Two new films opened this weekend, both sequels, and both had drastically different opening results. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” topped the domestic charts, however it still fell short of expectations, seeing a major drop in the franchise’s opening weekend totals.
“Mistress of Evil” opened in 3,790 theaters and racked up $36,948,713 while the first installment, “Maleficent,” opened in 3,948 theaters in May of 2014 to an opening weekend of $69,431,298. That’s a nearly $30 million drop between installments, never a good sign for a franchise, especially one that increased their budget from $180 million to $185 million. It opened below expectations as well, as it was projected to have a high $40-low $50 million opening, but fell drastically short. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” will look for legs with the family demographic in weeks to come, as its only competition for the family market until Thanksgiving is the Nickelodeon/Paramount production “Playing with Fire.”
The other new film in wide domestic release was a different story. The R-Rated comedy, “Zombieland: Double Tap,” opened in 3,468 theaters and grossed $26,803,104 over the three-day weekend. Unlike “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “Zombieland: Double Tap” exceeded its projections this weekend and improved upon the opening of its 2009 predecessor’s $24,733,155 opening, which went on to gross for $75.5 million domestically. The original scored an A- on CinemaScore, while the new installment landed with a B+. It will be interesting to see if the reception of the 2019 installment may limit its legs in weeks to come.
However as previously mentioned, “Mistress of Evil” did dethrone “Joker” this past weekend. “Joker” dropped 47.7% in its third week of release, earning $29,251,840. In third place lands “Zombieland: Double Tap” with $26,803,104. Dropping from second down to fourth is “The Addams Family (2019),” which saw a drop of 46.1% in its second week of release, somewhat of a high drop. However, the creepy and kooky family still walked away with $16,320,980. Dropping even more was “Gemini Man.” The action thriller, which will likely loose Paramount upwards of $70 million due to its low box office receipts, lands in fifth, falling 59.6% to earn $8,310,078.
As mentioned last week, the latest film by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho and the recipient of this year’s Palme d’Or, “Parasite,” is killing it in limited release. Last week, the film set multiple records and to follow that outstanding performance up, in its second week of release, “Parasite” continues to rack in money in limited theaters. Placing 11th earning $1,241,334 in just 33 theaters. To put this in perspective, “IT Chapter Two” earned $1.4 million in 1,528 theaters this previous weekend. While not as large as last weekend, “Parasite” had a per theater average of $37,616. “Parasite” gained 223.1% in business and will continue to eat away at its theaters while the film continues to roll out domestically.
In the eighth weekend of the Fall Box Office season, “It Chapter Two’s” reign on top has come to a close after seven weeks. A new clown is in town as “Joker” overtakes Pennywise in his third week of release. “Joker” has made $247.2 million to take the top spot. “IT Chapter Two” drops to second earning $209.6 million. Eclipsing $100 million in third is STX Entertainment’s “Hustlers.” “Hustlers” is up to $101.8 million domestically after six weeks. Remaining in fourth is “Downton Abbey” in its fifth week of release. The Focus Features film is up to $88.6 million domestically and officially is the highest grossing domestic film in studio history, passing 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain” at $83 million. Making a major leap this week was “The Addams Family (2019).” The animated reboot leaped from eighth to fifth totaling $57 million after two weeks. Dropping to sixth was “Abominable,” the animated Yeti film has totaled $53.9 million after four weeks. Then as usual, the duo of “Ad Astra” and “Rambo: Last Blood” stay neck and neck as they both drop a spot on the chart to seventh and eighth respectively. Brad Pitt’s “Ad Astra” still has a slight lead over Sylvester Stallone’s “Rambo: Last Blood.” The Pitt starring film has culminated $48.6 million compared to Stallone’s $44 million. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” barley edges out “Gemini Man.” Jolie’s film made $36.9 million compared to the Will Smith starring film, which has only made $36.3 million in two weeks, on a massive budget of $138 million.
Three new films open wide this upcoming weekend, one opens specially in IMAX. The cop thriller “Black & Blue” looks to snag lovers of thriller action films, while horror fans will be keeping an eye out for STX’s “Countdown.” STX will hope to continue the success of “Hustlers” with “Countdown.” The long delayed “The Current War: Director’s Cut” will finally get a release. The film was pulled from its 2017 release after its distribution studio, The Weinstein Company, went bankrupt following the Weinstein sexual harassment scandals. Then the IMAX experience of “Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Film” showcasing one of West’s Sunday Service events will open in specialty IMAX theaters.
Check back next week to see if any of the new releases has enough gas to the Mistress of Evil, or see if she can remain on top, or maybe even if “Joker” ends up reclaiming the crown.
