It was expected the new young adult adaptation The Maze Runner would open at #1, but it wasn’t clear if it would end up around $30 million as the studio was softly estimating or $40 million as some prognosticators thought it might excel to. Well, the verdict is in and it’s on the lower end of the spectrum, bringing in and estimated $32.5 million, though opening day audiences seemed to like what the saw, giving it an “A-” CinemaScore.
I never would have expected Liam Neeson‘s A Walk Among the Tombstones to do too well so while the film’s $13.1 million will be looked at as weak compared to his previous actioners, you have to remember this isn’t Taken or Non-Stop. Tombstones is more adult and while it’s a little sloppy, it really shouldn’t be compared to his PG-13 actioners as this is clearly more dark noir rather than glossy, bang-bang stuff, which is probably why it got that “B-” CinemaScore as opening day audiences were expecting something a little more fast-paced.
In third is yet another new release in the ensemble dramedy This is Where I Leave You, bringing in $11.8 million and earning a “B+” CinemaScore. What else is there to say about that one? I didn’t feel compelled to see it as the trailer seemed to tell me all I needed to know and those that did see it pretty much confirmed my suspicions… it’s a rental in my eyes.
Last week’s #1, No Good Deed dropped 57.9% to fourth, coming in with $10.2 million in its second weekend while Dolphin Tale 2 brings in an estimated $9 million in its sophomore session.
Now we come to Kevin Smith‘s Tusk, a film that was heavily marketed and talked about online, but it didn’t seem to make much of a dent with general audiences, opening to only an estimated $886,000 from 602 theaters for a $1,472 per screen average. A24 has a unique approach to film acquisition and while it has had a couple great releases this year in Locke, The Rover and Enemy, it has struggled lately with Life After Beth and now Tusk. Hopefully Laggies and A Most Violent Year can turn the tide.
Finally, opening in only 19 theaters was Adam Wingard‘s The Guest (Picturehouse) where it brought in $82,100 for a $4,321 per theater average. I really wish this was the kind of film that could get a major studio push, but those that do see it will be part of a small, exclusive club… bragging rights intact.
After so many new releases this weekend, next weekend is a little more normal with The BoxTrolls and Denzel Washington as The Equalizer hitting theaters. I’ve included this weekend’s box office results below, followed by the results of this weekend’s Box Office Challenge.
