Going into the weekend, the Fede Alvarez directed thrillerDon’t Breathewas getting great word of mouth. And horror fans certainly stood up and took notice. The new movie earned an estimated $26.1 million during its box office debut, pushing this late August frame to a combined $100 million. The top 12 over-performed, with this three day stretch up a full 43.5% over the same time last year.
Mechanic: Resurrection, a sequel to Jason Statham’s 2011 remake, also had a solid opening for Lionsgate, while the limited releaseSouthside With You, which tracks Michelle and Barack Obama’s first date, did quite well. The critical favoriteHell or High Waterperformed better than expected in its expanded rollout, whileBad Momscontinues to rack up big bucks for an R-Rated comedy. It has almost topped $100 million at the domestic box office.
Don’t Breathewas the top winner, though, and it far exceeded expectations. The movie was made for just $10 million, delivering 2.6 times its budget according toBox Office Mojo. Thehorror thriller, which starsStephen Lang, Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette, received a B+ CinemaScore. In comparison, Fede Alvarez’s last movie, the 2013 remakeEvil Dead, opened to the tune of $25.7 million and grossed over $55 million during its domestic run. It is expected thatDon’t Breathewill close out its stay in theaters between $55 and $65 million. It has been rated fresh with 87% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomato Meter.
Overseas,Don’t Breathebrought in an additional $1.9 million in 7 markets. These included Russia ($915k), Malaysia ($420k) and Singapore ($200k). It will open in Australia and Spain next weekend, followed by a rollout that hits Brazil, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Mexico throughout September. The hit horror drama is coming to France on October 5, and arrives in South Korea the next day.
Mechanic: Resurrectionarrived with a higher than expected gross of $7.5 million, opening in the fifth spot on the top ten list. It is the first wide release from Lionsgate’s recently launched specialty banner Lionsgate Premiere, which typically debuts movies in limited release or On Demand. The movie received a B+ CinemaScore. It is the 11thJason Stathammovie for Lionsgate, and is being looked at as a success, one that should do well overseas and in the home market.
Arriving in just 813 theaters, the Obama date movieSouthside With Youpulled in a respectable $3 million. The Weinstein’s boxing dramaHands of Stonedidn’t fare quite as well, bringing in just $1.7 million from 810 theaters. It was supposed to open wide in 2,000 theaters, but the studio changed its mind and instead opted for a slow expansion. It will now hit 1,500 more theaters come Labor Day weekend.
Having topped the box office charts for three weekends in a row,Suicide Squadonly dropped 42%, and managed to hold onto the second place slot with an estimate $12.1 million. That brings its domestic total to $282.9 million. The film added another $19.6 million internationally bringing its overseas cume to $353.1 million. It now stands as a certified blockbuster with a worldwide gross of $636 million, coming in number 8 on the 2016 box office charts.Kubo and the Two Stringsearned an additional $7.9 million in third place, withSausage Partylanding in fourth place with $7.6 million.
In its fifth weekend of release,Bad Momsdropped just 27.5%, bringing in an estimated $5.76 million. The movie is now resting at $95.4 million and should hit $100 million very soon, making it one of this summer’s true surprise sleeper hits. The comedy opened in an additional 13 markets overseas, including UK, Mexico and New Zealand. It now stands with a worldwide gross of $124.15 million. CBS Films and Lionsgate limited releaseHell or High Waterexpanded to 909 theaters and brought in an estimated $3.7 million. Its expansion will continue next week.
Next Friday marks the start of the longLabor Day weekend. It will see the sci-fi thrillerMorganhitting approximately 2,000 theaters. Also opening is DreamWorks and Touchstone’s dramaThe Light Between Oceans, which rolls into 1,500 theaters. It is expected thatDon’t BreatheandSuicide Squadwill continue to dominate the box office in this first weekend of September.
