The Way Of Water’ To Cross Half Billion At Domestic Box Office – Friday PM Update
FRIDAY PM For an early January weekend falling after New Year’s Day and before MLK, it’s sure not sleep. Although some adult movies may struggle to get the box office, there are plenty of horror films that will. Universal Has a vibrant No. 2. Winner in Blumhouse’s creepy posh doll film M3GAN This is looking at an $26.7M opening after a $11.4M Friday (plu previews), at 3,509 theatres. Gerard Johnstone directed the movie and it has been certified fresh at 94%. It currently has a Rotten Tomatoes audience score 78%. This movie is in such great shape, they’re already kicking around ideas about a sequel for it.
Meanwhile, James Cameron’s The Way of Water Avatar According to the filmmaker, is on track to break even with a stateside total of over half a billion dollars by Sunday. The fourth Friday of the 20th Century Studios/Disney/Lighstorm film looks like $10MFor a 3-day of, the price drops to -60% $37M, -45% for a running total $508.7M 4340 theatres are in the top 10.
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Universal also owns No. 3 in DreamWorks Animation’s third weekend of The Last Wish: Puss in Boots At 3,913 locations. Friday $2.5M (36-22%), Third Weekend $10M (-40%) and the total running by Sunday is $84.6M.
Sony is in the top five at fourth place.‘s Limited Release A Man Called Otto It will be shown in four theatres in NYC and LA as well as 637 locations. $1.2MA 3-day of $3.4M. The film ended its first week with just $85K. The movie is currently at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has been a crowd pleaser at 94%.
Fifth goes to Disney/Marvel Studio’s 9th weekend of Wakanda Forever: Black Panther At 2,255 theatres with a $900k Friday, 3 day of $3.1M, -39% with a running total of $445.1M.
The third weekend of Babylon Paramount/C2 is 6th with a Friday of $400K– $1.3M 3-day, +50% for a total of $2.8M by Sunday $13.4M.
FRIDAY AM Blumhouse Universal PG-13 genre title is off on a high note with $2.75M at 5PM. Universal is placing $17M in the weekend. M3GAN While tracking was seeing well over $20M. This track was seeing over $20M.
A Blumhouse film with outstanding reviews directed at the under-25 demographic is always a good sign for boxoffice prospects. Critics gave M3GAN 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is currently booked in 3,509 theaters, and is expected to be the No. It will take the No. 2 slot. The Way of Water Avatar The sequel is targeting between $25M and $30M for weekend 4. Currently the James Cameron-directed sequel has under $472M going into the weekend — it has a shot at hitting the half billion mark stateside.
Comps: Thursday previews M3GAN They are just below the of Scream‘s a year ago which did $3.5M before a $30M opening weekend, but that was over an MLK holiday weekend. It’s also above Sony’s Escape Room The pic kicked off the New Year 2019 with $2.3M previews, before achieving an opening of $18.2M. The pic was half-baked by critics on RT, with a 52% audience rating.
Among regular films in release, 20th Century Studios/Lightstorm/Disney’s The Way of Water Avatar Lead Thursday with $6.7M at 4,202 theatres. This is a -10% increase from Wednesday’s $471.7M. The sequel earned $113.5M during the week.
Uni/DreamWorks Animation’s The Last Wish: Puss in Boots Yesterday, 2,121 sites generated $2M. This is -11% more than Wednesday’s for a $30M week and a total of $74.6M.
Wakanda Forever: Black Panther 2,310 closes its eighth week with an $8.8M estimate, a $490K Friday and a total of $441.9M.
Tri-Star/Compelling Pictures/Black Label Media’s I Want to Dance with Someone At 3,625 there was a second Thursday at $444K, $6.7M in the second week and $17.3M overall.
Paramount’s Babylon The estimated 353K Thursday postings at 3,351 were -16% off Wednesday’s, an estimated $4.7M second week, and a running total $12M. That bests the $11.3M lifetime domestic total of Guillermo del Toro’s period title Nightmare Alley It was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture. Proof that poor ticket sales don’t necessarily impact awards season chances.
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