411 Box Office Report: IF Wins The Weekend, The Strangers: Chapter 1 Starts Well

Imaginary Friends ruled the box office this weekend, as IF claimed the #1 spot. The John Kransinski-directed family film took the top spot with $35 million. That is a touch below the expectations coming into the weekend, which were hopeful for $40 million. It comes in slightly under the record for a live-action PG original film, which was 2011’s Hop at $37.5 million.

A $35 million opening is not a disaster for a film of this nature, though it’s less than Paramount was hopeful for. The film came in at a point where the family film options are low, and the belief was that it could take advantage of that. It wasn’t able to capitalize too much, although there are encouraging signs. Most notably, the film held on well throughout the weekend after a disappointing first day, evidence that the A CinemaScore and 87% Rotten Tomatoes audience score are having a greater effect than the mediocre 49% critic score. That should portent well for its box office legs.

And that’s good, because it will need those legs. IF was a star-heavy feature with plenty of effects work, and cost a reported $110 million. That’s a big spend by Paramount, but it’s not one they seem likely to take a bath on. The film is doing well overseas so far with $24 million for a $59 million worldwide take, and it should be able to expand nicely on that in the weeks to come. With a $100 million-plus domestic final likely, this will be in okay shape if it can deliver the international grosses.

Kingdom Of Planet of the Apes had a solid hold, slipping 55% in its second week to bring in $26 million. That’s a better hold than the last film in the franchise, War for the Planet of the Apes, which fell 63% in its second weekend.

Kingdom is looking to be in very good shape thus far, having grossed $101.2 million domestically and $237.5 million worldwide against a $160 million budget. As it stands, the film is looking likely to top $150 million in the US and with overseas numbers continuing to come in, this will be another hit in the franchise for 20th Century Studios.

Horror had a pretty solid performer in The Strangers: Chapter 1, which came in at #3 with $12 million. The first part of Renny Harlin’s trilogy of films reviving the home invasion franchise was expected to do in the high single digits, so this is a win for Lionsgate.

The Strangers has never been a blockbuster franchise, but it is well regarded by horror fans and has been quite profitable for Lionsgate; the first film grossed $83.1 million worldwide against a $9 million budget while the 2018 sequel The Strangers: Prey at Night brought in $32.1 million against $5 million. That gave the studio incentive to greenlight the new trilogy, and while reviews have not been kind (a 13% RT aggregate score), we have to remember that matters less for horror franchises.

The word of mouth is a bit more concerning; Chapter 1 has a C CinemaScore which is more or less acceptable to the genre, but the 41% audience rating on RT isn’t a great sign. Still, the studio knows what they’re doing and marketed the film well, which puts it in a position for profit against a budget of $8 million. Right now the movie is looking to gross at least $25 million domestically, which will be enough for profit all on its own before the international grosses come in. Chapter 2 arrives this fall, with Chapter 3 coming before the end of the year.

The Fall Guy was down a very solid 38% in its third weekend, grossing $8.5 million. The action romcom is now at $63 million domestically and $127.6 million worldwide and is looking less likely to be profitable in theaters against its $125 million budget. At this point, it looks like it will finish off with around $90 million stateside and the overseas numbers probably won’t be quite enough to get it to the black.

Challengers has continued to show its box office legs, down 33% to $2.9 million. That is particularly impressive considering the film hit digital on Friday. The Luca Guadagnino movie is now standing at $43.5 million in the US and $78.7 million worldwide, looking likely to close out at around $50 million. It’s in fine shape against a $50 million budget, as the overseas numbers are still strong.

The Amy Winehouse biopic Back in Black opened very quietly, taking in just $2.9 million. That’s below even the modest mid-single digits expectations for the film. Chalk this one up to poor reviews; the film has a 35% RT critic score and unlike horror or some blockbusters, musical biopics generally need critical support to open well.

That all being said, this film is not in bad shape because Focus Features paid $20 million for the rights to distribute it. And the film has done well overseas, where it has totaled $23.4 million for a $26.3 million worldwide take thus far. It has good word of both (a B+ CinemaScore and an 85% RT audience rating) and while it probably won’t get over $8 million to $9 million domestically, it should end up breaking even theatrically at least.

Tarot continues to have good holds, as it eased 41% in its third weekend to tally up $2 million. The Sony Pictures horror film has now totaled $15.4 million domestically and $29.9 million worldwide, making it profitable against a budget of just $8 million. Its US total should end at around $20 million or so.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire was down 35% in its eighth weekend to gross $1.7 million. The action blockbuster now has $194.4 million domestically and $561 million worldwide, a hit against a budget of $135 million. It is still aiming for around $200 million domestically.

The Amazon MGM documentary on The Blue Angels performed well to land in the #9 spot, taking in $1.3 million. The film, which is a co-presentation with IMAX, delivered solidly to open up its week-long run before it arrives on Prime Video. Even exiting theaters very soon, it’s a success for both Amazon and IMAX.

Unsung Hero closed out the top 10 with a 57% drop to $2.3 million. The faith-based drama from Lionsgate has grossed $19.1 million against a $6 million budget and targeted marketing costs. It will finish up with about $22 million.

Next weekend will see a new #1 as Furiosa arrives. The Mad Max: Fury Road prequel is expected to do $45 million or so. Meanwhile, the animated Garfield film should gross around $30 million to $40 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. IF – $35 million ($35 million total, $59 million WW)
2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – $26 million ($101.2 million total, $237.5 million WW)
3. The Strangers: Chapter 1 – $12 million ($12 million total, $12 million WW)
4. The Fall Guy – $8.5 million ($63 million total, $127.6 million WW)
5. Challengers – $2.9 million ($43.5 million total, $78.7 million WW)
6. Back to Black – $2.9 million ($2.9 million total, $26.3 million WW)
7. Tarot – $2 million ($15.4 million total, $29.9 million WW)
8. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – $1.7 million ($194.4 million total, $561.1 million WW)
9. The Blue Angels – $1.3 million ($1.3 million total, $1.3 million WW)
10. Unsung Hero – $1.1 million ($19.1 million total, $19.1 million WW)