Of the two new films opening wide this weekend after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival the week before, the Jennifer Lopez lead “Hustlers” lead the charge, opening seven million dollars over projections with an opening of $33,181,361. On the flip side, “The Goldfinch” opened in 2,500 theaters and did not even crack the top 5. The John Crowley directed film debuted in 8th place earning $2.67 Million in its opening weekend, a less than pleasurable start for a film with a $45 million budget.
The domestic top 5 sees “It Chapter Two” hold in the top spot with $39,606,550. However, the aforementioned “Hustlers” claims second place making the race for first a lot closer than expected. This could be for various reasons: the mixed reception of “Chapter Two” from audience and critics, the high critical praise for Hustlers and the cast, or Lopez’s star power.
When taking a look at the top 5 highest domestic opening weekends for Jennifer Lopez starring films, “Hustlers” sits at the top with a solid lead over the second place film; “Monster-In-Law,” which released all the way back in 2005. “Law” earned around $23 million in its opening, $10 million less than “Hustlers.” 2002’s “Maid in Manhattan” is in third, followed by 2000’s “The Cell”, rounding up with “Anaconda” in 1997. An interesting theme that arises from this chart is the time discrepancy between releases, with the newest film excluding “Hustlers” being 14 years old.
Back in the top 5, “Angel Has Fallen”, falls to the third spot earning $4.4 million in its fourth week of release, bringing its domestic gross up to $60,474,474 million. Once again, the R-Rated fouled mouth kids’ comedy, “Good Boys” is slightly edged out by Gerard Butler’s action thriller, this week by around $200,000, ending with $4,223,875. Rounding out the top 5, Disney’s “The Lion King (2019)” earned $3.6 million dollars and spent its 9th weekend in the top 5, slowly inching closer to passing “Jurassic World” for the sixth highest grossing film of all time, worldwide.
Bringing things back domestically, let’s take a look at the Fall Box Office. In the third weekend of the Fall Box Office season, “It Chapter Two” is in the top spot, earning nearly $152 million in just two weeks of release. In second, just like on the domestic top 5, is “Hustlers” with its $33 million and the box office bomb of “The Goldfinch” rounds out the fall box office season at the moment with the films $2.6 million opening.
Speaking of the Fall Box Office, a possible contender for Hustlers for second place comes out this weekend, the Brad Pitt starring space thriller, “Ad Astra.” It will open in around 3,400 theaters, and accompanying the Pitt starring film in opening this weekend is the film adaptation of the beloved T.V. show, “Downton Abbey,” as well as the fifth installment of the Rambo franchise, both opening in around 3,000 theaters. “Downton Abbey” looks to captivate an older demographic and fans of the T.V. series, and “Rambo: Last Blood” boasts the title of being Sylvester Stallone’s supposed last ride as the US Army veteran.
Check back next week to see how Pennywise holds in his third week of release, if the good word of mouth can keep “Hustlers” on top, if “Ad Astra” can soar to the top of the box office, or if any of the three new films can possibly come out on top next weekend against a stripper and a clown.
