After Hollywood’s disastrous Memorial Day weekend, the final weekend of May also appears to be pacing well behind this same weekend in 2014 when Disney’s “Maleficent” bowed to $69.4 million, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” enjoyed a second weekend haul of $32.5 million, and “A Million Ways to Die In the West” disappointed with a $16.8 million debut.
That’s a top three grab of almost $120 million — the top 10 earned around $168 million. This weekend’s top three will earn somewhere around $75 million — the top 10 will earn just around $145 million.
Here are this weekend’s top five according to Deadline:
1). San Andreas – 3,777 theaters / $46.5M
2). Tomorrowland – 3,972 theaters / $14.5M (-56%) / Total cume: $63.9M
3). Pitch Perfect 2 – 3,660 theaters / $13.9M (-55%)/ Total cume: $146.5M
4). Mad Max: Fury Road – 3,255 theaters / $11.6M (-53%) / Total cume: $113.9M
5). Avengers: Age of Ultron – 3,228 theaters / $10.5M (-51%) / Total cume: $426.5M
Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha,” which debuted this weekend in 6th place, and stars Bradley Cooper, flamed out with a $10.4 million debut. The B- CinemaScore pretty much ensures the quick but still painful death this debacle deserves. (Here is my review of “San Andreas“)
As you can see, “Tomorrowland” is dead in the water. With a $200 to $250 million budget (if you add in promotion and advertising), Brad Bird’s dull, preachy Global Warming propaganda push will flood Disney with red ink before the summer is over. International box office is weaker than expected. Just to break even, George Clooney’s latest flop will need to clear $500 to $550 million. This stinker will be lucky to nudge half that amount.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” is also in trouble. With a $235 worldwide gross, George Miller’s spectacular return to form has probably just cleared its overall budget. In order to break even, the fourquel will have to at least double that (theatre owners take half the gross). After three weeks, here in North America, “Fury Road” is slowing down fast. Depending on where it might have yet to open overseas, one of the best-reviewed movies of the year (and, in my opinion, best action movies ever) could come up short. What that might mean for a new franchise (which is the goal) is anyone’s guess.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a smash, no question, but a smash currently pacing $126 million behind its predecessor ($426 million – $552 million).
The Summer of 2015, the summer that was supposed to cure all the box office ills of last year’s devastating summer, is headed into the heart of the season with another down weekend. Next weekend, however, looks a little more promising.
This time last year, “The Fault In Our Stars” debuted to an astonishing $48 million. The upcoming “Entourage” probably won’t match that. “Insidious: Chapter 3” and Melissa McCarthy’s “Spy” will help pick up the slack. “Insidious Chapter 2” debuted to $41 million back in September of 2013. McCarthy’s 2014 comedy “Tammy” debuted to $21.6 million last year.
If those numbers hold, compared to this same weekend last year, next weekend will at least win a tie.
No to get too far ahead of myself, but the following weekend “Jurassic World” debuts. If Star Lord leading a pack of raptors on a motorcycle chase doesn’t cure the box office, I’m afraid we are all doomed.
Overall, the 2015 box office is pacing just +3.4% of where 2014 was at this same time last year.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC
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