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411 Box Office Report: Jumanji Reclaims #1, Set to Be The Rock’s Biggest Hit Of His Career

February 4, 2018 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle The Rock

Jumanji continued its fantastic run at the box office, rising back up to reclaim the #1 spot this weekend. The action-comedy chalked up $11 million over Super Bowl weekend to take the crown, bringing its totals to $352.6 million domestically and $855.7 million worldwide. That’s a stellar performance for a film that opened with $36 million six weekends ago, and sets the film on course to become Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s #1 domestic-grossing film of all-time by the end of the day on Monday. Right now it is just $364,000 behind Furious 7’s $353 million domestic total; it would have to suffer an unrealistic fall to need until Tuesday to top that number.

Internationally, Johnson has had bigger hits in the last two Furious films which both went well over a billion dollars in worldwide totals. Still, Jumanji is more impressive in that it cost a fraction of those film’s production budgets at $90 million vs. Furious 7’s $190 million and Fate of the Furious’ $250 million. Those films have very strong established fanbases across the world as well, while Jumanji is the continuation of a franchise that has its fans, but wasn’t a huge hit even when the first one was released. Welcome to the Jungle is targeting an easy $370 million by the end of its domestic run and could get as high as $380 million depending on how it holds up against next week’s offerings and Black Panther in two weeks. Suffice it to say, Sony’s very happy here and Johnson’s star couldn’t be higher right now.

After its #1 start last week, Maze Runner: The Death Cure fell behind Jumanji to end its second weekend at #2. The final film in the young adult franchise brought in another $10.2 million, down 58% from last weekend. That’s on the high end for a mid-budget action franchise’s second weekend hold and higher than the drops for both previous Maze Runners (46% for the first film and 53% for The Scorch Trials). It’s not the hold that Fox wanted, but the film is still doing fine thanks in large part to overseas grosses. The film has $39.8 million domestically and $182.6 million worldwide on a $65 million budget, putting it on part for profit. In the states, it should be able to make it to around $55 million to $60 million.

The sole new wide release opening for the weekend took #3 as horror film Winchester scored $9.3 million. That’s within the low range of prodictions for the Helen Mirren-starring film, which survived abysmal reviews (9% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the fact that it is competing for the Super Bowl crowd on Sunday to hit an okay number.

Super Bowl weekend is traditionally known as a dumping ground for low-budget movies, since box office receipts are usually significantly down. That appears to be the case here. Lionsgate didn’t give this one the level of promotion that it would have needed to capitalize on the relative dearth of horror in cinemas. Insidious: The Last Key is almost out of theaters at this point, and Winchester could have capitalized on that but the studio seemed to know they didn’t have huge hit on their hands. Audience reaction was okay for the genre, with a B- CinemaScore. That won’t set the world on fire, but it should be able to get the film to $25 million or so. That could be good enough to avoid losing money on a film that had low budgetary and marketing costs.

The Greatest Showman held at #4 in its seventh weekend, bringing in another $7.8 million. As usual, that’s the best hold in the top ten at 18% and brings the Hugh Jackman-starrer to $137.4 million domestically and $290.5 million worldwide. The film has now reached fifteen times its opening weekend, which is insane in the twenty-first century. The film should finish off around $160 million domestically at this point and is profitable for Fox on an $84 million budget.

Christian Bale’s western drama Hostiles nailed down $5.5 million in its second weekend, down an okay 45%. The Entertainment Studios film hit the typical drop for a western film and has brought its total to $21.2 million. The film should be able to make it to $35 million or so, which means that it will probably not be a money maker on a $39 million budget.

The Post was down 43% in its fourth weekend of wide release with $5.2 million. The Steven Spielberg-directed journalism drama now stands at $67.2 million domestically and $107.4 million worldwide, which is solid for a $50 million film at this point. It should still be able to hit around $80 million in the US and should be a profitable-enough film for Fox.

12 Strong was down 46% to $4.7 million in its third weekend, almost matching its second weekend hold. The Chris Hemsworth-led war drama has rung up a total of $37.3 million domestically and $46 million worldwide, an okay number for a $30 million budget. It should make its way to $55 million or so in the US and enough overseas money to make up the difference as its rollout continues in other markets.

Den of Thieves paralleled 12 Strong’s trajectory again, down 46% from last weekend with $4.7 million. The crime thriller now has $36.3 million domestically and $45.4 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Like 12 Strong, it should be okay as its international release schedule continues. The budget was $30 million.

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water continues to pick up awards momentum and that’s paying off financially. The fantasy drama, which earned Del Toro and DGA award this weekend, brought in $4.3 million for a slip of just 28% from last weekend. It has domestic total to $44.6 million and a worldwide tally of $64.2 million. The film is still on course for around $70 million in the US and will be a big hit for Fox Searchlight on a $19.5 million budget.

Paddington 2 closed out the top ten with $3.1 million, down 31% in its fourth weekend. The critically-acclaimed family film is at $36.3 million domestically and $195.9 million worldwide. As a reminder, Warner Bros. is not making foreign money off as the overseas rights went to other distribution companies. That means it probably won’t make money for WB on a $50 million domestic total, the same as its budget.

Next weekend sees the end of the Fifty Shades franchise, as Fifty Shades Darker should dominate (no pun intended) the weekend at a $40 million or so opening. Also opening are Peter Rabbit for the family crowd and The 15:17 to Paris for adults, hoping for mid-to-high teens openings.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – $11 million ($352.6 million total)
2. Maze Runner: The Death Cure – $10.2 million ($39.8 million total)
3. Winchester – $9.3 million ($9.3 million total)
4. The Greatest Showman – $7.8 million ($137.5 million total)
5. Hostiles – $5.5 million ($21.2 million total)
6. The Post – $5.2 million ($67.2 million total)
7. 12 Strong – $4.7 million ($37.3 million total)
8. Den of Thieves – $4.7 million ($36.3 million total)
9. The Shape of Water – $4.3 million ($44.6 million total)
10. Paddington 2 – $3.1 million ($36.3 million total)