By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --A robust audience turned out to catch "It: Chapter Two" in movie theaters this weekend, but not quite as big as the first.
Warner Bros. says Sunday that "It: Chapter Two," the only major new release, earned an estimated $91 million from North American ticket sales in its first weekend from 4,570 screens.
Trailing only its predecessor that debuted to a record $123.4 million in September 2017, the launch of "It: Chapter Two" is the second highest opening for a horror film ever and the month of September, which before "It" was not a strong month for blockbusters. Both were directed by Argentine filmmaker Andy Muschietti.
Jeff Goldstein, who oversees domestic distribution for Warner Bros., called the debut "sensational" and isn't concerned that "Chapter Two" didn't hit the heights of the first.
"How many movies open to $91 million? That was lightning in a bottle," Goldstein said. "You don't get lightning in a bottle twice. You get close though."
Based on Stephen King's novel, "It: Chapter Two" brings the Losers Club back to Derry 27 years later to take on the demonic clown Pennywise, and stars James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader as a few of the adult "losers." The sequel cost around $79.5 million to make. Reviews were a little more mixed than for the first — 86% versus 64% on Rotten Tomatoes — but audiences were consistent. Both films got a B+ CinemaScore.
"Andy Muschietti does an incredible job of scaring the stuffing out of audiences," Goldstein said. "I think our team, starting with New Line in making this and our marketing team in bringing it to audiences around the globe, have hit the mark right on. They nailed it."
Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted that, unlike most horror films which tend drop off significantly after opening weekend, "It: Chapter Two," like its predecessor and some of the recent high quality horror films could have "incredibly long playability."
"It: Chapter Two" is also a big win for Warner Bros., which had a few disappointments this summer with "The Kitchen" and "Shaft," but also have a few films that could really take off, including "Joker," out Oct. 4, and another King adaptation, "Doctor Sleep," out Nov. 8.
The rest of the top 10 was populated by holdovers: "Angel Has Fallen" took a distant second with $6 million and "Good Boys" placed third with $5.4 million. In limited release, the documentary "Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice" performed well in its first weekend, grossing $115,500 from seven locations.
After a down summer for the industry as a whole and a year that is still running 6% down, "It: Chapter Two" is a promising start to the fall movie season, which runs from the day after Labor Day weekend through November.
"It's really important to have a movie to get the momentum going," Dergarabedian said.
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. "It: Chapter Two," $91 million ($94 million international).
2. "Angel Has Fallen," $6 million ($7.6 million international).
3. "Good Boys," $5.4 million ($2.3 million international).
4. "The Lion King," $4.2 million ($13.4 million international).
5. "Overcomer," $3.8 million.
6. "Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw," $3.7 million ($15.7 million international).
7. "The Peanut Butter Falcon," $2.3 million.
8. "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," $2.3 million ($701,000 international).
9. "Ready or Not," $2.2 million ($2.3 million international).
10. "Dora and the Lost City of Gold," $2.2 million ($2.3 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore:
1. "It: Chapter Two," $94 million.
2. "Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw," $15.7 million.
3. "The Lion King," $13.4 million.
4. "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood," $13 million.
5. "Ne Zha," $8.1 million.
6. "Angel Has Fallen," $7.6 million.
7. "Toy Story 4," $4.9 million.
8. "The Angry Birds Movie 2," $4.4 million.
9. "Free Solo," $3.3 million.
10. "2.0," $2.6 million.
Stakes Are High In Next Week’s Presidential Debate–For Harris, Trump and ABC News
Hours after ABC News released the rules for next Tuesday's presidential debate, resolving a final dispute in Donald Trump's favor, the former president was on the attack — against ABC News.
"I think a lot of people will be watching to see how nasty they are, how unfair they are," he said Wednesday on a Fox News town hall.
It was an unsubtle reminder that Trump and Kamala Harris aren't the only ones with a lot at stake next week. The same is true for ABC News and moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, in what is the only scheduled debate between the presidential contenders this fall.
Multiple outlets will televise and stream it. But unlike in past years, when presidential debates were organized by a bipartisan commission, this is solely an ABC News production. It won't include a live audience.
"This is a huge opportunity for ABC News," said Ben Sherwood, former ABC News president and now publisher & CEO of the Daily Beast. "It's like getting to host, moderate and produce the Super Bowl of politics. It gives the network luster at a time broadcast television is in decline."
That is, of course, if things go well.
ABC sees it as a 'huge responsibility'
The ABC debate was set last spring, when President Joe Biden was the likely Democratic nominee. When he dropped out, it was unclear if the debate would go on. Harris and Trump eventually gave the go-ahead, although the Republican's repeated criticism of ABC last month raised questions about it again.
It all had little effect on ABC's planning, said Rick Klein, the network's Washington bureau chief. "It truly wasn't a lot of turmoil on our end of things," he said.
Biden and Trump debated on June 27 — what seems a lifetime ago. That event was put on by... Read More