BOX OFFICE REPORT
October 4-6, 2019
(estimates from BoxOfficeMojo.com)
TOP 5
Joker | $93.5 million |
Abominable | $12 million |
Downton Abbey | $8 million |
Hustlers | $6.3 million |
It: Chapter Two | $5.3 million |
After all the bluster, the discourse, the freakouts, the mixed reviews, Joker delivered the biggest October opening of all time. Besting last year's debut of Venom by a comfortable margin, the Todd Phillips-directed origin story delivered a truly impressive $93.5 million. That's nearly as big an opening as Justice League, and this film didn't have the star power, the budget or the build-up. (It also didn't have the behind-the-scenes issues either.) This was DC Comics first R-rated film since their failed attempt to start their own inter-connected universe, and it's a raging success, especially considering it only cost a reported $50 million. With little competition this month, it should be one of October's highest grosser (and may even make more than Disney's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil). It was also another much-needed hit for Warner Bros., which has had a string of flops aside from It: Chapter Two.
Abominable slid down to second place. Despite only a 41.8 percent drop, the film seems to already be fading from the public consciousness, as it's made only $37.8 million to date. Downton Abbey might be showing that's it's peaked already, as the film has made $73.6 million so far. While it's undoubtedly a hit, $100 million may be out of the question.
Hustlers is in sight of that milestone, though, as it's crossed $91 million thanks to taking in $6.3 million this weekend. For a film with an extremely modest $20 million, that's an incredible achievement. It: Chapter Two finally joined the $200 Million Club. It's the only film in that range at all, as it's sandwiched between Aladdin ($355 million) and Us ($175 million).
Outside the top 5:
- This Weekend's Indie Champ: Pain and Glory, the new film from Pedro Almodóvar. Star Antonio Banderas has been getting the best reviews of his career, and the movie opened with a terrific $40,022 on its four screens.
- My People, My Country, an anthology of vignettes about the history of China, had an absolutely astonishing debut. Premiering on just 70 screens, the film took in $865,000, good enough for 11th place.
- Lucy in the Sky experienced failure to launch. The astronaut drama starring Natalie Portman opened on 37 screens, but made a pitiful $55,000.
Next week:
Can Will Smith bounce back and prove he's still an in-demand movie star? He's had a rough few years, and it doesn't look like Gemini Man is going to be his ticket back. The sci-fi/action flick should only manage about $25 million next week. That will be better than the new animated take on The Addams Family, which should earn about $20 million and Jexi, which is basically Her if it were written by The Hangover guys. That's looking to do $15 million at best. They'll all pale in comparison (pun not quite intended) to Joker's second week, which will have a big drop but still earn at least $40 million.