411 Box Office Report: Abominable Claims #1 in Sleepy Weekend With $20.8 Million

The box office was relatively quiet before Joker’s arrival this coming weekend, with Abominable taking the top spot. The animated family film brought in $20.8 million to take the #1 spot. That number was right at the higher end of where it was expected to start going into the weekend and gives Universal a solid performer. It’s not on the level of DreamWorks’ usual hits like How to Train Your Dragon or Kung Fu Panda, but ranks right around last summer’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie which opened with $23.9 million.

Abominable was always going to be a much quieter performer, though that comparison I just made comes with a caveat: Abominable was a much more expensive movie than Captain Underpants. Still, there is a reason to be somewhat optimistic here if you’re Universal. The film was liked by critics at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences loved it with an A CinemaScore. Those suggest that it will have semi-decent legs at the very least. It has a week free of direct competition until Addams Family arrives on October 11th, so it could get into the $75 million to $80 million range domestically. It will need overseas grosses to make a profit against a $75 million budget plus marketing, and it’s not at horrible shape with a $10.2 million start in 27 markets for a $31.1 million worldwide start. This isn’t starting a new franchise, but it could be a minor profit if it plays well.

Meanwhile, last week’s box office winner in Downton Abbey performed as expected with a 53% drop to $14.5 million. The film follow-up to the hit TV series performed more like a fan-heavy genre film than a period drama, and that was always going to be the case. The film now has $58.5 million domestically and $107.1 million worldwide, a major hit for Focus Features against a $20 million budget. Domestically it is looking likely to cross the $85 million mark.

Hustlers continues to be one hell of a hit, down just 32% to $11.5 million. The stripper drama now has $80 million domestically and $95.4 million worldwide against a $20 million budget, a big hit for STX, and looks certain to cross $100 million. The end result could be as high as $110 million domestically.

It Chapter Two had a decent hold as October approaches, down 39% in its fourth weekend with $10.4 million. The franchise closer has $193.9 million domestically and $417.4 million worldwide against a $79 million budget and is, obviously, an enormous hit for New Line. It should finish up in the states with around $225 million.

Brad Pitt’s Ad Astra had a merely okay hold after a mediocre start last weekend, down 47% to $10.1 million. The space adventure is now at $35.5 million domestically but is starting to take off overseas, with $89 million worldwide. The film still has a ways to go to make back its $100 million budget, but if the overseas numbers continue to roll in, this could avoid being a money loser. Its domestic total should finish at around $60 million to $70 million.

Rambo: Last Blood saw a typical drop after its decent start, down 54% to $8.6 million. That’s a pretty expected performance for the film, which now stands at $33.2 million domestically and $46.7 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. The movie still needs to hold up a bit if it’s going to be profitable, but it has a decent shot with an expected final domestic gross of $55 million or so. If the overseas numbers continue to push on, this one will be fine.

Coming in at #7 in limited release was Judy. The Judy Garland biopic, which stars Renee Zellweger, nailed down $3.1 million from just 461 theaters. That’s a solid start for a critically-buzzed film (84% on RT), and the A- CinemaScore should be good for helping Roadside Attractions expand the film in the coming weeks. There’s no word on the film’s budget and the final gross strongly depends on Roadside’s expansion plans.

Good Boys had another great hold, down just 22% in its seventh weekend with $2 million. The teen comedy has grossed a total of $80.4 million domestically and $104.1 million worldwide against its $20 million budget plus marketing. Good Boys is clearly a hit and should end its US stint with around $86 million.

The Lion King finally had a bit of drop-off, down 41% in its eleventh weekend with $1.6 million. The Disney live-action remake is up to $540 million domestically and $1.638 billion worldwide, with $545 million in sight. The budget was $250 million.

Angel Has Fallen is nearing the end of its successful run, down 36% to $1.5 million in its sixth weekend. The Gerard Butler film is up to $67.1 million domestically and $123.9 million worldwide, a decent profit against a $40 million budget. It should finish at $70 million to $72 million domestically.

Next weekend will be all about Joker, which is targeting an $80 million start. No other films are risking opening against the DC juggernaut

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Abominable – $20.9 million ($20.9 million total)
2. Downton Abbey – $14.5 million ($58.5 million total)
3. Hustlers – $11.5 million ($80.6 million total)
4. It: Chapter 2 – $10.4 million ($193.9 million total)
5. Ad Astra – $10.1 million ($35.5 million total)
6. Rambo: Last Blood – $8.6 million ($33.2 million total)
7. Judy – $3.1 million ($3.1 million total)
8. Good Boys – $2 million ($80.4 million total)
9. The Lion King – $1.6 million ($540 million total)
10. Angel Has Fallen – $1.5 million ($67.2 million total)