Denzel Washington is #1 at the box office again, this time with The Equalizer and with an “A-” CinemaScore audiences seemed to like what they saw. Opening to the tune of $35 million, this makes The Equalizer Denzel’s third highest opening ever, behind American Gangster ($43.6m) and Safe House ($40.2m). Personally I didn’t think there was a chance of it opening above $30 million, but seeing how I had some ridiculous fun with the action-thriller I’m happy to see it.
I wonder, though, does this put The Sequelizer in motion? I have to imagine there’s a strong chance and if I’m not mistaken, it would be Denzel’s first sequel ever. I’m in.
The weekend’s other new wide release was the latest film from stop motion animation house Laika and it was their highest debut to date, as The BoxTrolls scored $17.2 million, but it’s a record that may not hold once actuals come in as we’re talking an opening only $400,000 higher than 2009’s Coraline. I didn’t get a chance to see it due to scheduling issues, but the critical support for this one doesn’t seem to be as loud as previous Laike releases.
I’ve always thought Laika’s films were great visually, but lacked something emotionally, but I realize I’m in the minority in the critical community. That said, the 71% at RottenTomatoes is solid and the “B+” CinemaScore doesn’t exactly shout “GO SEE THIS!” from the rooftops, but it tells me audiences seemed to enjoy the movie. It will be interesting to see how it does next weekend.
When it comes to last weekend’s releases, The Mazer Runner, which was #1 last weekend with $32.5 million, held on nicely, dropping only 45% for a second weekend of $17.5 million and a ten day cume reaching $58 million. As was already announced, the film’s sequel, The Scorch Trials has already been dated for September 2015 as Fox is wasting no time attempting to capitalize on this franchise.
This is Where I Leave You also held on rather well, dropping only 39% and bringing in $7 million, but it’s all but over for Liam Neeson‘s new movie, A Walk Among the Tombstones, which opened to a weak $12.7 million last weekend and now dipped 67% in its second weekend to the tune of $4.2 million. Personally, I blame the title, but that’s only because it’s Sunday and I’m being lazy and don’t want to think of any other reason it didn’t do so well.
Next weekend moves us into October and the titles we’ll be paying attention to are David Fincher‘s Gone Girl and the prequel to last year’s The Conjuring, our first horror film of the month goes to Annabelle. Anyone care to place some early predictions on either film or both?
