- Puss In Boots: The Last Wish – £4,950,495 – NE
98th widest cinema release 626 cinemas in 1,500+ screens; (similar to Sing 2, Onward, The Secret Life of Pets 2 and The Bad Guys; 151st 600+ cinema opening since 2015’s Jurassic World
290th biggest opening between Pokemon Detective Pikachu and Batman and Robin (close to Scooby-Doo, Dolittle, Jurassic Park and The Sixth Sense) and 457th biggest inflated between Scream 2 and Gone Girl (close to The Mask, The Nutty Professor, Superman III and Ghostbusters 2).
50th biggest animated opening between The Grinch and How to Train Your Dragon (close to The Croods, Tangled, Ratatouille and A Bug’s Life) and 70th biggest inflated between Despicable Me and Turbo (close to Kung Fu Panda 3, Flushed Away, Mr Peabody and Sherman and Horton Hears a Who).
17th biggest Dreamworks Animation opening between How to Train Your Dragon 3 and How to Train Your Dragon (close to Trolls, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Monsters vs. Aliens
Took almost 50% of the top 20 BO on Saturday
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, It was surprisingly it didn’t have previews last weekend as 2017’s Sing had but not 2022’s Sing 2, why Sing opened £10,487,380 (including £4,201,298 previews) taking £28.84m and Sing 2 opened £6,867,533 taking £32.8m. But Sing faced more direct competition from The LEGO Batman Movie (opened £7,906,468 taking £26,771,191) while Sing 2 had Uncharted which played slightly older.
Children’s films have been the one genre that performed strongly ever since cinemas reopened in July 2020, but over the last year, there has been a lack of them why Minions The Rise of Gru and DC League of Super-Pets had very long legs. The only animated disappointments have been Lightyear and Strange World.
Puss in Boots opened in December 2011 with £1,975,758 taking £14,270,527 despite Arthur Christmas taking £21,369,929; Happy Feet 2 £5,325,893 and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked £26,308,621. It opened only a year after Shrek Forever After opening £8,955,554 (including £3,040,454 previews) taking £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 opened £16,671,727 (including £6,340,000 previews) taking £38,079,462 (£60,927,139 inflated)
2004’s Shrek 2 opened £16,220,752 (including £5,604,874 previews) taking £48,104,138 (£86,566,021 inflated)
2001’s Shrek opened £3,179,558 taking £29,004,582 (£56,607,976 inflated)
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish received positive reviews (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) with many calling it superior to the original and was nominated for Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes. The film opened in the US 5 days after Avatar: The Way of Water with $12.42m and held very strongly ever since taking $112m and taking $253.1m worldwide.
With half-term next week the film will hold strong over the next two weeks and then likely play well until April when The Super Mario Bros. Movie opens likely to take £25m+.
The 40+ Dreamwork Animation films have taken almost £700m since 1998 and £900m+ inflation inflated.
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 Avatar: The Way of Water – £1,285,652 – £72,957,701
Down 39% in its eighth weekend
After speedily outgrossing week on week with Avatar it has slowed down over the last few weeks and is now taken £1,021,309 more (£72,957,701 Vs £71,936,392) as expected Avatar 2 wouldn’t have the legs of the original film despite having far less competition and much higher ticket prices. Having lost #1 this weekend to Puss In Boots 2 it will drop another two places this weekend and then another next weekend when Ant-Man 3 opens and only stay in the top 5 till March due to a lack of further major releases.
10th biggest 8th weekend between Mamma Mia! (£1,431,775) and The Kings Speech (£1,207,963) (close to The Full Monty, Slumdog Millionaire, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring and Spider-Man: No Way Home) took £3,053,122 less than Avatar (£4,338,774) and the 27th biggest inflated 8th weekend between Frozen and LOTR: Return of the King close to Gladiator, Top Gun, Independence Day and The Mask) Avatar is the biggest inflated £6,133,304.
14th biggest film in the UK (16th to take £60m+ since Titanic in 1998) between Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Beauty and the Beast (close to The Lion King, Toy Story 3, Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: Rogue One) and 54th biggest inflated between Live and Let Die and Monsters, Inc. (close to The Dark Knight, Moonraker, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Men In Black).
Last 6-week BO split weekend to weekday
£20.60m 1st week taking £11.18m 55.8% Fri-Sun and 44.2% (£8.87m) Mon-Thurs
£17.43m 2nd week £4.97m 28.5% Fri-Sun and 71.5% (£12.46m) Mon-Thurs
£14.09m 3rd week with 54.2% (£7.64m) Fri-Sun and 45.8% (£6.44m) Mon-Thurs taking 43.4% (£2.8m) from Bank Holiday Monday and £3.64m Tues-Thurs.
£8.14m 4th week 72.1% (£5.86m) Fri-Sun (41.1% Sat/Sun £3.34m) and 27.9% (£2.27m) Mon-Thurs
£5.49m 5th week 76% (£4.17m) Fri-Sun (41.2% Sat/Sun £2.3m) and 24% (£1.32m) Mon-Thurs
£3.71m 6th week 75.2% (£2.78m) Fri-Sun and 24.8% (£0.92m) Mon-Thurs
£2.9m 7th week 73% (£2.11m) Fri-Sun (62% Sat/Sun) and 27% (£0.79m Mon-Thurs)
£1.9m 8th week 75% (£1.28m) Fri-Sun and 25% (£0.62m Mon-Thurs)
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.
It would be interesting to see how Avatar 2 compares to Avatar in 2D, 3D, IMAX and PLF. IMAX for Avatar 2 should be much more than Avatar as it was showing in 52 cinemas compared to 9 for Avatar 13 years ago. 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 only 11% in its 8th weekend taking £4,338,774 (417 screens £10,405 average) and £71,936,392; The Princess And The Frog £2,219,769 #2; Astro Boy £1,091,872 #3; Invictus £1,068,388 #4
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. As with Avatar (Alice in Wonderland opened at its 12th weekend and lost IMAX/PLF and 3D screens) with Knock in the Cabin opening next week along with Puss in Boots 2 in the UK) will drop much heavier over the next few weeks.
- 3 Knock at the Cabin – £985,027 – NE
220th widest cinema opening 572 cinemas (675 screens); 521st 500+ cinema opening since 2002’s Monsters, Inc.
1,598th biggest opening between A Street Cat Named Bob and Congo (close to The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Crocodile Dundee, Sea of Love and Die Hard 2 Die Harder) and 2,051st biggest inflated between Ritchie Rich and Saving Mr Banks (close to Teen Wolf Too (£285,996), Thelma & Louise (£374,093), The Living Daylights (£252,940) and To Die For (£390,761).
132nd biggest horror opening between Underworld 3 and The Possession (close to The Visit, Don’t Breathe, The Menu and Old) and 164th biggest inflated horror opening between Halloween: Resurrection and The Menu (close to The Grudge 2, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Frighteners and Candyman (1993).
Knock at the Cabin is the latest horror from M. Night Shyamalan early social media reaction said it was a return to form for the director, showing it’s another example of how immediate reactions are vastly different to reviews after the embargo ends received poor reviews and poor audience reaction will see it drop heavily next week.
Most recently directed 2021’s Old opened #4 £866,860 taking £3,181,707.
M. Night Shyamalan signed a two-picture deal in 2019 Old was the first film released in July 2021
The script was on the 2019 Black List. The film was adapted from the novel The Cabin at the End of the World but the ending is very different to the film.
After directing Old in 2021 it was rumoured M. Night Shyamalan’s next film was going to be Labor of Love a film, he had originally planned to make in 1994 with Harrison Ford and then Bruce Willis after selling the script to Fox in 1993 but has been in development hell ever since.
Other M. Night Shyamalan openings
2021’s Old opened #4 £866,860 taking £3,181,707
Glass opened in January 2019 with £3,423,380 35.5% of £9,646,964.
Split opened January 2017 with £2,548,516 23.1% of £11,018,069
The Visit opened in September 2015 with £1,031,292 36.7% of £2,805,591.
2013’s After Earth opened £2,249,532 36.6% of £6,137,273
2010’s The Last Airbender opened £1,653,776 #3 39.1% of £4,225,793
2008’s The Happening £1,632,055 (£2,350,787 inflation inflated) 41.9% of £3,895,001 (£5,610,300 inflation inflated)
2006’s Lady in the Water opened £452,744 #9 (£671,214 inflation inflated) in the top 10 for only one week
2004’s The Village £2,945,763 (£4,913,979 inflation inflated) 29.5% of £9,980,280 (£16,648,619 inflation inflated)
2002’s Signs £3,767,713 (£6,578,128 inflation inflated) 23.4% of £16,084,656 (£28,082,535 inflation inflated)
2000’s £2,004,890 (£3,412,870 inflation inflated) 17.8% of £11,222,712 (inflation inflated £19,563,228)
1999’s The Sixth Sense £4,792,296 (£8,730,858 inflation inflated) 18.6% of £25,407,279 (£46,288,321 inflation inflated).
Down 64% in the second weekend (51% not including previews)
Impossible to make comparisons with any other Bollywood film as Pathaan had the biggest opening day for Bollywood films and opening weekend by Thursday became the highest-grossing Bollywood film in the UK.
It’s interesting whilst BO for foreign language films has dropped off over the last decade except for films like Parasite in 2020, Bollywood has grown over the last decade with Indian films taking £7m last year at the UK BO.
These films normally open in less than 150 screens a quarter of the size of the openings of films released by studios showing that films don’t need open as wide as they do, last week Pathaan opened in 223 screens less than a third of the screens The Fablemens opened and a third of the screens of Avatar 2 was playing showing films don’t need to open as wide as they do, distributors used to carefully select locations when films were released by prints but since digital they open far too wide which has an impact on the legs the films have.
- 5. The Whale £690,026 – NE
Includes £75,976 from previews
Opened similar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (£715,609), Rain-Man (£714,221); Pulp Fiction (£705,197); Misery (£685,121), and The Godfather Part III (£664,337) and more recently with Jackie, Living and Amsterdam
Had a similar opening as A24’s other Oscar contender Everything Everywhere All At Once opening with £681,351 from only 150 screens (and also 2016’s Moonlight £621,836 from 175 screens) while The Whale opened In 385. While Everything Everywhere expanded over the following weeks it’s unlikely The Whale will expand further and probably some of its screens will be replaced by the re-release of Everything Everywhere.
While The Whale might not have opened as wide as The Fabelmans, Babylon and Empire Of Light opening in 600+ screens, 400 screens would be the widest a film like this would play so opening immediately wide gives no chance to expand any further. That said with Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Titanic 25th Anniversary and Ant-Man 3 opening over the next two weeks it’s unlikely it would get the chance to expand any further.
This is of course the problem distributors have with these films that aren’t the film’s audiences will rush out to see over the opening weekend so they have to decide do they open as wide as possible (as Empire of Light 683 screens) or open more limited, but there were more screens available for Everything Everywhere expansion in May 2022 despite opening a week after Doctor Strange 2, the marketplace is much more crowded now giving these films little chance to find their audiences.
Over recent years Brendan Fraser’s Brenaissance has been on TV as The Whale is his first major film role since 2010’s Extraordinary Measures.
Impossible to compare its opening with other Brendan Fraser films including 1997’s George of the Jungle (opened £1.63m taking £7.6m), 1999’s The Mummy (opened £3.3m taking £8.7m) and 2000’s Bedazzled (opening £1.1m taking £3.3m).
Brendan Fraser is the favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Academy voters like actors who transform themselves into characters. The Academy also like actors who have had a journey from Encino Man (31 years ago) to The Whale.
Brendan Fraser will next star in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro likely be released at the end of the year, he also starred in Batgirl Warner Bros announced wouldn’t be released.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky previously directed 2017’s Mother! £831,676 taking £2,106,554; 2014’s Noah £2,511,397 taking £9,953,463; 2009’s The Wrestler £802,046 taking £1,592,098; 2011’s Black Swan £2.8m taking £16.5m; 1999’s Pi £56,008 #13 from 9 screens
Also opened
BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas – Trafalgar
Opened £535,336 #8
BTS Event Cinema had screenings in cinemas from Wednesday to Sunday taking £255,579 Weds/Thurs but wasn’t included in its weekend box office so the film charted #8 instead of #4. While the £75k taken by The Whale in previews was included likewise the £60k taken by the week-long opening of The Fabelmens in 6 London cinemas and £755,811 taken Mon-Thurs for Empire of Light were added to their openings.
These are technical “previews” but as with BTS: Yet To Come In Cinemas the date on the poster for Empire of Light said January 9th not 13th so if BO is only included for Fri-Sun for BTS should be for all films, but that’s the problem with extended openings they artificially inflate openings so makes it impossible to make direct comparisons with other films.
2022’s BTS Permission to Dance on Stage Live opened £899,126 (broadcast live at 8.45 am Saturday)
Burn the Stage: Movie #6 opened 17th November 2018 taking £644,308 from 212 screens
In 2019 Love Yourself In Seoul – BTS World Tour 2019 #10 £518,810 from 519 screens.
And in 2020 Break the Silence: The Movie #3 £374,060 from 363 screens (including £124,063 from previews);
UK box office in detail
This weekend’s top 10 box office took £10,968,696 up 16.4% from last weekend’s £9,422,654: 1,392,433 admissions up 15.9% from 1,201,300
487th biggest top 10 of the last 21 years (out of 1,088) between 12 April 2013 #1 Oblivion £4,959,386 (45.2% of top 10) and 15 August 2008 #1 The Dark Knight £2,302,866 (21% of top 10) and 804th biggest inflation inflated between 01 June 2018 #1 Solo: A Star Wars Story £3,147,338 (32.1% of top 10) and 23 April 2004 #1 Kill Bill – Volume 2 £2,768,832 (45.5% of top 10).
The top 3 took £7,221,174 65.8% of the top 10; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 45.1% (£4,950,495); Avatar: The Way of Water 11.7% (£1,285,652); Knock at the Cabin 9% (£985,027);
Taking 45.13% of the top 10 it’s the 309th highest percentage #1 between 15 March 2013 Oz: The Great and Powerful and 17 August 2007 The Bourne Ultimatum
477th biggest admissions #1 (644,596) between 23 December 2022 Avatar: The Way of Water £4,974,004 (646,815) and 11 March 2016 Kung Fu Panda 3 £4,771,131 (643,877).
Down 9.1% 2022 (£12,068,383): Jackass Forever (£2,091,017); Moonfall (£1,163,114); BELLE (£152,287); The Souvenir Part II (£93,044); Beauty And The Beast (1991) (Re: 2022) (£4,409); Jumanji (Re: 2022) (£4,001); #1 Sing 2 £5,149,645 2nd week 640 screens 25% drop (42.7% of top 10)
2021; Lockdown
Up 17.7% from 2020 (£9,319,783); Queen & Slim (£507,302); A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (£493,770); Porgy And Bess – Met Opera 2020 (£409,359); The Lighthouse (£384,284); The Rhythm Section (£171,837); Richard Jewell (£158,868); La Boheme – ROH, London 2019/20 (£58,051); #1 1917 £2,798,457 4th week 38% drop 721 screens (30.1% of the top 10)
Down 8.6% from 2019; (£11,997,508); How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (£5,323,448); Green Book (£1,672,562); Escape Room (£820,218); Can You Ever Forgive Me? (£518,230); Carmen – Met Opera 2019 (£293,456); #1 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World £5,323,448 1st week 556 screens (44.3% of top 10)
Down 14.4% from 2018: (£12,874,783); Den of Thieves (£1,082,560); Phantom Thread (£727,104); Winchester (£373,550); Journey’s End (£123,961); Roman J. Israel, Esq. (£22,193); #1 The Greatest Showman £2,201,523 6th week 1st #1 531 screens op 8% (17.1% of top 10)
Down 18.7% from 2017: (£13,491,421); Rings (£812,267); Resident Evil 6 (£463,691); Gold (£406,399); Loving (£236,147); Swan Lake – Bolshoi 2017 (£189,737); Toni Erdmann (£157,688); Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (£58,266); #1 Sing £3,800,408 2nd week 554 screens 64% drop (28.1% of top 10)
Down 6.4% from 2016: (£10,312,748); Goosebumps (£2,686,105); Dad’s Army (£2,077,942); Point Break (£421,818); Trumbo (£146,105); #1 Goosebumps £2,686,105 1st week 510 screens (26.1% of top 10)
Down 22.% from 2015; (£14,145,093); Big Hero 6 (£4,293,286); Kingsman: The Secret Service (£4,241,292); Inherent Vice (£363,133); Les Contes D’Hoffmann – Met Opera 2015 (£238,597); Trash (£79,178); Son of a Gun (£21,065); #1 Big Hero 6 £4,293,286 1st week 501 screens (30.3% of top 10)
Up 20.9% from 2014: (£9,072,053); That Awkward Moment (£961,167); I, Frankenstein (£811,365); Lone Survivor (£751,564); Out of the Furnace (£191,011); Lost Illusions – Bolshoi 2014 (£58,510); #1 The Wolf of Wall Street £2,385,585 3rd week 515 screens 34% drop (26.3% of top 10)
Up 5.1% from 2013 (£10,437,105); Flight (£1,401,214); Bullet To The Head (£429,317); Hyde Park On Hudson (£136,783); Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (£78,747); #1 Les Miserables £2,785,143 4th week 562 screens 31% drop (26.6% of top 10)
Up 27.4% from 2012 (£8,612,269); Chronicle (£2,193,072); Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island); Jack and Jill (£848,814); Man on a Ledge (£697,394); Carnage (£298,733); Young Adult (£137,736); Martha Marcy May Marlene (£110,156); #1 Chronicle £2,193,072 1st week 397 screens (25.4% of top 10)
Up 21.9% from 2011 (£14,039,027); The Fighter (£2,118,140); James Cameron presents Sanctum (£859,064); A Little Bit of Heaven (£443,156); Brighton Rock (£352,815); #1 Tangled £4,569,135 2nd week 448 screens 11% drop (32.5% of top 10)
Down 14.2% from 2010: (£12,786,495); The Princess And The Frog (expansion) (£2,219,769); Astro Boy (£1,091,872); Invictus (£1,068,388); Youth In Revolt (£743,932); #1 Avatar £4,338,774 7th week over 8 weeks 417 screens 11% drop (34% of top 10)
Up 31.6% from 2009; (£8,335,147); The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (£2,213,495); He’s Just Not That Into You (£1,913,542); The Secret of Moonacre (£308,099); Doubt (£253,097); Vicky Cristina Barcelona (£243,684); Punisher: War Zone (£94,365); #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button £2,213,495 1st week 425 screens (26.5% of top 10)
Up 13.7% from 2008; (£9,648,055); Cloverfield (£3,485,956); Over Her Dead Body (£995,690); Penelope (£769,840); Underdog (£330,914); Things We Lost in the Fire (£42,438); Asterix at the Olympic Games (£9,969); #1 Cloverfield £3,485,956 1st week 386 screens (36.1% of top 10)
Up 44.2% from 2007: (£7,607,816); Dreamgirls (£1,329,817); Arthur and the Invisibles (£1,185,603); Notes on a Scandal (£1,141,364); #1 Dreamgirls £1,329,817 1st week 270 screens (17.5% of top 10)
Up 55.3% from 2006; (£7,062,485); Zathura (£1,317,391); Walk the Line (£1,111,142); Derailed (£693,669); #1 Zathura £1,317,391 1st week 400 screens (18.6% of top 10)
Down 4.7% from 2005 (£11,511,558); Ocean’s Twelve (£3,394,100); Racing Stripes (£1,145,965); #1 Meet the Fockers £4,588,360 2nd week 456 screens 42% drop (39.9% of top 10)
Up 32.1% from 2004 (£8,304,070); Big Fish (£1,644,011); Cold Creek Manor (£136,556); Sylvia (£123,981); The Emperor’s New Clothes (£5,656); #1 Scary Movie 3 £1,894,077 2nd week 417 screens 46% drop (22.8% of top 10)
Up 7.4% from 2003 (£10,207,853); Catch Me If You Can (£3,720,957); Banger Sisters (£201,731); #1 Catch Me If You Can £3,720,957 1st week 459 screens (36.4% of top 10)
Up 36.1 % from 2002 (£8,058,230); Shallow Hal (£1,277,183); Gosford Park (£837,169); Training Day (£739,718); #1 Vanilla Sky £1,743,556 2nd week 427 screens 41% drop (21.6% of top 10)
Next weekend 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)
US Box Office
- Knock at the Cabin -Universal Pictures
Opened with $14.12m; received mixed reviews (68% Rotten Tomatoes) and C CinemaScore
2021’s Old opened $16.85m; received mixed reviews (56% Rotten Tomatoes) and C+ CinemaScore taking $1.5m from Thursday previews similar to 2021’s Old, Escape Room 2 ($1.2m) The Forever Purge ($1.33m) while M. Night Shyamalan’s 2015’s The Visit took $1m, 2016’s Split $2m and 2019’s Glass $3.7m.
Split received B CinemaScore (Unbreakable, The Last Airbender and The Village all received C’s, The Happening received a D and The Sixth Sense an A-)
2019’s Glass opened with $42.8m taking $111.04m in the US and $246.99m worldwide.
M. Night Shyamalan’s biggest opening in the US was 2002’s Signs $60.11m taking $227.96m and 2004’s The Village with $50.74m taking $114.19m; but of course, ticket inflation since Signs was released is over 60% so inflation inflated opening would be closer to $100m and a total of $370m.
Knock at the Cabin was M. Night Shyamalan eighth film to open #1 but had a budget of $20m.
M. Night Shyamalan’s biggest film to date The Sixth Sense opened with $26.68m in August 1999 taking $293.5m and $672.8m worldwide would be $1.3bn inflation inflated.
2000’s Unbreakable opened with $30.33m taking $95.01m and 2017’s Split opened with $40.01m taking $138.29m and $250.11m worldwide
2017’s Split opened with $40.01m taking $138.29m and $278.45m worldwide
Old opened with $6.5m from 23 territories and $23m worldwide in July 2021
Opened with $7m from 60 territories and $21.2m worldwide
- 80 For Brady – Paramount Pictures
Opened with $12.7m; received mixed reviews (64% Rotten Tomatoes) and A- CinemaScore
Took $750k from Thursday previews (taking $1.27m including other previews) more than A Man Called Otto
Played well to the older female audience as 2018’s Book Club opened with $13.58m and $68.56m and $104.43m worldwide the sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter opens in May.
While Knock at the Cabin might have opened ahead of 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, having 1.3m admissions compared to 1.1m for Knock at the Cabin
80 For Brady will hold well over Superbowl weekend, while Knock at the Cabin will likely have a much bigger drop.
- Avatar: The Way of Water – Disney
Down 29% in its eighth weekend taking $11.33m and $636.95m
5th biggest 8th weekend between Top Gun: Maverick #2 ($12.3m) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ($10.42m)
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 of those films 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 25th biggest inflated between Spider-Man and Independence Day; the 4th biggest sci-fi between Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Avatar 2 dropped 32% in comparison with Avatar dropped 10.5% in the seventh weekend taking $31.28m; The Force Awakens 21% $11.11m; Rogue One 26.8% $5.27m; The Last Jedi 35.1% $4.25m; The Rise of Skywalker 42.3% $3.21m; but can’t make a direct comparison with any of these films apart from Avatar due to 3D.
Avatar 2 should be looking at $3bn+ 13 years on from Avatar with ticket prices up to 100% more than they were in 2009.
After 7 weeks #1 in 2010 Avatar dropped 26.9% taking $22.85m #2 and $629.34m 84% of $749.76m Dear John toppled Avatar after 7 weeks #1 opening $30.46m and From Paris with Love #3 $8.15m.
It took 45 days for Avatar to overtake Titanic to become the biggest film globally $2.039bn and went on to take $749.76m in the US (held #1 for 7 weeks; Titanic was #1 for 15 weeks), $1.99bn internationally and $2.743bn worldwide. It remained the biggest film globally until Avengers Endgame overtook it after 91 days of release. Avatar retained #1 global status after it was re-released in China in March 2021. (Avatar took $262m in China).
Took $27.9m (36% drop) from 52 territories $1.538bn total and $2.174bn worldwide; China $240.6m; France $141.5m; Germany $130.7m; Korea $105.5m; UK $88.2m.
Europe $667m (72% 3D/PLF); Asia-Pacific $598m (75% 3D/PLF); Latin America $161m (54% 3D/PLF).
IMAX has taken $247m (11.4% from 1,453 screens)
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 $76m (20% drop) in its 8th weekend internationally from 52 territories $1.58bn total ($153m from IMAX worldwide and $629.34m US) and $2.21bn 80.5% of $2.743bn
Spider-Man No Way Home took $15.6m (down 26%) internationally in its 8th weekend ($108m from IMAX worldwide) from 63 territories in its sixth weekend $1.027bn total and $1.77bn worldwide 93% of $1.91bn total.
4th biggest worldwide between Titanic and Star Wars Ep. VII: 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 $4bn+ now.
- M3gan – Universal Pictures
Dropped 39% in the fifth weekend taking $3.84m and $87.63m
The 873rd biggest 5th weekend between Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and The Secret of My Success (close to The Last Boy Scout, I, Robot, Blue Streak and Inglourious Basterds).
915th biggest between Entrapment and Pineapple Express; 1,634th biggest inflated between The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Amistad; 35th biggest horror between Scream 3 and Saw II; 130th biggest Universal Pictures between Back to the Future Part III and Sisters.
Took $7.8m from 75 territories $71.1m total and $158.67m worldwide; Mexico $7.7m; UK $5.7m; France $3.5m; Spain $2.9m; Australia $2.86m.
1,158th biggest worldwide between The Monuments Men and Sin City; 52nd biggest horror worldwide between Don’t Breathe and Escape Room; 152nd biggest Universal Pictures worldwide between Daylight and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Universal Pictures
Down 28% in the seventh weekend $7.87m and $151.22m
The 55th biggest 7th weekend between Black Hawk Down and Look Who’s Talking (close to Zootopia, Three Men and a Baby, Shrek and The Greatest Showman).
78th biggest animated film between Cars 3 and Puss in Boots ($149.26m); 389th biggest film between Gremlins and La La Land; 804th biggest inflated between Cats & Dogs and Elvis; 53rd biggest Universal Pictures film between Fast & Furious and Neighbors.
2011’s Puss In Boots dropped 46.5% in the 7th weekend $1.62m and $139.51m 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 25.9% by $7.7m and $228.14m of $268.16m and $488.35m WW
2004’s Shrek 2 dropped 42.9% by $5.83m and $408.13m of $441.22m and $928.76m WW
2007’s Shrek the Third dropped 52.7% by $2.67m and $313.73m of $322.71m and $813.36m WW
2010’s Shrek Forever After dropped 71.3% by $890,166 and $232.27m of $238.73m and $752.6m WW
Took $17.1m from 80 territories and $217.3m total and $368.6m worldwide; Mexico $21.6m; France $19.6m; Germany $15.1m; Australia $13.6m; Brazil $13.3m.
88th biggest animated worldwide between Trolls and The Good Dinosaur; 449th biggest worldwide between Apollo 13 and Star Trek Beyond; 54th biggest Universal Pictures between Apollo 13 and The Great Wall.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
After opening with £4.9m Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will have a strong second weekend leading into half-term down 25%-30% taking £3.5m-£4m.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is the second sequel to 2012’s Magic Mike opened £2,651,015 (including £1,004,114 previews) taking £8,111,970 and the sequel to 2015’s Magic Mike XXL £1,575,092 taking £6,697,739. Should open with £1m+ with Titanic 25th Anniversary opening third with just under £1m.
Titanic was last re-released in 3D in April 2012 (occidentally the same year as the first Magic Mike) 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.
With Avatar: The Way Of Water losing more IMAX/PLF and 3D screens will drop 40%-50% taking £0.6m-£0.8m #4 in its 9th weekend with Knock at the Cabin dropping 40%+ (similar to 2021’s Old) taking £500k with The Whale dropping 30% taking £450k.
Epic Tails will open similar to 2017’s The Jungle Bunch £374,982 #6 from 507 screens taking £1,201,913.
Despite receiving strong media coverage and critical acclaim Women Talking will struggle to find an audience.
Opening in two weeks
Three films opening the question is will they find a wide audience?
- Missing – Sony Pictures
Sequel to 2018’s thriller Searching starring Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney and Nia Long and directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson
Received positive reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes) opening with $9.15m
2018’s Searching opened £765,050 #5 from 401 screens taking £2,023,281
- Cocaine Bear – Universal Pictures
Black comedy thriller inspired by the true story of the Cocaine Bear starring Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery-Jennings, Alden Ehrenreich, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Brooklynn Prince and Ray Liotta (one of his final roles before his death) and directed by Elizabeth Banks.
Had one of the best trailers in recent years, the question is will it attract audiences?
- What’s Love Got To Do With It? – Studiocanal
Romantic comedy-drama starring Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Emma Thompson, Sajal Aly, Oliver Chris, Asim Chaudhry, Alice Orr-Ewing, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Had a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival receiving positive reviews with a Richard Curtis plot, was originally set for the end of January release timed for Valentine’s but was likely delayed due to Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Titanic 25th Anniversary.
Of course, Bollywood meets British rom-com you immediately look to films like 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham opened £2,001,795 from 384 screens (£3,906,885 inflated) taking £10,914,247 (£21,301,236 inflated); 2004’s Bride and Prejudice £1,667,616 from 376 screens (£3,000,966 inflated) taking £4,993,561 (£8,986,185 inflated) and 1999’s East Is East £435,009 from 79 screens (£834,887 inflated) taking £10,373,945 24x opening (£19,910,089 inflated).
The film is made by Working Title, Studiocanal UK has released several Working Title films including King of Thieves, The Program, Legend, Rush, I Give It A Year and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Radioactive was due to have a cinema release in March 2020 but was released instead on Amazon after cinemas closed due to COVID.
cigarette burns and missed changeovers 