Home Market Releases for March 3rd, 2020

March 5th, 2020

It’s a terrible week on the home market with almost no prime new releases. In fact, if there weren’t a couple of late screeners to talk about and several secondary VOD titles, the main list would be very short. The week is so weak that Jojo Rabbit is really the only choice for Pick of the Week, even though it came out about a month ago. More...

Limited and VOD Releases: Getting Short Changed

January 31st, 2020

The 2020 Oscar Shorts lead the way on the limited release report this week; however, it is far from the only release worth checking out. The Assistant, Beanpole, The Wonderland, and others are all intriguing. I don’t think any of them will find an audience, but I think most people who do get a chance to see them will be impressed. More...

Theater Averages: Chapter Two Earns Another Number One

September 12th, 2019

It: Chapter Two not only earned first place on the overall box office, it earned first place on the theater average chart with an average of $19,926. Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice was next with an average of $16,176 in seven theaters; this is an excellent result for a documentary. Next up might be my favorite box office result of the year, as Mr. Klein and Ms. Purple had nearly identical openings at $15,915 and $15,734 respectively. Mr. Klien and Ms. Purple just seem like a nice couple. I’m glad they met. ... Moving on. More...

International Box Office: It Earns Itself First Place

September 12th, 2019

It: Chapter Two matched its domestic opening weekend internationally, earning $94.0 million on 26,790 screens in 75 markets over the weekend. Unlike the film’s domestic debut, its international opening was close to on par with the first It’s debut, in local currencies not counting inflation. In fact, Chapter Two had a faster start in Russia earning $9.20 million to $7.28 million for its predecessor. The film had nearly identical openings in both Mexico ($9.14 million) and in the U.K. ($9.06 million). The film opens in France this weekend, while it doesn’t finish off its international run until it debuts in Japan in November. More...

Theater Averages: Miles Davis is too Cool for New Releases

September 5th, 2019

It was an odd week on the theater average chart, as the number one film was a holdover. Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool’s average was down less than 0.2% to $18,222 and it did this while doubling its theater count to 2. This is very impressive and bodes well for its future. The best new release was Ne Zha, which earned an average $17,649 in 66 theaters. Animated films rarely do well in limited release and 66 theaters is a lot for a limited release, so this average is even more impressive than it looks at first glance. Finally, Official Secrets opened with an average of $16,241. More...

International Box Office: Hobbs and Shaw Plummet in China Still Top the International Chart

September 4th, 2019

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw had a very steep decline in China, but still managed to earn first place on the international chart with $37.9 million in 68 markets over the weekend for totals of $528.7 million internationally and $$687.9 million worldwide. The film plummeted 72% during its second weekend in China earning $27.65 million for a two-week total of $170.36 million. This drop-off is extreme, even for China. However, it doesn’t matter. The movie will hit $200 million in that market and $700 million worldwide, which is more than enough to break even and get yet another installment in the franchise. More...

2019 Preview: September

September 1st, 2019

Summer ended on a thoroughly mediocre note, with more August releases missing expectations than topping them. That said, it wasn’t a complete mess, with Hobbs and Shaw doing extremely well internationally, and some others heading towards profitability, if not becoming spectacular hits. September, on the other hand, should be one of the best months in the year, at least on the year-over-year competition. The month starts with It: Chapter Two, which could open with more than $100 million. By comparison, last September, only one film, The Nun, earned more than $100 million in total. Additionally, Abominable has a slim but realistic chance at reaching the $100 million milestone, so it should be a great month on the year-over-year comparison. 2019 isn’t going to catch up to 2018, but it should narrow the gap considerably. More...

Limited and VOD Releases: Don’t Let these Films Remain Secrets

August 30th, 2019

It’s an awkward time for limited releases, as it is way too late for a summer box office run, but still way too early for Awards Season buzz. That said, there are some films on this week’s list that could do well in theaters, even if they never expand significantly. These include; Before You Know It, The Load, Ne Zha, and Official Secrets. More...

International Box Office: Hobbs and Shaw have a Fantastically Fast Start in China

August 28th, 2019

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw roared back into first place on the international chart earning $119.4 million in 68 markets for totals of $440.4 million internationally and $588.1 million worldwide. This includes a first place, three-day $99.08 million debut in China, for a total opening in the market of $103.06 million. Granted, films tend to have short legs in China, but a start like this will still give the film an easy time reaching $700 million worldwide, which is enough to be a financial success, even if it doesn’t match the previous installments in the franchise. More...

International Box Office: Hollywood Goes Global

August 21st, 2019

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood started its international run in earnest with $48.53 million over the three-day weekend, $55.22 million including previews and weekdays. It was playing on 10,054 screens in 59 markets and has a running tally of $65.44 million after two weeks of release. Its biggest market of the weekend was either France or the U.K., depending on how you look at it. In the former, it earned first place with $7.08 million on 683 screens. It also opened in first place in the latter with $6.22 million on 708 screens over the weekend, and had a total opening of $9.16 million. It also had strong openings in Germany ($5.06 million on 820 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $5.82 million); Australia ($4.52 million on 299 screens); and Spain ($2.41 million on 869 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $3.63 million). More...

International Box Office: Nezha is Not Going Away

August 14th, 2019

Nezha remains the top draw in its native China and internationally. This weekend, it pulled in $68.97 million for a total of $512.19 million after nearly four full weeks of release. This doesn’t just make the movie the highest-grossing animated film in China, it more than doubles the previous record set by Zootopia. Additionally, it has entered the top five all-time in China, in local currencies, and will soon climb into fourth place over Operation Red Sea. More...

International Box Office: Hobbs and Shaw Fall Short of Nezha

August 8th, 2019

Nezha continued to grow in China, earning $128.49 million over the weekend, which was not only the best film in China, but the biggest movie internationally. Furthermore, the film has earned $342.33 million, putting it ahead of Zootopia as the biggest animated film of all time in that market. And it didn’t just tiptoe ahead of the competition. Nezha is over $100 million above Zootopia in China. I really hope it gets a release here, as not enough Chinese movies are seen outside of Asia. More...

International Box Office: Lion King Remains Top Dog

July 31st, 2019

The Lion King remained in first place on the international chart earning $142.8 million in 53 markets for totals of $611.9 million internationally and $962.7 million worldwide. The film’s only opening this weekend was in Hong Kong, where it earned $2.0 million opening in first place. The film has yet to open in Italy and Japan, so it will have no trouble getting to $1 billion before it finishes its international run. More...