In his predictions, Laremy Men in Black III, predicting a $53.4 million three-day weekend. After an estimated $18 million on Friday ($1.5 million from midnight showings) he is definitely going to miss the mark, but by how much may be interesting. With that kind of out-of-the-gate result I’m thinking somewhere around $61 million for the three-day and close to $75 million for the four-day Memorial Day weekend, but it could go higher as word of mouth may prove fruitful with a B+ CinemaScore (A- from audiences under the age of 18) and rather positive reviews.
The first two Men in Black films both opened around $51 million back in ’97 and ’02, which means this one is performing essentially on par with those flicks considering the inflated ticket prices and 3-D and IMAX surcharges. I’ve even seen some critics calling MiB3 the best of the franchise, could it somehow manage to match the first film’s $250 million overall? With a budget listed at $250 million I’m sure Sony hopes so.
No surprise, in second is The Avengers with an estimated $9.6 million, looking at something like $31 million for the three-day and $42 million for the four-day, which will result in bumping its total up around $520 million domestically. It’s simply a monster.
The only other new release to make the top ten is Warner’s atomic thriller Chernobyl Diaries, which brought in $3.5 million on Friday despite mostly negative critical reviews and what I perceived to be a lack of audience interest. The film’s weekend result may be in jeopardy, however, as it will be hard-pressed for good buzz considering a D+ CinemaScore. I’ll be generous and assume a $9.5 million for the three-day and $11 million for the holiday weekend.
In fourth and fifth are a pair of box-office stinkers in Universal’s Battleship, which is looking like it will drop around 67% from its opening weekend after only $2.8 million on Friday and little chance of hitting $10 million for the four-day. The Dictator is obviously missing with audiences as well, bringing in $2.7 million on its second Friday and a likely $8 million weekend, down 54% from its opening.
I have included the Friday top ten directly below and will be back on Sunday with a complete wrap-up.
- Men in Black III – $18 million
- Marvel’s The Avengers – $9.6 million
- Chernobyl Diaries – $3.5 million
- Battleship – $2.8 million
- The Dictator – $2.7 million
- Dark Shadows – $2 million
- What To Expect When You’re Expecting – $2.1 million
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – $1.6 million
- The Hunger Games – $625,000
- Think Like A Man – $390,000
