Weekend Wrap-Up
Universal’s Minions Revive Box Office
By John Hamann
July 12, 2015
Inside Out is a narrow third, as Minions cuts into its business but does not destroy it. The Pixar film earned another $17.1 million this weekend, off a respectable 43%, considering what it was up against. The kids flick will surpass the $293 million earned by Up and cross the $300 million mark over the next week. It will then shoot for Finding Nemo’s original take of $339.7 million. Inside Out has taken in an impressive $283.6 so far.
Terminator: Genisys continued its descent into franchise-killer, as following its lame opening, it failed to hold in its second frame. The attempted Terminator reboot could only find $13.7 million in weekend two, giving it a drop of 49%. Considering Saturday was almost eliminated last weekend, a good hold shouldn’t have been too difficult for this Paramount release, but you see the result. Genisys has now earned $68.7 million domestically, and has turned in over $100 million overseas. It cost $155 million to make, so needs almost a half-billion worldwide to see a profit.
New release The Gallows opens in fifth, as it fools some young people out of their hard earned money. Made for a song, (less than $1 million) – The Gallows earned $10 million from 2,720 venues, and will be quickly forgotten. People are starting to catch on to Jason Blum and his types of films – usually of the found footage variety and not very good. This one was mostly improvised (why spend money on a script?), and stars no one. Reviews were horrible, and the C Cinemascore was even low for horror. This one will disappear after next weekend.
Magic Mike XXL actually held quite well this weekend, making the Terminator look bad again. Magic Mike XXL earned $9.6 million, dropping a terrific 25% compared to last weekend. Made for $14.5 million, Mike is heading toward wild profitability, as it has a domestic total of $48.4 million and has pulled in a few million overseas as well.
Ted 2 continues its descent, as it earned only $5.6 million and fell 50%. Again, considering last Saturday was a write-off, things should have held, but Ted 2 did not. The $85 million talking bear movie is going to be Universal’s lone disappointment of the summer so far, as it has a gross to date of $71.6 million.
If Deadpool wasn’t coming out, I swear that Ryan Reynolds would be serving up Minions Happy Meals. Self/Less opened in 2,353 venues this weekend, but you may not know given the response. Self/Less earned $5.4 million, not enough, even though the budget was only $25 million. This should have opened in September as it gets lost among the other big films in release this frame. Reynolds needs a hit (or a new agent), and this certainly wasn’t it.
Max is ninth and got pinned somewhat by the other family titles in the top ten. Max earned $3.4 million, declined 48%, and has a gross so far of $33.7 million.
Tenth is Baahubali: The Beginning, an Indian film. The most expensive Indian film ever made at about $40 million US, it cracked the top ten despite being out to only 236 venues in North America. It took in $3.2 million, and earned a venue average of $13,771.
Overall, the box office continues its see saw of success and failure. After bottoming out over the July 4th weekend with a top 12 that saw only $128 million, we bounce back strong this weekend with a top 12 worth $204.1 million. A year ago, the same weekend earned $138.6 million when Dawn of the Planet Apes was on top with $72 million. This weekend was also ahead of 2013, when the second weekend of Despicable Me 2 was on top, and the top 12 earned $187 million.
Next weekend will be very interesting, as Marvel releases their small scale 2015 release, Ant-Man, with Paul Rudd. Will this Marvel release come in under the rest, or reach that mid-tier of the first Captain America/Thor films at around $65 million? Also opening is Trainwreck, the comedy directed by Judd Apatow and starring today’s it-girl Amy Schumer. Can the two films combine for $100 million? Can Ant-Man beat the second weekend of Minions? Check back next weekend to find out.
| 1 |
Minions |
Universal |
$115,202,285 |
New |
$115,202,285 |
| 2 |
Jurassic World |
Universal |
$18,116,865 |
- 38% |
$590,655,185 |
| 3 |
Inside Out |
Disney |
$17,108,000 |
- 43% |
$283,638,000 |
| 4 |
Terminator: Genisys |
Paramount |
$13,700,000 |
- 49% |
$68,718,000 |
| 5 |
The Gallows |
WARNER BROS. |
$10,015,000 |
New |
$10,015,000 |
| 6 |
Magic Mike XXL |
WARNER BROS. |
$9,640,000 |
- 25% |
$48,360,000 |
| 7 |
Ted 2 |
Universal |
$5,557,760 |
- 50% |
$71,576,345 |
| 8 |
Self/less |
Focus Features |
$5,379,000 |
New |
$5,379,000 |
| 9 |
Max |
WARNER BROS. |
$3,420,000 |
- 48% |
$33,704,000 |
| 10 |
Baahubali: The Beginning |
Bluesky Cinemas |
$3,250,000 |
New |
$3,250,000 |
| 11 |
Spy |
Fox |
$3,000,000 |
-42% |
$103,463,000 |
| 12 |
Amy |
A24 |
$1,780,457 |
+700% |
$2,121,253 |
| |
Also Opening/Notables |
| |
Boulevard |
Starz Digital |
$7,054 |
New |
$7,054 |
| |
Jimmy's Hall |
Sony Classics |
$40,866 |
+ 106% |
$71,149 |
| |
Cartel Land |
The Orchard |
$120,000 |
+ 670% |
$150,000 |
| |
Infinitely Polar Bear |
Sony Classics |
$171,964 |
- 8% |
$607,989 |
| |
Dope |
Paramount |
$622,390 |
- 44% |
$15,477,614 |
| |
Me And Earl And the Dying Girl |
FOX SEARCHLIGHT |
$665,000 |
- 47% |
$5,545,000 |
|
Box office data supplied by Exhibitor Relations
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