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Kim Hollis: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel had the top venue average amongst top 12 films this weekend, earning $8.5 million. What do you think of this result?

Jason Barney: I find this opening pretty interesting in that the first one was such a nice, quiet success, I never would have expected a sequel. In today’s world, when a film makes money, a continuing story and an effort to bring in more cash almost always happens, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. The original came out of nowhere and was one of the best success stories over the last couple of years. Made for only $10 million, it took $138 million worldwide, so the investment in a film that focused on elderly characters on vacation actually worked really nicely.

I honestly don’t know what the prospects for this one will be. The budget information is scarce, but an opening of $8 million has to be pretty good when everything is taken into account. I can’t imagine this was made for much more than the original. Also, we are talking about a film targeted at a very specific demographic and it likely is not going to replicate the run of the original. However, I don’t think the hope ever was for a smashing opening weekend, I mean, families with kids aren’t taking Grandma out to see this. I think the hope is that the holds are really good, and we are talking about The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hanging around in the top ten for several weeks. I don’t know if that will happen, and I doubt it captures the excitement of the original, but in the long run this could be another nice success.

Michael Lynderey: The sub-genre that The Full Monty launched all those years ago (quirky elderly British people set loose on society) is going as strong as it ever was. I like to compare Marigold and Marvel's The Avengers since they opened on the same day (they also happen to be very similar films, although Marigold has the better villain and is actually pretty watchable). Curiously, the sequels weren't scheduled up against each other. In any case, Marigold 2, true to its title ("Second Best"), isn't as well reviewed as the first one (78% for the first and 64% for the second), and it will almost certainly make less money (part one finished with $46 million, and I'd peg part two at maybe $25 million). So the question is, will The Avengers sequel show a similar depreciation? And are we getting a third hotel picture? I would guess yes to the first question and no to the second. Still, Marigold is unquestionably going to do very well internationally and domestically, and regardless of it being less well received, it's still a solid win for all involved. The same will likely soon be true of Age of Ultron.

Ryan Kyle: The first film worked as phenomenal counter programming to The Avengers and I suppose Fox Searchlight assumed that a March release would have given Marigold enough space to not play second banana this time around. However, an unusually R-rated heavy beginning of the year has given the adult quadrant plenty of choices compared to when the first Marigold opened. This is a fine opening, but I can't help but expect there is a tinge of disappointment that this didn't crack the low-teens. Best case scenario is that the film reaches $30 million, which is a hefty depreciation from the first one's $46 million total. However, overseas box office should be strong like the first, making this film a decent investment but not extraordinary like before.

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