411 Box Office Report: Other Mommy Dominates, Social Reckoning Opens Low

Horror reigned at the box office this weekend as Other Mommy lead the way while Social Reckoning opened quietly. Universal’s Jessica Chastain-led horror flick opened to $27.5 million, surpassing the $20 million to $25 million that was expected coming into the frame. It’s the best start for Chastain in a lead role since the 2013 horror film Mama opened to $28.3 million back in 2013 and is in the range of the $27.3 million that Universal’s Black Phone 2 opened to in October of last year.

Other Mommy had a lot going against it; the film has been hated by critics (an 18% aggregate on Rotten Tomatoes), and moviegoers also dislike it with a 46% RT audience rating and a dreadful D+ CinemaScore. But it also had a really strong marketing campaign, built around the monstrous role Chastain plays and its creepy smile. That led to audience interest in a Halloween watch that defied its negative buzz.

The film is absolutely going to suffer hefty drops in the weeks to come to be sure, considering that word of mouth. But Universal is already happy here. The movie cost just $19 million to produce and has added $17.6 million in its overseas launch for a $45.1 million worldwide start. Domestically it seems likely to top out around $60 million to $65 million, but that will be more than enough for profit.

Verity took an expected drop in its second weekend, with the Colleen Hoover off 64% to $11.5 million. Much like Other Mommy’s negative buzz, that’s not a huge deal because the film is already well into profit. The film has now grossed $53.9 million in the US and $114 million worldwide against a budget of just $40 million. It is still on course for $70 million to $75 million stateside and is a hit for Amazon-MGM Studios.

Resident Evil had a great hold as it brought in $8.4 million, down just 34% from last frame. The Zach Cregger video game adaptation is up to $138.5 million domestically and $320.2 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing film in the franchise by either measure. The movie is looking at about $150 million or more in the US and is profitable against a $75 million budget.

Heart of the Beast eased 35% in its third weekend to tally up $7.1 million. The Paramount Pictures film has now totaled $49.7 million stateside and $131.4 million worldwide. It’s creeping closer to a potential profit point, even against its $83 million production budget, and the domestic total seems likely to be around $60 million.

Coming in at #5 was The Social Reckoning. Aaron Sorkin’s sequel to The Social Network was below modest expectations, ringing up just $5.5 million. That’s a fraction of the $22.5 million start that The Social Network had in October of 2010.

A lot of people will be making arguments for why Social Reckoning fell flat, but the short of it is that the original film was a much-buzzed Oscar contender while the sequel was neither. Sony Pictures tried to market off the strength of the first film, but a whole new cast and the lack of David Fincher’s name combined with the fact that we’re in a very different marketplace than 16 years ago.

It didn’t help that there wasn’t much positive word out for The Social Reckoning. Critics were meh on it with a 54% RT critic average, while audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore and 73% RT audience rating, neither of which are great for the genre.

It also didn’t get much help overseas, where it started with just $3.5 million for a $9 million worldwide start. This is not one that will leg out to profit against a budget in the $30 million to $40 million range. It will hit maybe $16 million stateside.

Forgotten Island was down just 38% in its third weekend, taking in $4.5 million. That puts the animated film from Universal at $30.3 million in the US and $46.3 million worldwide. It’s a money loser against its $80 million budget and should finish around $40 million stateside.

Primetime brought in $4 million in its third weekend, a respectable drop of 48%. The Robert Pattinson drama has $41.5 domestic and $41.9 million worldwide against a $15 million budget and is a success. $50 million looks to be its US endgame.

Digger remains a disaster, following up its low opening weekend with a 60% drop to $3.2 million. The Tom Cruise-directed satire is a victim of its polarizing word of mouth, with $14.4 million domestically and $35.3 million worldwide against a $160 million budget. It won’t make much past $20 million domestically and is a major money loser for Warner Bros.

Angel Studios’ Angel and the Badman performed right at expectations with $2.1 million. The Western was targeted at a niche demographic, like most of Angel’s films, and is probably in fine shape. We don’t know the budget, and it has not opened overseas nor is it likely to pick up much there. Critics disliked it (23% on RT), but audiences were better on it (a B+ CinemaScore) and it should make around $7 million or so before going to digital.

The Odyssey rose again as it took back a number of IMAX screens and was up 54% in its 13th weekend to $2 million. Christopher Nolan’s epic has now totaled $623 million in the US and $1.780 billion worldwide, the 11th highest grossing film ever. And of course, it’s a megahit opposite its $250 million budget

We’ll have a new #1 next weekend in Street Fighter, which is looking at around $25 million to $30 million to start in the US. Also opening are Whalefall, which is expected to open with $10 million, and Sense and Sensibility which should be vaguely around those same numbers.

Box Office Top Ten (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)

1. Other Mommy – $27.5 million ($27.5 million total, $45.1 million WW)
2. Verity – $11.5 million ($54.9 million total, $114 million WW)
3. Resident Evil – $8.4 million ($138.5 million total, $320.2 million WW)
4. Heart Of the Beast – $7.1 million ($49.7 million total, $131.4 million WW)
5. The Social Reckoning – $5.5 million ($5.5 million total, $9 million WW)
6. Forgotten Island – $4.5 million ($30.3 million total, $46.3 million WW)
7. Primetime – $4 million ($41.5 million total, $41.9 million WW)
8. Digger – $3.2 million ($14.4 million total, $35.3 million WW)
9. Angel and the Badman – $2.1 million ($2.1 million total, $2.1 million WW)
10. The Odyssey – $2 million ($623 million total, $1.780 billion WW)