> Memorial Day weekend brings two strong openers and what should be a very solid weekend — well ahead of last year’s numbers for the weekend. Opening at 3,615 theaters, The Hangover Part II should average a very strong $21,400 per theater (for $79 million between the traditional three-day Friday-Sunday period).  Over the five-day Thursday-Monday […]

This weekend is solid but definitely cooler than last weekend’s torrid pace:  $180 million for the top 12 films this Friday-Sunday, up 10% from a typical fourth weekend in November.  The final Twilight installment will remain at the top of the chart this weekend, while Skyfall’s third weekend will challenge the family-friendly Rise of the […]

The 27th weekend of the year is looking like an excellent $218 million for the top 12 films, up 20-35% from the comparable weekend the last few years. Opening at around 3,900 theaters Wednesday (well above the top 10% theater count for opening weekend wide releases of 3,690 theaters), Despicable Me 2 from Universal should average $20,000 per theater for the three-day weekend […]

  Early numbers at Deadline have the opening day (including Thursday night) of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (Lionsgate) at $67.5M, $200K above the launch of the original Hunger Games.  That makes it slightly puzzling that the weekend estimates, at Deadline and elsewhere, peg the weekend at around $145M, $7M or so less than Hunger […]

  We’re just days away from the launch of the summer movie season, the most important part of the year for all of the major studios.  Literally billions of dollars will be on the line over the next several months, with almost every weekend bringing a high-stakes bet to the table from one or more […]

Weekend #44 of 2014 is looking like $73 million for the top 12 films this weekend, down 40% from the norm for this weekend.  This weekend though is really an afterthought, as the calendar trashed it as it does every seven years by placing Halloween on a Friday.  Some half-hearted openings this odd weekend, and […]

Weekend #22 of 2015 is looking like $123 million for the top 12 films this weekend, significantly below the norm for this weekend. San Andreas from Warner Brothers should open with a $36.0 million three-day weekend. Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are barely tilting negative: 45% positive overall. San Andreas is on track for around $104 million domestic. Overseas the film could bring […]

Weekend #33 of 2015 is looking like $124 million for the top 12 films this weekend, very close to the norm for this weekend (see comparisons below). Straight Outta Compton from Universal should open with a $45.5 million three-day weekend. Early reviews at RottenTomatoes are widely supportive: 82% positive overall so far. Straight Outta Conpton is on track for […]