Audiences chose to accept their latest mission at the box office this weekend, turning down a chance for a nice vacation in the process.
Coming in first this week is Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (read our review), which made $56 million in its first three days. That barely misses the franchise record for largest opening, which is still held by 2000’s Mission: Impossible 2 at $57.8 million. Still, Paramount has to be very pleased with the performance of the summer blockbuster, especially considering this figure is a significant improvement from when predecessor Ghost Protocol went wide in 2011 ($29.5 million). It goes to show the importance of word-of-mouth, as both critics and audiences have been raving about this film.
As such, Rogue Nation should be able to maintain strong legs during its theatrical run. Save for a couple of new releases on the horizon, the summer blockbuster season is starting to slow down, and there won’t be a whole lot in terms of competition for Rogue Nation‘s target audience. It’s easy to see this hanging around the top of the charts for the entirety of August, making Paramount look very smart for moving the film up from its previously scheduled December release date. And it should come as no surprise the studio is already developing the sixth installment and putting it on the fast track.
In at #2 is the new comedy Vacation (read our review). The sequel/reboot managed a weak $14.8 million over the weekend. The film did open on Wednesday, so its current domestic total stands at $21.1 million, but that really isn’t much better. Warner Bros. was probably hoping this would turn into the next Ted or The Hangover, but the poor critical reception doomed it from the start. With the buzz around it so negative, most audiences opted for other titles, leaving Vacation little chance of turning things around and becoming a commercial hit.
In at #3 is Ant-Man, which grossed $12.6 million in its third weekend. Marvel’s latest is now at $132.1 million Stateside, and $291.6 million globally. It’s no Guardians of the Galaxy, but the studio will definitely take it.
Coming in at #4 is Minions. Universal’s animated spinoff brought home another $12.2 million over the weekend, raising its domestic total to $287.3 million.
Rounding out the top five is Pixels, which fell 56.7 percent from its opening weekend to make $10.4 million this week. The Adam Sandler vehicle has only mustered a paltry $45.6 million domestically so far. It is getting saved in the foreign markets, as the worldwide total is currently at $102.1 million. The production budget (which doesn’t include marketing) was tagged at $88 million, so there’s a chance this somehow turns a profit – but it will be a long road to get to that point.
Romantic-comedy Trainwreck places #6 this week with $9.7 million. Amy Schumer’s first major feature film has now made an impressive $79.7 million domestically at this point in its run.
Southpaw is your #7 film with $7.5 million. The boxing drama is at $31.5 million domestically.
John Greene adaptation Paper Towns took a drastic 63.6 percent slide from its opening weekend totals and grossed only $4.6 million to finish eighth. Illustrating the limited appeal of its source material, the film has grossed $23.8 million so far, meaning that this is hardly the next Fault in our Stars.
Inside Out places at #9 this week with $4.5 million. Pixar’s smash hit has made $329.5 million in the U.S. so far.
Finishing off the top ten is Jurassic World, which made $3.8 million and is now at a whopping $631.5 million domestically. Though the film has passed The Avengers on both the U.S. and international box office charts, it seems like it will have to “settle” for the title of third biggest film of all-time.
[NOTE: These are only weekend box office estimates – based on Friday and Saturday ticket sales coupled with adjusted expectations for Sunday. Official weekend box office results will be released on Monday, July 27 – at which time we’ll update this post with any changes.]
