411 Box Office Report: It: Chapter 2 Dominates For Easy #1

Pennywise’s final stand ruled the box office with a terrifying hand this weekend, as It: Chapter 2 destroyed the competition. The second part of the Stephen King adaptation grossed $91 million to win without breaking a sweat. That’s on the lower end of the $90 million to $100 million that most expected it to do, but is still well within Warner Bros’ projections which were in the $85 million-plus range. The start is well below the $123.4 million opening of the first chapter in September of 2017; again though, that was always expected.

There was a lot of hype heading into the second part of this film, thanks to the positive reception of the first movie and its blockbuster status. Warner Bros. went all-out in promoting it as the first event movie of the fall season, and the large ensemble cast did their part in getting the word out. That helped raise anticipation for the film, and while the critic reception has been less ecstatic than the first (a 64% Rotten Tomatoes score compared to It’s 86%), it’s still positive enough that people weren’t scared away. Audience reception was strong, with a B+ CinemaScore (the same as It) and a 76% positive score from Screen Engine/Comscore’s Post Trak.

The film is also making bank overseas, where it got off to a $94 million start in 75 markets for a $185 million worldwide opening. That’s a great beginning for a film which had a $79 million budget. Chapter 2 will certainly have less of a profit margin than its predecessor, in part because the first film cost just $35 million, but Warner Bros. isn’t going to feel too bad about this because it’s still going to make bank. Domestically it seems likely to follow the 2.65 multiple of the first film, which would put it at around $250 million. That will be good enough for the second highest-grossing R-rated horror film of all time (behind It), of course and will be a successful closer for the series.

Pennywise’s success meant that Angel Has Fallen slipped out of #1, though it held on moderately well. The Gerard Butler action flick brought in another $6 million, down 49% from last weekend. That gives the film a very solid $53.5 million domestically to date and $65.5 million worldwide. The action film is still looking on pace to top London Has Fallen’s final domestic gross of $62.5 million and should be profitable once it opens in more overseas territories against a $40 million budget.

Good Boys was down 43% in its fourth weekend, rolling its way to $5.4 million. The teen comedy has grossed a total of $66.8 million domestically and $82.4 million worldwide against its $20 million budget plus marketing. Good Boys already a profitable venture and looks still on pace to top $75 million domestically.

The Lion King refuses to bow out, down just 39% in its eighth weekend with $4.2 million. That brings the live-action remake to $529.1 million domestically and $1.599 billion worldwide. Needless to say it’s ridiculously profitable, and will end out its domestic run at around $545 million. The budget was $250 million.

Overcomer is having a heck of a run, as it eased just 34% in its third weekend. The faith-based drama from Affirm and Sony brought in $3.8 million, taking its total to $24.7 million. Alex and Stephen Kendrick’s dramas usually leg out like this, and it still seems likely to ends its run around $35 million which will make it profitable against a $5 million budget plus moderate marketing.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw is hanging in there, off 42% to $3.7 million. The Dwayne Johnson/Jason Statham spinoff has now brought in $164.3 million domestically and $719.8 million worldwide, a major profit against its $200 million budget. It’s domestic run should close out around $175 million or so, a number no one’s going to feel bad about.

The Peanut Butter Falcon leaped its way back into the top ten, up five spots to #7 in its fifth weekend with $2.3 million. The dramedy about a man with Down syndrome who seeks to become a pro wrestler was off just 25% from last weekend as Roadside Attraction added a few theaters, bringing its domestic total to $12.3 million. With a $6.2 million budget and a light marketing budget, this film should be able to be profitable as it targets around $16 million to 18 million in the states.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark took an expected It-driven hit, dropping 55% to $2.3 million. The film is by no means in bad shape though, as it’s up to $62.1 million domestically and $88.8 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. The film is almost certainly profitable already and will end its run around $70 million domestically.

Ready Or Not took a heavier hit than Scary Stories, scared down to #9 by Pennywise with $2.2 million. That’s a 62% drop that it couldn’t afford. The Fox Searchlight film isn’t in the worst shape right now, sitting at $25.6 million domestically and $35.5 million worldwide against a $6.5 million budget and $25 million in marketing. It will end up being profitable when more foreign grosses come in, but it’s likely yet another financial disappointment from Fox in the Disney era of the studio.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold slipped 47% this weekend, down to $2.2 million. The family adventure has now grossed $54.2 million domestically and $82.4 million worldwide. The overseas numbers are helping, but it still has a ways to go if it wants to make back the $49 million budget plus P&A. Domestically, it should finish at around $62 million.

It’ll still be all about It at the box office next weekend, though Hustlers should perform well. The female ensemble crime dramedy is looking at a $20 million to $30 million start. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ drama The Goldfinch will counter-program to a high single-digits number.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. It: Chapter 2 – $91 million ($91 million total)
2. Angel Has Fallen – $6 million ($53.5 million total)
3. Good Boys – $5.4 million ($66.8 million total)
4. The Lion King – $4.2 million ($529.1 million total)
5. Overcomer – $3.8 million ($24.7 million total)
6. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw – $3.7 million ($164.3 million total)
7. The Peanut Butter Falcon – $4.3 million ($12.3 million total)
8. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – $2.3 million ($62.1 million total)
9. Ready or Not – $2.2 million ($25.6 million total)
10. Dora and the Lost City of Gold – $2.2 million ($54.2 million total)