Weekend Wrap-Up
Jigsaw Leads the Lowest as Box Office Bottoms Out
By John Hamann
October 29, 2017
War flick Thank You For Your Service opens in a terrible sixth, as the other two openers can’t hit the top five despite such a slow weekend. The Miles Teller flick earned only $3.7 million despite debuting on 2.054 screens. It had a venue average of only $1,802, and the weekend figure is the 66th worst ever. Its not like Universal didn’t try to open this film. They engaged the military, focused on the non-coastal states, and Teller did the late night TV rounds, but nothing worked. Audiences that saw it liked it (A- Cinemascore) and reviewers didn’t tear it apart (77% fresh at Rotten Tomatoes). The problem is this – only 71 critics saw this film, which in my mind indicates that many people took the weekend off to prepare for the massive Marvel film next weekend. Thank You cost $20 million to make, and likely won’t earn much overseas.
Sony’s firefighting movie, Only the Brave, also does worse than I expected this weekend. After debuting to $6 million last weekend, Only the Brave drops 43% in its second frame, picking up $3.5 million. Given the A Cinemascore, I thought it would have done better, but to date the $38 million true life tale has earned only $12 million.
Even Jackie Chan and The Foreigner beat Suburbicon this weekend, despite being out for three weeks. The Foreigner fell 45% to $3.5 million in weekend three, but now has an okay domestic gross of $28.8 million. Still, it has to be proud of the $88.4 million it has earned overseas, $80 million of that coming from China. It was made for $35 million, so the film should make money for those involved.
Suburbicon enjoys the 32nd worst opening weekend of all-time this weekend, despite starring Matt Damon, Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin. The 29th worst opening belongs to From Justin to Kelly, but cost about 50% less than the $25 million Suburbicon. Directed by George Clooney, the thriller (?) earned a laughable $2.8 million, peanuts compared to what Damon or Clooney would have been paid for their larger efforts. Paramount put up the budget for this disaster, which earned a D- Cinemascore (I took a screen shot as I don’t believe I have seen that score – From Justin to Kelly earned a C+) and a 26% thoroughly rotten rating from RottenTomatoes. The Coen Brothers did write the screenplay, but in 1986. Maybe it was a prank on George Clooney, as I can’t imagine why so many talented people got involved.
Stephen King’s It is still the darling of the ball, despite finishing tenth. It fell only 29% and earned $2.5 million in its eighth weekend. The domestic tally is at $323.7 million, and the overseas at $342.9 million – for an eerie worldwide total of $666 million. Nice one New Line.
I reported above that the top 12 finished at a terrible $60.2 million, but I would bet my next BOP paycheck it finishes under $60 million. A year ago, the top 12 earned $78 million, led by the second weekend win of the original Boo film. Next weekend, Thor: Ragnarok looks to take down the 2016 trifecta of Dr. Strange, Trolls and Heartbreak Ridge, which combined for $147 million last year. Stranger things have happened, but at least some life will be back in theaters.
|
Top Ten for Weekend of October 27-29, 2017
|
Rank |
Film |
Distributor |
Estimated Gross |
Weekly Change |
Running Total |
|
1
|
Jigsaw
|
Lionsgate
|
16.3
|
New
|
16.3
|
|
2
|
Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
|
Lionsgate
|
10.0
|
-53%
|
35.5
|
|
3
|
Geostorm
|
Warner Bros.
|
5.7
|
-59%
|
23.6
|
|
4
|
Happy Death Day
|
Universal
|
5.1
|
-46%
|
48.4
|
|
5
|
Blade Runner 2049
|
Warner Bros.
|
4.0
|
-46%
|
81.4
|
|
6
|
Thank You for Your Service
|
Universal
|
3.7
|
New
|
3.7
|
|
7
|
Only the Brave
|
Sony
|
3.5
|
-43%
|
11.9
|
|
8
|
The Foreigner
|
STX
|
3.2
|
-45%
|
28.8
|
|
9
|
Suburbicon
|
Paramount
|
2.8
|
New
|
2.8
|
|
10
|
It
|
Warner Bros.
|
2.5
|
-29%
|
323.7
|
|
11
|
Let There Be Light
|
Atlas Distribution
|
1.9
|
New
|
1.9
|
|
12
|
American Made
|
Universal
|
1.7
|
-46%
|
48.5
|
Continued:
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