411 Box Office Report: Jurassic World: Dominion Claims Top Spot With $143 Million-Plus

It was a prehistoric weekend at the box office as Jurassic World: Dominion tore its way to #1 with ease. The Jurassic World sequel claimed the #1 spot this weekend with a $143.3 million start. That’s right around the $140 million to $150 million that was predicted coming into the weekend, and represents only a slight drop from the $148 million start of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in the rosier times of 2018.

Although it is also noticeably lower than the $208.8 million start of the first Jurassic World, Dominion wasn’t expected to hit those heights for a host of reasons. First, the former was the relaunch of the franchise and had much higher anticipation. Second, Dominion was coming off the less-than-stellar reputation of Fallen Kingdom, so a drop of some kind was expected. This entry didn’t do so well itself with critics, notching just a 30% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience reaction was better, with the A- CinemaScore matching the previous entry and the RT audience score way above Fallen Kingdom’s at 79% compared to a 48% for the second film.

All in all, this is a win for Universal Pictures, who built the hype for this film based around not only the dino antics but also the return of original cast members Sam Niell, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. (Goldblum appeared in Fallen Kingdom but it barely more than a cameo.) That was enough to bring the audiences in, both here and overseas where it has notched $245.8 million since opening last weekend for a $389.1 million worldwide take. Those are numbers the studio will be happy with, even with a $185 million production budget and an expensive marketing campaign.

The big question now is how far it can rise. The film has plenty of family competition coming up, and it will have an uphill climb to topping the previous film’s $417.7 million domestic total or $1.3 billion worldwide. But this will still be a hit for the studio when it is all said and done, with a likely $390 million to $400 million ending gross in the US unless it holds on better than expected.

Top Gun: Maverick may have ceded the top spot to the dinosaurs, but it’s not running out of steam yet by any stretch. The action sequel took in $50 million in its third weekend, off a decent 45% from last weekend’s stellar hold. The film is now close to becoming the #1 domestic grosser of the year with $393.3 million domestically and has $747 million worldwide, huge numbers for the $170 million-budgeted film. At this point, $450 million is a sure thing for it and even $500 million seems to be very possible. Needless to say, Paramount is ecstatic over this one’s megahit status.

While it is likely to cede the #1 stop at the US box office to Top Gun as soon as Monday, Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness is still rolling along nicely. The MCU sequel added $4.9 million to its coffers in its sixth weekend, down 47% to bring its totals to $397.8 million domestically and $930.2 million worldwide. The film is rolling along toward a $415 million to $420 million domestic gross, good enough to rank #8 among the MCU, and is obviously a major money maker against its $200 million budget.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie slipped 50% in its third weekend as it continues to slide down the charts, bringing in $2.3 million. The feature version of the FOX animates series is now at $27.1 million domestically and $28.8 million worldwide, pushing it further along toward a likely $32 million final stateside number. That’s probably below what the studio was hoping for, though there is no word on the movie’s budget at this time.

The Bad Guys had the lowest drop in the top 10, down 33% in its eighth weekend to $2.2 million. That brings the animated crime comedy’s numbers to $91.5 million domestically and $223.1 million worldwide. This is another hit for Universal against a $69 million production budget plus marketing. It is looking strong to end its run at around $97 million or so, though it’s not impossible for it to cross the $100 million mark.

Downton Abbey: A New Era was off 48% in its fourth weekend, bringing in $1.7 million. The sequel and TV follow-up is now at $40 million domestically and $83.8 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. It will still make money for the studio, even if it’s nowhere near the gross of the first one, and should end its time in theaters stateside at around $45 million.

Everything Everywhere All at Once brought in another $1.3 million in its twelfth weekend, down 37% from last weekend’s number. The film is the highest-grossing film in A24’s history by any metric with $63 million domestically and $83.5 million worldwide. It should be able to finish out in the $68 million range or so in the US, a big money maker for the studio against a $25 million budget.

One surprise hit the box office as Firestarter leapt back into the top 10, up 720% from last weekend’s take with $819,000. Don’t mistake that for a great sign though, as the film still only has $9.3 million domestically and $13.9 million worldwide against a $12 million budget. It remains the lowest-grossing Stephen King wide release film since Apt Pupil in 1998. It will not be profitable and should end just over $10 million.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 was down 58% in its tenth weekend with $710,000. The Paramount film has now grossed $189.8 million domestically and $397.6 million worldwide, and is looking to close out at a $194 million stateside total. It’s a big hit against a budget of $90 million.

Peeking into the top 10 was the Telugu-language romcom Ante Sundharaniki. The film grossed $615,000, which is a solid performance. As usual, these films quickly drop out of the top 10 and this one will be no different.

Next weekend will likely see a new box office champion as Pixar unleashes Lightyear. The Toy Story spinoff film is targeting around $90 million or so in its opening weekend. Horror audiences will also have something new in the long-awaited The Black Phone from Scott Derrickson, which is expected to gross in the $20 million range.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Jurassic World: Dominion – $143.4 million ($143.4 million total, $389.1 million WW)
2. Top Gun: Maverick – $50 million ($393.3 million total, $747 million WW)
3. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – $4.9 million ($397.8 million total, $930.2 million WW)
4. The Bob’s Burgers Movie – $2.3 million ($27.1 million total, $28.8 million WW)
5. The Bad Guys – $2.2 million ($91.5 million total, $223.1 million WW)
6. Downton Abbey: A New Era – $1.7 million ($40 million total, $83.8 million WW)
7. Everything Everywhere All At Once – $1.3 million ($63 million total, $83.5 million WW)
8. Firestarter – $819,000 ($9.3 million total, $13.9 million WW)
9. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – $710,000 ($189.8 million total, $397.6 million WW)
10. Ante Sundharaniki – $615,000 ($615,000 total, $615,0000 million WW)