Heading into this weekend at thebox office, it was expected to be a very close race between last weekend’s winnerThe Secret Life of Petsand Sony Pictures’Ghostbustersreboot. As it turned out, both movies came in a bit under their weekend projections, but it still remained a close race, withThe Secret Life of Petscoming out on top with $50.5 million in its second weekend in theaters.Ghostbusterswasn’t too far behind, though, with a solid opening weekend of $46 million.
We were predicting thatSecret Life of Petswill drop 40%, which would would put its second weekend total at $62.5 million, since most animated movies don’t drop as much as othersummer blockbusters.Box Office Mojoreports thatThe Secret Life of Petsdropped 51.5% with a healthy $11,541 per-screen average. This animated comedy has now taken in an impressive $203.1 million domestically and another $50.8 million internationally for a worldwide total of $253.9 million. The movie still hasn’t opened in key international territories such as France (July 27), Germany (July 28) and China (August 2) yet.
For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the folks on two legs leave for work and school. That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur, and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks. The buildings top dog, Max (voiced byLouis C.K.) a quick witted terrier rescue who’s convinced he sits at the center of his owner’s universe, finds his pampered life rocked when she brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a sloppy, massive mess of a mongrel with zero interpersonal skills. When this reluctant canine due find themselves out on the mean streets pf New York, they have to set aside their differences and unite against a fluffy-yet cunning bunny named Snowball (Kevin Hart), who’s building an army of ex-pets abandoned by their owners and out to turn the tables on humanity…all before dinner time.
Ghostbustersmakes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, directorPaul Feigbrings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today -Melissa McCarthy,Kristen Wiig,Kate McKinnon,Leslie Jones, andChris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world! The supporting cast is rounded out byAndy Garciaas the mayor of New York City,Michael K. Williamsas Hawkins,Matt Walshas Rourke,Pat Kiernanas a news anchor and Neil Casey as the human villain Rowan, along with cameos from originalGhostbustersstarsBill Murray,Dan Aykroyd,Sigourney Weaver,Annie PottsandErnie Hudson.
Ghostbustersearned a 73% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, withThe Infiltratorscoring a 65% “Fresh” rating on the site. Universal and Illumination Entertainment’sSecret Life of Petswas also a hit with critics this weekend, earning a solid 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The opening weekend rollout of 4,370 theaters was the fifth widest of all time, behindHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2(4,375),Iron Man 2(4,380),The Dark Knight Rises(4,404) andThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse(4,468). The top 5 will be rounded out by holdoversThe Legend of Tarzan($11.1 million),Finding Dory($11 million) andMike and Dave Need Wedding Dates($7.5 million).
This week’s other new release,The Infiltrator, debuted in eighth place with $5.2 million, debuting in 1,600 theaters for a $3,304 per-screen average.The Infiltratoris based on the true story of Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston), a federal customs and excise agent who lived the high life of Colombia’s most powerful cartels while using his undercover alias “Bob Musella,” all the while recording damning evidence that culminated in a major takedown at a staged wedding. His target under Operation C-Chase was bankers who manipulated complex international finance systems to launder money for drug lords like Pablo Escobar, and ultimately proved critical in the conviction of General Manuel Noriega.
The top 10 will be rounded out byThe Purge: Anarchy($6 million),Central Intelligence($5.3 million),The Infiltrator($5.2 million),The BFG($3.7 million) andIndependence Day: Resurgence($3.4 million). Also opening in limited release is Lionsgate’sCafe Society, the latest fromWoody Allen, which opened big with $355,000 from five theaters for a whopping $71,000 per-screen average. No box office data was released for A24’sEquals, GKIDS’Phantom Boy, Independent’sUndraftedand Quality Flix’s documentaryHillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party. It isn’t known if any of these limited release movies will expand in the weeks to come.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount will roll out their long-awaited sequelStar Trek Beyond, which will go up against Warner Bros. thrillerLights Outand 20th Century Fox’s animated sequelIce Age: Collision Coursein theaters. Also opening in limited release is Fox Searchlight’sAbsolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Mirror Images Ltd.‘sBeta Test, The Film Arcade’sDon’t Think Twice, Reliance Big Pictures’Madaari, Strand’sSummertimeand Well Go USA’sTrain to Busan. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, but in the meantime, take a look at our projections for this weekend at the box office.
