By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --The colorful crew of "Suicide Squad" got duller in their second weekend in theaters, with audiences hungry for the raunchy fare of animated "Sausage Party."
Warner Bros.' intensely scrutinized comic book film broke records last weekend and managed to stay atop the box office with $43.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. But its earnings dropped a steep 67 percent from last weekend.
While not unexpected for a film of its size, a fall that large is often an indicator of poor word of mouth, said comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. The DC Comics film, which cost around $175 million to produce, has earned $222.9 million domestically to date and $465.3 million worldwide.
Sony's raunchy R-rated comedy "Sausage Party," co-written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, debuted in second place with $33.6 million, outpacing its reported production budget of $19 million.
"What is phenomenal about this result is it shows if you take risks and are high-quality and original in this marketplace, it can pay off big time," said Josh Greenstein, Sony's president of worldwide marketing and distribution. "It's a big win for Sony."
The film takes "Toy Story"-like approach to the world of supermarket food items but with bawdy humor. It features the voices of Rogen, Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill.
ComScore's Dergarabedian likens the buzz and solid performance to that of "Ted," which also became a strong earner by turning a seemingly innocent concept very adult.
"It's exactly the kind of offbeat, original comedy that audiences respond to," Dergarabedian said. "Summer is all about cookie-cutter sequels, prequels and reboots — the most non-original fare you can think of. And then when something comes along like this, it just solidifies the notion that audiences want something edgy, different — and that creates a conversation."
The film that was actually for children this weekend, "Pete's Dragon," debuted in third place with a measly $21.5 million. Disney's live-action/CG remake of its 1977 film stars Robert Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard and cost a reported $65 million to produce.
It is a less-than-stellar launch for a film well-received by critics, though not as poor as Disney's "The BFG," another live-action/CG hybrid from earlier this summer that earned only $53.3 million in the U.S. against a $140 million budget.
Disney Executive Vice President of Distribution Dave Hollis expects "Pete's Dragon" to end its run domestically in the $80 million range with a little more from overseas.
"We walk away feeling good about where we are," he said.
Paramount's Meryl Streep-starrer "Florence Foster Jenkins" also got off to an inauspicious start, taking in $6.6 million from 1,528 locations.
Holdover "Jason Bourne" took fourth place with $13.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $126.8 million after three weeks in theaters, while the modestly budgeted "Bad Moms" rounded out the top five with $11.5 million. The R-rated STX comedy has earned a robust $71.5 million domestically.
In limited release, Lionsgate and CBS Films' well-reviewed Western "Hell or High Water" earned a terrific $592,000 from just 32 theaters. The film, starring Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine, will be expanding in the coming weeks.
Even with modest starts and disappointing holds, the box office is still up about 16 percent from this weekend last year and 5.2 percent overall as the summer season nears its end.
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."Suicide Squad," $43.8 million ($58.7 million international).
2."Sausage Party," $33.6 million ($2.6 million international).
3."Pete's Dragon," $21.5 million ($5.1 million international).
4."Jason Bourne," $13.6 million ($18.6 million international).
5."Bad Moms," $11.5 million ($6.2 million international).
6."The Secret Life of Pets," $8.8 million ($40 million international).
7."Star Trek Beyond," $6.8 million ($2.5 million international).
8."Florence Foster Jenkins," $6.6 million.
9."Nine Lives," $3.5 million ($325,000 international).
10."Lights Out," $3.2 million ($3.2 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Suicide Squad," $58.7 million.
2. "The Secret Life of Pets," $40 million.
3. "Line Walker," $26 million.
4. "Jason Bourne," $18.6 million.
5. "Love O2O," $17.5 million.
6. "Tunnel," $15.1 million.
7. "Call of Heroes," $12.7 million.
8. "Time Raiders," $12.3 million.
9. "Finding Dory," $8.1 million.
10. "The Last Princess," $7.8 million.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More