A group of kids trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland squared off against a legendary gangster at thebox officethis weekend. According to the estimates fromBox Office Mojo, the kids prevailed, with 20th Century Fox’sThe Maze Runner: The Scorch Trialstaking the top spot this weekend with $30.3 million, while Warner Bros.' crime dramaBlack Masstook second place with $23.3 million.Black Massreceived a much better reception from the nation’s critics, scoring a solid 76% “Fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes, whileThe Maze Runner: The Scorch Trialsposted a 49% “Rotten” rating from the site. Both of those ratings are down from earlier this week, though, whenBlack Masshad an 87% rating andThe Maze Runner: The Scorch Trialshad a 62% rating.
The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trialsopened in 3,791 theaters this weekend, posting a solid $7,993 per-screen average in its opening weekend. While it did take the top spot, it was actually a bit lower than the opening of its predecessor,The Maze Runner, which opened in the same weekend last year to the tune of $32.5 million. The first movie, based on James Dashner’s young adult novel, earned $102.4 million domestically and $238.3 million internationally for a worldwide total of $340.7 million, from a $34 million budget. The sequel was produced with a $61 million budget, so with this lower opening weekend, it may have a tougher time earning a profit than the first movie.
The Maze RunnerstarsDylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster,Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee andPatricia Clarksonreturn for the sequelThe Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, withWes Ballcoming back to direct. The follow-up also boasts a slew of new characters as well, played byNathalie EmmanuelandAidan Gillen, who both co-star onGame of Thrones, along withKatherine McNamara,Giancarlo EspositoandLili Taylor. After escaping the massive maze known as The Glade, these youngsters are faced with surviving in the desolate wasteland of Earth, now known as The Scorch. This adaptation will be followed by the final installment in this beloved Maze Runner franchise,The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a big longer for the finale, withThe Maze Runner: The Death Cureset to hit theaters on August 19, 2025.
Warner Bros.' R-rated dramaBlack Masspulled in a solid $7,327 per-screen average from 3,188 theaters. The film was produced from a $53 million budget, under the direction of The biopic of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger starsJohnny Depp, in a rare villainous turn as the Boston mobster, who was a fixture on the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, often right behindOsama Bin Laden. This gangster served as the inspiration forJack Nicholson’s Frank Costigan inThe DepartedandPete Postlethwaite’s Fergus “Fergie” Colm inThe Town. Also starring in directorScott Cooper’s crime drama isDakota Johnson,Joel Edgerton,Benedict Cumberbatch,Corey Stoll,Juno Temple,Kevin Bacon,Jesse Plemons,Adam ScottandPeter Sarsgaard.
HoldoversThe Visit($11.3 million, $42.3 million domestic) andThe Perfect Guy($9.6 million, $41. million domestic) dropped to third and fourth place, respectively, with new releaseEverestrounding out the top five with $7.5 million. The thriller, based on the true story of a Mount Everest expedition that claimed the lives of 12 climbers, opened exclusively in 545IMAXtheaters, posting the best per-screen average in the top 10, with $13,872. The film will expand nationwide starting September 25 after its week-long IMAX-only run, although we don’t have an exact theater count yet.Everest, directed byBaltasar Kormákur, features a star-studded cast includingJake Gyllenhaal,Jason Clarke,Josh BrolinandJohn Hawkes.
The top 10 was rounded out byWar Room($6.2 million, $49 million domestic),A Walk in the Woods($2.7 million, $24.7 million domestic),Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation($2.2 million, $191.7 million domestic),Straight Outta Compton($1.9 million, $158.9 million domestic) and new releaseCaptivein the 10-spot with $1.4 million.Captiveopened in 806 theaters, pulling in a paltry $1,737 per-screen average. Although it dropped out of the top five,War Roomcontinues to impress at the box office, expanding into 298 more theaters this weekend for a total theater count of 1,945. The film was produced for just $3 million, and with the film expanding each weekend, it continues to post minimal drops from the previous weekend, with these estimates just 19.6% down from last weekend’s tally.
Opening in limited release is the critically-acclaimedSicario, which is already garnering plenty of Oscar buzz. The film pulled in an astonishing $390,000 from just six theaters, for an incredible $65,000 per-screen average. The crime drama starringEmily Blunt,Benicio Del ToroandJosh Brolinwill expand into more theaters next weekend, before getting a nationwide release on October 2. Also opening in limited release wasPawn Sacrifice, which earned $206,879 from 33 theaters, for a $6,269 per-screen average. No box office numbers were posted for other movies opening in limited release, The Weinstein Company’sAbout Ray, starringNaomi Watts,Elle FanningandSusan Sarandon, Cinedigm’s War Pigs starringMickey RourkeandDolph LundgrenandCootiesstarringElijah Wood.
Looking ahead to next weekend, three new movies debut in wide release, Sony Animation’scomedysequelHotel Transylvania 2, Warner Bros.' comedyThe Internand High Top Releasing and Blumhouse’sThe Green Inferno.Hotel Transylvania 2andThe Interncurrently don’t have enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes yet, butThe Green Inferno, which was originally set to hit theaters last fall, currently has a 63% RT rating. Opening in limited release next weekend is Broad Green Pictures'99 HomesstarringAndrew GarfieldandMichael Shannon, Drafthouse’sThe Keeping RoomstarringHailee SteinfeldandSam Worthington, A24 Films’Mississippi GrindstarringRyan ReynoldsandBen Mendelsohn, andStonewall, starringJonathan Rhys Meyers. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, and again on Tuesday for next week’s estimates. Until then, take a look at this weekend’s top 10 at the box office.
