411 Box Office Report: Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ascends With $44 Million Start

The Ghostbusters are back in a big way, as Ghostbusters: Afterlife overperformed to win the box office this weekend. The Jason Reitman-directed revival of the franchise scored a $44 million opening weekend, heavily outpacing the $30 million to $35 million expected opening. The number is the second-best start for the franchise and basically on par with the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, which opened to $46 million that July.

So why, if 2016’s Ghostbusters did slightly more, is it consider a flop while this one is considered a success? Three words: timing, budget and buzz. Reitman’s revival is expected to have MUCH better legs due to the upcoming holiday season when week-to-week drops are at their lowest. When you add in that the buzz around this film is much better than the Paul Feig-directed entry, the film should leg out much better. Afterlife’s critical buzz is mildly positive at a 61% aggregate on Rotten Tomatoes, below that of the 2016’s 74%, but the audience reaction is an A- which trumps the previous movie’s B+.

In addition, Afterlife has to earn much less money to make it a success. The film cost $75 million to produce. That’s not pocket change to be sure, but compare it to the $144 million budget for Feig’s version and there’s no question that Reitman’s entry is more likely to see a profit margin.

Afterlife got off to an okay start overseas with $16 million in 31 international markets, which was expected. This franchise has always played well domestically, and it’s important to note it won’t be getting a Chinese release due to the supernatural elements. As it currently stands, the film seems likely to gross at least $130 million domestically which will put it well on the path toward profit even with a spendy marketing campaign.

Marvel’s Eternals slipped a spot to #2 in its third weekend, down 60% to $10.8 million. The ensemble film now has $135.8 million domestically and a very decent $336.1 million worldwide. It is still looking likely to finish out its domestic run around $170 million to $175 million, a fine result. The budget was $200 million.

Clifford the Big Red Dog skidded to #3 with $8.1 million. The Paramount family film was off 51% from its opening weekend, an expected drop considering it’s available on Paramount+. Clifford is now at $33.5 mllion with Paramount+ money to add in as well. The film cost $64 million so it won’t earn a profit just off theaters, but it will bring in more than expected with a probable $70 million domestic total.

Coming in weakly at #4 was King Richard. The Will Smith-starring biopic about Serena and Venus Williams’ relationship with their father whiffed with $5.7 million, below the $9 million to $10 million that was expected.

Really, this probably should have been predicted. People will talk about the HBO Max day-and-date release issue, but that (as usual) is not the problem. The bigger problem is that this was a film about the father of two famous people, not the celebrities themselves, and hefty positive buzz (92% on RT) couldn’t counteract WarnerMedia’s muddled marketing. The fact that it is almost two and a half hours long also hurt it: the longer the movie, the less screenings.

All that said, is a film where the story will be in its legs. King Richard is designed to earn award season buzz, particularly for Will Smith’s performance, and the fan consensus is very positive at an A CinemaScore. This film could easily play well through Thanksgiving weekend and beyond, with a $30 million or more seeming likely before award season begins.

Dune was down 45% in its fourth weekend with $3.1 million, putting the film at $98.2 million domestically and $367.1 million worldwide. The sci-fi drama is spicing its way to over $100 million domestically, and will be profitable once all revenue streams are counted in, even on a $165 million budget plus marketing.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage continues to be a success story for Sony with $2.8 million this weekend, down just 29%. The superhero film is at $206.5 million in the states and $454.7 million worldwide, quite the hit against its $100 million budget. $215 million looks to be the final domestic endgame here.

No Time to Die slipped 40% in its seventh weekend as the film began its theater at home digital play. That’s a good hold considering the digital opens, equating to a $2.7 million weekend. Daniel Craig’s last 007 film is now at $154.7 million domestically and $734.1 million worldwide. The film is a hit and should end its run at around $160 million domestically. The budget was $250 million.

The French Dispatch was down 45% in its third weekend of wide release with $970,000. The film is now at $13.3 million domestically and $32.1 million worldwide, and is looking like around $17 million domestically. It had a $25 million budget.

Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast remained in limited release and slipped 47% to $940,000 in its second weekend. The coming of age drama is at $3.4 million and should pick up as award season draws closer.

Ron’s Gone Wrong nosed down to #10 in its fifth weekend, off 59% to bring in $888,000. The 20th Century Studios animated film now has $22.1 million domestically and $57.6 million worldwide, and looks to end its stateside run at around $24 million. No word on its budget.

Next weekend will see a trio of very different films target different segments of the audience. Disney’s animated Encanto will look to tie up the family market and should nab an opening in the mid-to-high $20 million range, while Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci should make around $10 million from older audiences. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City should make about the same $10 million amount, except for from the fandom-oriented crowds.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Ghostbusters: Afterlife – $44 million ($$44 million total)
2. Eternals – $10.8 million ($135.8 million total)
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog – $8.1 million ($33.5 million total)
4. King Richard – $5.7 million ($5.7 million total)
5. Dune – $3.1 million ($98.2 million total)
6. Venom: Let There Be Carnage – $2.8 million ($206.5 million total)
7. No Time to Die – $2.67 million ($154.7 million total)
8. The French Dispatch – $970,000 ($13.3 million total)
9. Belfast – $940,000 ($3.4 million total)
10. Ron’s Gone Wrong – $888,000 ($22.1 million total)