kootam | Prime Media | .30 (3,400) | NEW | 89 | 0.35 |
Downsizing | Par | .29 (710) | -87% | 412 | 24.1 |
Agnyaathavaasi – Prince in Exile | Blue Sky | .28 (730) | NEW | 382 | 2.5 |
Weekend Total ($500,000+ Films) | $148.50 | ||||
% Change (Last Year) | 2% | ||||
% Change (Last Week) | -7% | ||||
Also debuting/expanding | |||||
Hostiles | Entertainment | .26 (6,260) | -2% | 42 | 0.8 |
Condorito | Lionsgate | .23 (1,500) | 153 | 0.23 | |
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds | Well Go | .16 (5,090) | -41% | 32 | 1.4 |
Le Trip a trois | Seville | .13 (2,230) | -48% | 57 | 1.6 |
Ex-File 3 | China Lion | .12 (4,880) | -34% | 24 | 0.73 |
Ang Panday | ABS | .11 (2,570) | 43 | 0.11 | |
Jai Simha | Sarigama | 96,800 (1,240) | 78 | 0.1 | |
Rangula Ratnam | Blue Sky | 57,100 (1,120) | 51 | 0.06 | |
Ang Larawan | ABS | 34,300 (2,430) | 14 | 0.03 | |
Mukabaaz | Eros | 32,300 (1,900) | 17 | 0.03 | |
Parchi | Another Hit | 31,300 (800) | 39 | 0.03 | |
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool | Sony Classics | 30,500 (3,490) | 33% | 9 | 0.13 |
Sketch | V Creations | 29,200 (530) | 55 | 0.03 | |
The Insult | Cohen Media | 24,100 (8,030) | 3 | 0.02 | |
Acts of Violence | Lionsgate | 9,400 (780) | 12 | 0.01 | |
Lover for a Day | MUBI | 7,200 (7,200) | 1 | 0.01 | |
Saturday Church | Goldwyn | 6,600 (3,300) | 2 | 0.01 |