- Puss In Boots: The Last Wish – £3,066,908 – £9,188,501
Dropped 38% in second weekend; took £497k Friday (16.2%); £1.45m Saturday (47.3%); £1.2m Sunday (39.1%)
Has become the biggest film of 2023 but within about 5 days Ant-Man 3 will replace it.
211th biggest second weekend between Johnny English Reborn and Gone Girl (close to Men In Black 2, Nanny McPhee, The Mummy Returns and Night at the Museum) and 430th biggest inflated between Bad Boys For Life and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (close to Three Men And A Baby, The Little Mermaid, Charlotte’s Web and Doctor Dolittle).
41st biggest animated second weekend between Shark Tale (11th biggest Dreamworks Animation 2nd weekend) and Ratatouille (close to Trolls, Shrek, Monsters vs. Aliens and Kung Fu Panda) and 67th biggest inflated between How to Train Your Dragon 3 and Cars (close to Antz, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Rugrats Movie (1999).
11th biggest Dreamworks Animation second weekend between Shark Tale and Monsters vs. Alien.
2011’s Puss in Boots dropped 34% £1,345,238 #4 from 510 screens taking £4,080,241 of £14,270,527; with competition from Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked #2 £2,361,867 and Arthur Christmas #3 £1,345,238
Opened only a year after Shrek Forever After dropped 48.7% £4,591,105 and £17,233,331 of £31,106,087, a sequel was planned soon after the film was released but was delayed many times.
The four Shrek films were hugely popular in the UK taking over £150m+ (£250m+ inflated)
2007’s Shrek The Third dropped 69.5% £5,084,641 and £25,694,674 of £38,079,462 (£60,927,139 inflated)
2004’s Shrek 2 dropped 56.2% £7,097,154 and £28,510,031 of £48,104,138 (£86,566,021 inflated)
2001’s Shrek dropped 30.6% £3,251,307 taking £9,694,328 of £29,004,582 (£56,607,976 inflated)
As with Sing 2, Universal opted to open the film ahead of half-term instead of Christmas, opening at half-term it is the main children’s film released and should take £2m+ Mon-Thurs before taking about £3m next weekend with Ant-Man 3 unlikely to have any impact on it and should play well until April when The Super Mario Bros. Movie opening likely to take £25m+.
The 40+ Dreamwork Animation films have taken almost £700m since 1998 and £900m+ inflation inflated.
128th biggest animated film between Mulan and Ferdinand (close to The Croods 2: A New Age, Megamind, Bee Movie and Abominable) and 155th biggest inflated between The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and Rango (close to Ferdinand, Oliver & Company, Peter Pan (1992 RE) and Bambi (1993 RE).
752nd biggest film between Cliffhanger and Vanilla Sky (close to The Polar Express, Fantastic Mr Fox, Wayne’s World and A Fish Called Wanda) and 1,274th biggest inflated between 13 Going On 30 and Daddy Day Care (close to Big Foot and The Henderson’s, Father of the Bride 2, The Lady and the Tramp (1989 RE) and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective).
After last year had only a couple of major animated films this year has several targetting different demographics Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, Strays, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Wish and Migration.
- 2. Magic Mike’s Last Dance – £1,529,155 – NE
Took £610k Friday (39.9%); £528k Saturday (34.5%); £391k Sunday (25.6%)
1,097th biggest opening between The Grand Budapest Hotel and Star Wars: Phantom Menace 3D (close to Indecent Proposal, Jerry Maguire, The Guru and The First Wives Club) and 1,682nd biggest inflated opening between Red Eye and Beverly Hills Chihuahua (close to Striptease, Mermaids, Hustlers and Clueless).
Opened in 647 cinemas 70th widest cinema opening between Christopher Robin and Spider-Man: Far From Home (close to Spectre, Black Adam, Knives Out and Ocean’s Eight); 152nd 600+ opening since 2015’s Jurassic World (605 screens)
Interestingly, it opened in almost 150 screens more than Magic Mike XXL 498 screens (£3,163 av) and 201 screens more than Magic Mike 446 screens (£5,944 av) while opening in less than half of the screens in the US to the previous film 1,496 Vs 3,355.
As the film was always likely to be very front-loaded seen by Friday taking far more than Saturday as normally Saturday sees a big increase from Friday. It was then interesting how Warner opted for two very different release plans for the film in the UK and US and both performing similarly, in the UK it dropped 14% Fri-Sat and in the US 24.3% and then on Sunday dropped 26% in the UK compared to 67% in the US. Magic Mike’s Last Dance will lose many screens this weekend along with showtimes and is likely to drop upwards of 60%.
Magic Mike Live arrived in London in November 2018 and has been popular ever since.
2012’s Magic Mike opened £2,651,015 (including £1,004,114 previews) taking £8,111,970
2015’s Magic Mike XXL opened £1,575,092 taking £6,697,739
Salma Hayek Pinault was on Friday night on the Graham Norton Show and presented an award at the Brits on Saturday with a couple of male strippers promoting the film.
Channing Tatum also starred in 2012’s 21 Jump Street £10.1m; 2014’s 22 Jump Street £18.6m; 2006’s Step Up £4.4m; 2008’s Step Up 2 The Streets £10.6m.
The film was originally announced in 2021 as a film to be released on HBO Max, but it was always likely to have a UK cinema release as An American Pickle and Superintelligence both had cinema releases after premiering on HBO Max.
- 3.Titanic (Re:2023) – £870,646 – NE
Took £297k Friday (34.1%); £315k Saturday (36.2%); £259k Sunday (29.8%)
561st widest cinema opening in the UK between Logan Lucky and Fantastic Mr Fox (close to Sherlock Holmes, Three Billboards, A Simple Favour and The Shape of Water); 1,140th 400+ cinema opening since 1989’s Batman (400 screens opening with £2,058,159).
1,723rd biggest opening between Beverly Hills Cop III and Out of Sight (close to Nine Months, Failure to Launch, The Queen and Gosford Park) and 2,124th biggest inflated opening between Plane’s Trains and Automobiles and Ron’s Gone Wrong (close to E.T. (20th Anniversary), Showgirls, 10 Things I Hate About You and Monsters, Inc. 3D)
Titanic was last re-released in 3D in April 2012 with £2,856,540 taking £10,964,978 (£13,908,481 inflated).
Titanic was originally released in January 1998 opened £4,805,270 (£9,634,387 inflated) taking £79,908,425 (£160,213,418 inflated); took 16.6x opening. It was #1 for 13 consecutive weeks from January- April 1998 the joint longest #1 in over 35 years. Repeating what The Full Monty had done between August and December 1997.
The weekend was seen as a double win for James Cameron but Titanic re-release opening 70% less than its last re-release 11 years was similarly underwhelming as Avatar re-release in September with £1.21m from 535 screens as it was closer to E.T. (20th Anniversary) in 2002 £465k. (£907k inflated) then the Star Wars 1997 re-releases £3.77m from 354 screens as Titanic and Avatar are two of the biggest films released over the last 25 years, they should surely have opened far bigger.
But it surely goes down to the issue of price for many as why if you have these films on DVD would you pay £15+ to see then in the cinema, while they might be remastered and claiming to never look as good but charging normal prices only the biggest fans will pay to see them in the cinema. This is of course a shame as these films were made to be seen on the biggest screen in cinemas and you lose much from seeing them on TV even with an 80-inch screen, but to get audiences into cinemas to see them surely price accordingly especially as these films will have a very limited cinema release.
Disney would regularly re-release one of thier classic animated films in cinemas every few years and they would always find new audiences including 1988 The Jungle Book £392,922; 1988 The Fox and the Hound £203,544; 1989 The Lady and the Tramp £376,003; 1992 Peter Pan £212,720; 1993 The Jungle Book £579,602; 1993 Bambi £262,548; 1997 The Lady and the Tramp £238,606. This also shows why the reimaginations are so popular as they are shot by shot remakes of the very popular animated film.
- 4. Avatar: The Way of Water – £831,697 – £74,257,077
Down 35.3% in ninth weekend; took £146k Friday (17.5%); £377k Saturday (45.4%); £309k Sunday (37.2%)
After outgrossing week on week Avatar has slowed down over the last few weeks and has now taken £9,008,407 less (£74,257,077 Vs £83,265,484) as Avatar 2 hasn’t had the legs of the original film despite having far less competition and much higher ticket prices.
13th biggest 9th weekend between Casino Royale (£839,164) and American Beauty (£815,741) (close to LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, Toy Story 4, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Gladiator) took £1,985,312 less than Avatar (£2,817,009) and the 36th biggest inflated 9th weekend between Who Framed Roger Rabbit (£835,017) and Fatal Attraction (£806,671) close to LOTR: Two Towers, Star Wars: Phantom Menace, Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Independence Day; Avatar is the biggest inflated £3,982,132.
12th biggest film in the UK (16th to take £60m+ since Titanic in 1998) between The Lion King and Toy Story 3 (close to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Titanic, Toy Story 3 and Avengers: Infinity War) and 51st biggest inflated between The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and Toy Story 4 (close to The Dark Knight, Moonraker, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Men In Black).
However, the industry tries to spin it Avatar 2 came short of expectations in the UK as most would have expected it to take upwards of £100m and be one of the biggest international territories after China as the UK with $148m was Avatar’s 4th biggest after Japan, France and Germany with $157m. But similar to Black Panther Wakanda Forever in November and many other films released last year it took about a third less than expected. Part of the reason for Avatar 2 coming short is likely due to the drop in 3D sales, for Avatar was 85%+ 3D with about 7%+ for both IMAX and 2D, while Deadline figures for Europe were 70% for IMAX/3D but UK opening weekend was 57% from IMAX/3D with 43% 2D.
In 2009 Avatar took 85%+ from 3D with IMAX (9 screens) and 2D (300) taking about 7% each but 2D has taken far more of the BO for Avatar 2 (41%) with 47% 3D and 12% IMAX.
In 2010 Avatar dropped 24% in its 9th weekend taking £3,316,855 #2 (402 screens £8,251 average) and £77,072,663; #1 Valentine’s Day £3,732,393; The Wolfman #3 £2,367,849; The Princess And The Frog #4 £1,504,908; Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief #5 £1,502,663
Avatar dropped #2 in its 9th weekend after 6 consecutive weeks #1 (opened #1 then dropped #2 against Alvin and the Chipmunks 2) against Valentine’s Day and returned to #1 the weekend after for two weeks.
- 5. Knock at the Cabin £537,265 – £2,020,346
£154k Friday (28.7%); £234k Saturday (43.6%); £149k Sunday (27.7%)
Down 45.2% in the second weekend
1,684th biggest second weekend between The Help and When A Man Loes A Woman (close to Flatliners (1990), Malice, The River Wild and Unfaithful) and 2,061st biggest inflated between Fried Green Tomatoes and I Love You Phillip Morris (close to Midnight Run (£157,699), Jacob’s Ladder (£207,206), Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (£309,874) and Billy Bathgate (£191,485).
124th biggest second-weekend horror between Evil Dead and The Possession (close to The Omen, Don’t Breathe, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and Old) and 156th biggest inflated horror opening between The Visit and Darkness Falls (close to Psycho (1999), The Fly II, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare and Pet Sematary (1989).
Other M. Night Shyamalan films
2021’s Old dropped 40.9% £512,071 and £2,134,826 67.1% of £3,181,707
2019’s Glass dropped 43.4% £1,936,631 and £6,873,056 71.3% of £9,646,964.
2017’s Split dropped 21.5% £2,000,319 and £6,030,395 54.7% of £11,018,069
2015’s The Visit dropped 53% £485,117 and £1,994,800 71.1% of £2,805,591.
2013’s After Earth dropped 46.9% £541,859 and £2,236,252 54.8% of £6,137,273
2008’s The Happening dropped 48.9% £834,624 and £3,250,510 83.4% of £3,895,001 (£5,610,300 inflation inflated)
2004’s The Village dropped 46.7% £1,570,369 and £6,778,755 67.9% of £9,980,280 (£16,648,619 inflation inflated)
2002’s Signs dropped 29.5% £2,657,379 and £8,063,752 50.1% of £16,084,656 (£28,082,535 inflation inflated)
2000’s Unbreakable up 10.3% £2,211,667 and £6,329,376 56.4% of £11,222,712 (inflation inflated £19,563,228)
1999’s The Sixth Sense dropped 31.6% £3,277,054 and £10,450,596 42.6% of £25,407,279 (£46,288,321 inflation inflated).
151st biggest horror film between Boogeyman and Ghost Ship (close to From Dusk Till Dawn, Nightmare on Elm Steet III, The Frighteners and Poltergeist 2 (1986) and 175th biggest inflated horror between Silent Hill: Revelation 3D and Darkness Falls (close to The Exorcist III, The Lost Boys, Ready Or Not and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare).
Also opened.
Epic Tails – Studiocanal
Opened £259,636 #9 from 534 screens.
Half-term, this week should take about £800k by next Sunday.
Directed by David Alaux, previously directed 2017’s The Jungle Bunch opened in September with £374,982 #6 from 507 screens taking £1,201,913.
English version of animated family adventure film Argonauts with voices including Rob Beckett, Giovanna Fletcher and Josh Widdicombe.
Opened #14 with £117,380 from 43 screens, a £2,730 average, second-best of the top 15 after Puss in Boots 2 (£4,400) expanding next week as counterprogramming for Ant-Man 3, while it wasn’t nominated for any BAFTA awards is the last major Oscar nominee to open.
Had a world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival receiving critical acclaim and opened on limited release in the US in December ($40,530 from 8 screens)
Sarah Polley previously directed 2011’s Take This Waltz (opened £70.3k #12 from 30 screens) and 2006’s Away From Her (opened £21.1k)
UK box office in detail
This weekend’s top 10 box office took £8,352,776 down 23.8% from last weekend’s £10,968,696: 1,086,187 admissions down 22% from 1,392,433.
759th biggest top 10 of the last 21 years (out of 1,089) between 30 September 2022 #1 Smile £1,860,452 (22.3% of top 10) and 02 December 2011 #1 Arthur Christmas £1,896,595 (22.7% of top 10) and 983rd biggest inflation inflated between 30 September 2022 #1 Smile £1,860,452 (22.3% of top 10) and 17 September 2010 #1 The Other Guys £1,980,601 (32.4% of top 10).
The top 3 took £5,466,709 65.4% of the top 10; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 36.7% (£3,066,908); Magic Mike’s Last Dance 18.3% (£1,529,155); Titanic 25 Year Anniversary 10.5% (£870,646)
36.72% of the top 10 it’s the 465th highest percentage #1 between 30 September 2016 Bridget Jones’s Baby 36.8% and 15 October 2010 Despicable Me 36.5%
757th biggest admissions #1 (398,818) between 17 March 2006 The Pink Panther (399,298) and 07 September 2007 Run, Fat Boy, Run (398,069).
Down 38.9% 2022 (£13,675,065); Uncharted (£4,705,948); Death On The Nile (£1,898,357); Marry Me (£700,513); The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert (£79,987); #1 Uncharted £4,705,948 1st week 579 screens (34.4% of top 10)
2021; Lockdown
Down 43.1% from 2020 (£14,669,621); Dolittle (£5,085,520); Birds Of Prey (£2,833,297); Parasite (£1,397,387); The Personal History Of David Copperfield (£530,339); Underwater (£191,869); #1 Dolittle £5,085,520 1st week 600 screens (34.7% of top 10)
Down 37.8% from 2019; (£13,436,944); The LEGO Movie 2 (£4,016,730); Alita: Battle Angel (£3,198,180); All is True (£266,767); If Beale Street Could Talk (£252,462); Boy Erased (£118,585); #1 The LEGO Movie 2 £4,016,730 1st week 572 screens (29.9% of top 10)
Down 41.8% from 2018: (£14,358,030); Fifty Shades Freed (£6,132,414); Tad The Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas (£302,312); The Mercy (£301,138); The 15:17 to Paris (£290,577); Status Update (£137,886); #1 Fifty Shades Freed £6,132,414 1st week 592 screens (42.7% of top 10)
Down 63% from 2017: (£22,550,899); The LEGO Batman Movie (£7,906,468); Fifty Shades Darker (£7,557,485); The Space Between Us (£258,401); Fences (£102,688); 20th Century Women (£60,203); Prevenge (£30,118); Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (£14,692); #1 The LEGO Batman Movie £7,906,468 1st week 600 screens (35.1% of top 10)
Down 66.6% from 2016; (£25,026,922); Deadpool (£13,729,803); Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (£4,296,291); Zoolander 2 (£2,089,678); Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (£357,444); A Bigger Splash (£347,704); Concussion (£111,993); Oddball and the Penguins (£23,835); The Iron Giant: Signature Edition (£13,729); Jem and the Holograms (£8,869); #1 Deadpool £13,729,803 1st week 543 screens (54.8% of top 10)
Down 27.4% from 2015 (£11,507,851); Shaun The Sheep Movie (£2,095,061); Jupiter Ascending (£1,349,938); Selma (£792,365); The Interview (£283,811); #1 Big Hero 6 £2,540,116 2nd week 513 screens 41% drop (22.1% of top 10)
Up 29.6% from 2014: (£11,863,126); Mr. Peabody and Sherman (£3,916,559); RoboCop (£2,410,948); Dallas Buyers Club (£1,086,938); The Invisible Woman (£132,021); #1 Mr. Peabody and Sherman £3,916,559 1st week 507 screens (33.1% of top 10)
Down 34.4% from 2013 (£12,741,358); Wreck-It Ralph (£4,526,380); I Give It A Year (£1,450,023); Warm Bodies (£895,509); Hitchcock (£606,817); #1 Wreck-It Ralph £4,526,380 1st week 501 screens (35.5% of top 10)
Down 33.8% from 2012 (£12,616,654); The Woman in Black (£3,153,020); The Muppets (£2,650,664); Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace 3D (£1,528,156); The Vow (£1,091,469); A Dangerous Method (£186,775); Big Miracle (£149,796); #1 The Woman in Black £3,153,020 1st week 412 screens (25% of top 10)
Down 45.2% from 2011 (£15,233,283); Gnomeo and Juliet (£2,945,627); True Grit (£1,823,254); Yogi Bear (£1,820,405); Just Go With it (£1,628,265); Never Let Me Go (£625,496); #1 Gnomeo and Juliet £2,945,627 1st week 462 screens (19.3% of top 10)
Down 46.1% from 2010: (£15,488,281); Valentine’s Day (£3,732,393); The Wolfman (£2,367,849); Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (£1,502,663); My Name Is Khan (£936,454); A Single Man (£502,009); Pretty Woman: 20th Anniversary (£51,938); #1 Valentine’s Day £3,732,393 1st week 432 screens (24.1% of top 10)
Down 49.3% from 2009; (£16,464,180); Bolt (£5,457,438); Hotel for Dogs (£1,500,298); Friday the 13th (£1,198,653); Notorious (£1,119,587); Pink Panther 2 (£821,726); Under the Sea 3D (£21,357); #1 Bolt £5,457,438 1st week 496 screens (33.1% of top 10)
Down 16.4% from 2008; (£9,992,789); National Treasure 2 (£2,483,297); Juno (£2,002,120); The Water Horse (£760,340); Definitely, Maybe (£698,041); There Will Be Blood (£215,490); The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (£106,911); Arctic Tale (£7,619); #1 National Treasure 2 £2,483,297 1st week 491 screens (24.8% of top 10)
Down 15% from 2007: (£9,827,338); Music and Lyrics (£1,929,058); Charlotte’s Web (£1,892,120); Epic Movie (£1,368,657); Hannibal Rising (£1,044,033); Goal! 2 (£326,807); The Reef (£208,259); #1 Music and Lyrics £1,929,058 1st week 432 screens (19.6% of top 10)
Down 22.8% from 2006; (£10,821,573); Chicken Little (£3,173,867); Final Destination 3 (£2,219,978); Big Momma’s House 2 (£1,735,839); The Little Polar Bear 2 (£80,915); #1 Chicken Little £3,173,867 1st week 400 screens (29.3% of top 10)
Down 21.5% from 2005 (£10,644,664); The Magic Roundabout (£1,569,843); The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (£1,252,322); Son of the Mask (£725,524); The Sea Inside (£89,507); #1 Meet the Fockers £2,957,466 3rd week 456 screens 36 drops (27.8% of top 10)
Up 1.7% from 2004 (£8,214,642); School of Rock (£2,742,356); Something’s Gotta Give (£1,215,563); The Dreamers (£117,181); Charlie (£92,336); #1 School of Rock £2,742,356 1st week 376 screens (33.4% of top 10)
Down 25.5% from 2003 (£11,208,480); Two Weeks’ Notice (£2,636,050); Final Destination 2 (£1,675,057); The Wild Thornberrys (£1,430,610); Punch Drunk Love (£151,494); #1 Two Weeks’ Notice £2,636,050 1st week 414 screens (23.5% of top 10)
Down 45.9% from 2002 (£15,433,492); Monsters, Inc. (£9,200,257); From Hell (£891,862); Just Visiting (£121,414); #1 Monsters, Inc. £9,200,257 1st week 503 screens (21.6% of top 10)
Next weekend 2022 (£11,663,829); Dog (£822,123); #1 Uncharted £3,775,360 2nd week (32.4% of top 10)
US Box Office
- Magic Mike’s Last Dance – Warner Bros
Opened with $8.3m; received mixed reviews (46% Rotten Tomatoes)
It opened similar to House Party $8.8m which was also set for HBO Max release but given a theatrical release after positive test screenings. The film opened on far fewer screens than the first two films and Warner didn’t report BO until Sunday.
2012’s Magic Mike opened $39.12m taking $113.78m and $167.28m worldwide
2015’s Magic Mike XXL opened $12.85m taking $66.01m and $117.81m worldwide
Magic Mike’s Last Dance was originally meant to be released on HBO Max
Channing Tatum has had several films opening in February including 2012’s The Vow $41.2m; 2010’s Dear John $30m and 2022’s Dog $14.9m.
Weekend BO was $51m down from $84m in 2020 and $75m in 2019.
Opened with $10.4m from 41 territories and $18.6m worldwide.
- Titanic – Paramount Pictures
Opened $6.71m
Re-release of the 1997 Oscar-winning James Cameron film, released in 4K 3D; it was previously re-released in 3D in April 2012 opening with $17.28m taking $57.88m after taking $600.78m on its original release in 1997/98 after opening with $28.63m it was #1 for 15 consecutive weeks from mid-December to the end of March; took $1.24bn internationally (67.4%) and $1.843bn worldwide.
Paramount Pictures acquired US rights for Titanic for $60m in May 1997 after the studio became nervous due to production delays and budget increases of $285m by May 1997 which was more than $100m more than 1995’s Waterworld. The delays meant that the Titanic release date was moved from July 2nd to December 1997; Titanic’s original budget was $110m.
Opened with $15.9m from 51 territories.
- Knock at the Cabin -Universal Pictures
Down 62% in 2nd weekend taking $5.42m and $23.37m
2021’s Old dropped 59.3% $6.86m and $30.71m of $48.27m and $90.14m worldwide
2019’s Glass dropped 53.2% $18.88m taking $73.42m of $111.04m and $246.99m worldwide.
2017’s Split dropped 35.9% $25.65m and $77.38m of $138.29m and $278.45m worldwide
M. Night Shyamalan’s biggest film 1999’s The Sixth Sense dropped 3.4% $25.76m and $69.66m of $293.5m and $672.8m worldwide would be $1.3bn inflation inflated.
2000s Unbreakable dropped 52.4% $14.44m and $66.34m of $95.01m and $248.11m worldwide
2002’s Signs dropped 51% $29.45m taking $117.71m of $227.96m
2004’s The Village dropped 67.5% $16.46m and $85.61m of $114.19m
Old took $41.87m internationally in July 2021
Took $3.9m from 65 territories $13.3m total and $36.82m worldwide.
- 80 For Brady – Paramount Pictures
Down 54% in the second weekend $5.8m and $24.76m
Played well to the older female audience as 2018’s Book Club dropped 25.8% $10.7m and $32.27m of $68.56m and $104.43m worldwide (sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter opens in May) and 2017’s Going in Style dropped 47.3% $6.28m and $23.31m of $45.01m.
80 For Brady prices were cheaper as part of a discount ticketing plan by Paramount and exhibitors which will run for its run, average price according to EntTelligence $9.79 compared to $12.30 for Knock at the Cabin.
Surprisingly Paramount is giving the film a UK release on March 24th as there is no audience for the film internationally and should be released straight to Paramount+.
- Avatar: The Way of Water – Disney
Down 36% in its 9th weekend taking $7.21m and $647.25m
20th biggest 9th weekend between Star Wars: Episode: Return of the Jedi ($7.23m) and Hidden Figures ($7.21m).
As the average ticket price for a 3D/PLF is $18.28 compared to $12.53 for 2D according to EntTelligence research Avatar 2 5th weekend can’t be compared with any other film as only Avatar took a similar percentage of BO from IMAX/3D/PLF but 13 years later ticket prices are far more now than they were in 2010, an inflation inflated BO for Avatar would $4bn+ worldwide.
The 10th biggest film between Jurassic World and The Avengers; the 24th biggest inflated between Shrek 2 and Spider-Man; the 4th biggest sci-fi between Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
In 2010 Avatar increased 3.3% in the 9th weekend $23.61m #4 and $661.21m 88.2% of $749.76m; #1 Valentine’s Day $56.26m; #2 The Wolfman $31.47m; Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief #3 $31.23.
Took $18.9m (35% drop) from 52 territories $1.566bn total and $2.213bn worldwide; China $242.6m; France $144.9m; Germany $135m; Korea $106.9m; UK $89.7m.
While Avatar 2 has taken similar to Avatar in China, France, Germany and Korea it has taken about a third less in the UK, could the shortfall be due to 3D BO not being as strong for Avatar 2 Vs Avatar or similar to many films that have opened over the last 18 months they have taken about a third less in the UK than they would have expected pre-release.
Europe (72% 3D/PLF); Asia-Pacific (75% 3D/PLF); Latin America (54% 3D/PLF).
IMAX has taken $252.2m; $164.6m internationally and $52.2m from China.
2009’s Avatar took $100m+ from IMAX worldwide from 262 screens (179 US and 83 international), The Dark Knight from 109 screens and then Gravity from 330 screens. Avatar 2 opened on 1,543 IMAX screens worldwide with an average price of $20.
Avatar took $59m (22.5% drop) in its 9th weekend internationally from 52 territories $1.69bn total ($153m from IMAX worldwide and $651.21m US) and $2.35bn 85.8% of $2.743bn
Spider-Man No Way Home took $11m (down 29.5%) internationally in its 9th weekend ($108m from IMAX worldwide) from 63 territories in its sixth weekend $1.045bn total and $1.8bn worldwide 94.2% of $1.91bn total.
4th biggest worldwide between Titanic and Star Wars: The Force Awakens; 2nd biggest sci-fi worldwide between Avatar and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Much was made about Avatar 2 overtaking Titanic to become the third biggest film worldwide but impossible to compare the two films as Titanic has released 25 years ago with tickets about half the price they are now, while Titanic did it without IMAX, PLF and 3D (until the 2012 3D release) Titanic’s inflated BO would be $5bn+ now.
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Universal Pictures
Down 29% in the eighth weekend $5.57m and $158.57m
The 69th biggest 8th weekend between My Dog Skip and Night at the Museum (close to Frozen II, Toy Story, The Polar Express and Big Hero 6).
73rd biggest animated film between The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Over the Hedge; 364th biggest film between Star Trek Beyond and Th Firm; 748th biggest inflated between The Goonies and Hairspray; 50th biggest Universal Pictures film between The Secret Life of Pets 2 and The Mummy (1999).
2011’s Puss In Boots dropped 71.4% in the 8th weekend $465,209 and $142.77m taking $149.26m and $554.98m worldwide. The five Shrek extended universe films took $1.48bn in the US and $3.65bn worldwide and the 41 Dreamworks Animation films have taken $6.03bn in the US and $16.24bn worldwide since 1998’s Antz.
2001’s Shrek dropped 22.1% $6m and $240.56m of $268.16m and $488.35m WW
2004’s Shrek 2 dropped 23.8% $4.45m and $418.51m of $441.22m and $928.76m WW
2007’s Shrek the Third dropped 42.5% $1.53m and $316.74m of $322.71m and $813.36m WW
2010’s Shrek Forever After dropped 43.6% $502,392 and $233.78m of $238.73m and $752.6m WW
Took $12.1m (down 33%) from 80 territories and $235.24m total and $393.7m worldwide; Mexico $23.6m; France $20.1m; Germany $16.1m; Brazil $14.8m; Australia $14m.
70th biggest animated worldwide between Sing 2 and Beauty and the Beast (1991); 339th biggest worldwide between Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! and Solo: A Star Wars Story; 42nd biggest Universal Pictures between Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! and 1917.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is likely to open bigger than the previous two Ant-Man films that have been the lowest performing MCU films; 2015’s Ant-Man opened £4,011,345 taking £16,309,117 and 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp £4,988,747 (including £1,230,000 previews) taking £17,599,289.
As it’s the first film from Phase 5 introducing Kang the Conqueror who will be the supervillain in Phase 5 leading into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2025, before Avengers: Secret Wars starts Phase 6 in 2026.
The footage was first screened at Comic-Con in July 2022, with further footage shown during D23 in September, the first teaser trailer was released in October and attached to Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The tone was darker than the previous two Ant-Man films which felt more like family adventure films made in the 80s and 90s.
Ant-Man 3 opens in many international territories on Wednesday, as this week is half-term and Puss in Boots 2 was the only film aimed at under 16s on release was surprising didn’t open on Wednesday in the UK. 20 MCU films have had previews recently including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse and Thor: Love and Thunder but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Previews for Ant-Man would have added £3m-£4m to its opening.
The 30 MCUs have taken £1bn at the UK BO since 2008 (£1.2bn inflated) but after steady growth solo films have plateaued since Captain America: Civil War in 2018; Disney’s first 8 MCU films’ average opening was £10.9m and the average of the last 8 MCU films (not including Avengers films) average was £11.4m.
As the MCU films follow on from the previous film would expect Ant-Man 3 to open similarly to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Thor: Love and Thunder and the films to take similar BO (both took £35m) but that would see Ant-Man 3 taking more than double Ant-Man and the Wasp. This would make MCU fans claim the film series is still building its audience but it’s more due to Ant-Man becoming a central character of the Avengers over the last two films, rather than just comic relief.
The immediate premiere reaction was predictably very positive as it is always for MCU films as the audience has been hyped up to see it, so always have to take them with a pinch of salt. The embargo ended on Tuesday hours before the first international screenings on Wednesday receiving the worst reviews of Disney MCU, while currently, Rotten Tomatoes’ score of 54% is higher than Eternals it will likely drop further over the weeks to come.
The first two Ant-Man films were palette cleansers to the other MCU films as they included far more humour, fun and heart than the others. The ending of Ant-Man and the Wasp teased the change of the character as he became a key Avenger in future films.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will have a strong third weekend despite the arrival of Ant-Man 3 as it plays to a younger demographic and will likely see a minimal drop taking £3m. Seeing a small bump will be Epic Tails.
The other holdovers will likely drop heavily including Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Titanic (Re: 2023), Avatar: The Way Of Water and Knock at the Cabin all dropping 50%.
Opening in two weeks
- Creed III – Warner Bros
Sports drama sequel to 2018’s Creed II and the 9th instalment of the Rocky film series starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad and directed by Michael B. Jordan. It’s the first film in the series not to star Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.
2018’s Creed II opened £2,991,509 #2 527 screens taking £5,684,690
2016’s Creed opened £2,221,758 #3 482 screens taking £9,672,937
2007’s Rocky Balboa opened £3,639,339 taking £8,503,135
1986’s Rocky IV opened £1,780,894 #1 (£7,950,068 inflated) 231 screens taking £4,030,109 (£17,990,763 inflated)
In 1986 had the biggest ever UK opening at the time Sylvester Stallone films had the biggest openings in the UK.
1991’s Rocky V opened £1,252,100 (£3,338,933 inflated) 289 screens taking £3,482,057 (£9,285,485 inflated)
cigarette burns and missed changeovers 