Friday Box Office Analysis
By Tim Briody
November 5, 2016
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Doctor Strange
Marvel’s latest attempt to turn a C-list comic book player into a successful film franchise starts out strong with a $32.6 million Friday. To show how weak the box office has been lately, that single day alone would have been enough to win the last five weekends. Welcome to November, enjoy the ride. $9.4 million of that Doctor Strange’s Friday total was earned in Thursday showings, giving us a true Friday figure of $23.1 million. Marvel movies tend to have high Friday (and Thursday) night totals as the hardcore fanbase turns out early and that will be reflected in the weekend total, but it’s still in line for a great weekend for what’s essentially a new IP, despite its tie in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Doctor Strange is in line for a weekend of $78.7 million.
Trolls
Trolls can’t stop the feeling with $12.3 million on Friday. As the first family film in a couple months, I expect the musical comedy to perform strongly over the weekend. That damned Justin Timberlake song that’s been on the radio for months has been a subtle marketing campaign for the film, whether you realized it or not, and it’ll be one of the contributing factors that carry Trolls to a weekend of $42 million.
Hacksaw Ridge
The war film about a conscientious objector in World War II starts off with $5.2 million and a lot of hopes and dreams when it comes to Oscars. Directed by Mel Gibson(!), it’s off to a fine start and is likely hoping the religious themes present can continue to carry it at the box office and into awards season. Hacksaw Ridge is headed to a decent enough weekend of $16.1 million.