By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Turtle power isn't all that strong the second time around, according to comScore estimates Sunday, but not all is bleak at the box office. While many of the season's sequels continue to struggle, the healthy debut of the romantic drama "Me Before You" proved that there is room for more than superheroes in the summer.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" won the box office, but its estimated $35.3 million debut is not exactly cause for a celebratory pizza party. The $135 million production from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies comes just two years after the studios rebooted the property. The 2014 movie performed surprisingly well – opening to $65.6 million and going on to gross $493.3 million worldwide – despite lackluster reviews.
While lower in turnout, those who did show up liked this film far better than the first, according to exit polls. "Out of the Shadows" doubles down on the fan elements with the introduction of a number of villains from the '80s cartoon. But it was a bit too late for some who turned out for the first. The studio noticed a drop in attendance from the "nostalgia" audience of 25 to 34-year-olds this time around.
"You have to work a little bit harder to get people to a property if they didn't feel that we hit the fan beats as hard on the last movie as this movie does," said Megan Colligan, Paramount's President of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing. Colligan is hopeful that word of mouth will play a part in getting the audiences they lost back to the theater.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" is just the latest in a string of underwhelming openings for sequels this summer movie season, which runs from the first weekend in May through Labor Day. Some of the lackluster showings include "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," ''Alice Through the Looking Glass," and even "X-Men: Apocalypse," which fell a hefty 66 percent in its second weekend in theaters, earning $22.3 million for a second-place finish.
"When we've had this many sequels in a row not performing well in an industry where sequels are king, that's disconcerting," said Paul Dergarabedian, comScore's Senior Media Analyst. "What people want is good movies. If they truly deliver, I don't think there's a stigma against sequels."
In a marketplace saturated with sequels, the romantic tearjerker "Me Before You" stood out from the pack and performed quite well because of it, earning $18.3 million for a third-place finish. The film, based on Jojo Moyes' bestselling novel, has gotten mixed reviews from critics, but audiences, who were 81 percent female and 53 percent over the age of 35 gave the film a solid A CinemaScore.
Warner Bros. distributed the film, a co-production between MGM and New Line Cinema which cost a reported $20 million to produce.
"We looked at a busy marketplace and said 'where is there a movie for older females and younger females? Let's put it right against the more male-driven, superhero, four quadrant movies. Zero in on the female demographic,'" said Jeff Goldstein, executive vice president of Domestic Distribution for Warner Bros. "We were hoping to do somewhere between $13 and $15 million. It's a big win for us."
Meanwhile, the Lonely Island mockumentary "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," earned a disappointing $4.6 million to take eighth place. Critics liked the film, but audiences were less enthusiastic, giving the satirical comedy a B CinemaScore.
"We wish that it was grossing more, but our critical response is really good on the film and we have been able to reach our core male audience," said Nick Carpou, Universal's President of Domestic Distribution.
While things have slowed down at the box office since the summer kicked off so strongly with "Captain America: Civil War" in early May, the year is still up some 5 percent. Dergarabedian thinks that things will get back on track soon, especially with more promising sequels like "The Conjuring 2," ''Finding Dory," and "Jason Bourne" on the horizon.
"We can't blame it all on sequel-itis," Dergarabedian said. "I don't think anyone cares what the title is, what number the movie is, as long as the movie really delivers."
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. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," $35.3 million ($34 million international).
2. "X-Men: Apocalypse," $22.3 million ($84.4 million international).
3. "Me Before You," $18.3 million ($7.7 million international).
4. "Alice Through the Looking Glass," $10.7 million ($30.9 million international).
5. "The Angry Birds Movie," $9.8 million ($16.7. million international)
6. "Captain America: Civil War," $7.6 million (4.2 million international).
7. "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," $4.7 million ($2.4 million international).
8. "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," $4.6 million.
9. "The Jungle Book," $4.2 million ($3.7 million international).
10. "The Nice Guys," $3.5 million ($5.5 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "X-Men: Apocalypse," $84.4 million.
2. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," $34 million.
3. "Alice Through the Looking Glass," $30.9 million.
4. "Warcraft," $29.9 million.
5. "The Angry Birds Movie," $16.7 million.
6. "The Handmaiden," $10.8 million.
7. "Money Monster," $8.3 million.
8. "Me Before You," $7.7 million.
9. "Deadpool," $6.5 million.
10. "The Nice Guys," $5.5 million.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More