By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer
M. Night Shyamalan's "Old" easily won a slower weekend at the North American box office, while the G.I. Joe pic "Snake Eyes" lived up to its name.
Although both fresh offerings from major studios, moviegoers turned out in modest numbers on a weekend where there was the notable distraction of the Olympics as well as rising concerns about the delta variant.
Universal on Sunday said that "Old" grossed an estimated $16.5 million. Paramount's "Snake Eyes" origin story brought in an estimated $13.4 million in ticket sales.
While not wildly far apart in grosses, "Snake Eyes," starring Henry Golding as the warrior-in-training, cost significantly more with a reported $88 million price tag, excluding advertising.
Meanwhile "Old," starring Gael GarcĂa Bernal and Vicky Krieps as the heads of a family whose tropical vacation turns into a horror when they begin to rapidly age, was independently financed for around $18 million. Including international grosses, "Old," which is based on the graphic novel "Sandcastle," grossed $23 million worldwide in its first weekend.
"It's an extraordinary debut," said Jim Orr, Universal's head of distribution. "M. Night Shyamalan is an amazing filmmaker and one of the best in the industry."
Orr said he also expects "Old" will continue to play well in the coming weeks.
Neither audiences nor critics reviewed the two new films especially well. "Old" has a 52% on Rotten Tomatoes and got a C+ CinemaScore, while "Snake Eyes" is currently at 42% on Rotten Tomatoes with a B- CinemaScore, which historically does not bode well for long-term potential.
Disney and Marvel's "Black Widow" crept ahead to third place with $11.6 million, bringing its global total to $314.9 million, while last week's No. 1 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" grossed $9.6 million, down 69% from last weekend. Both are available to watch at home too: "Space Jam" is streaming on HBO Max, while Disney+ subscribers can rent "Black Widow" for $30.
"This is part of the natural ebb and flow of the box office as we are still on the road to recovery. " said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. "You're going to have bigger weekends, and you're going to have smaller weekends. It's still an unusual marketplace."
The entire North American box office weekend generated around $68 million in revenue, according to Comscore. It's a far cry from just three weeks ago when "Black Widow" alone made $80 million.
But, Dergarabedian said, it's also worth noting where the box office was a year ago when drive-ins were the only option and the weekend grosses totaled just $746,000.
"How much the industry has recovered over the course of one year is nothing short of astounding," Dergarabedian said. "We're in a really good spot and next weekend, when 'Jungle Cruise' opens, should be a solid weekend as well."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Old," $16.5 million.
2. "Snake Eyes," $13.4 million.
3. "Black Widow," $11.6 million.
4. "Space Jam: A New Legacy," $9.6 million.
5. "F9," $4.7 million.
6. "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions," $3.4 million.
7. "The Boss Baby: Family Business," $2.7 million.
8. "The Forever Purge," $2.3 million.
9. "A Quiet Place Part II," $1.3 million.
10. "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain," $830,000.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo LarraĂn, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More