War Roomopened in the least amount of theaters of any movie in the top 10, scoring the best per-screen average of all films this weekend with a $9,692 average from 1,135 theaters. The drama, which centers on a mother who turns to faith to try and save her family, doesn’t feature any major stars, but is directed byAlex Kendrick, whose films such asCourageous,Fireproofand Facing the Giants pulled in impressive box office numbers without the fanfare of a major studio release.War Room’s impressive release, and the success of other faith-based films like last year’s God’s Not Dead proves that this genre is not one to be discounted.
While it remains to be seen ifStraight Outta Comptoncan pull off a fourth straight win over the Labor Day holiday weekend, it’s three-week run is truly impressive as well. TheN.W.A. biopic’s $13.2 million take brings its overall domestic haul to $134.2 million, from a $28 million budget. The drama isn’t faring so well overseas, though, taking in just $6.8 million in international markets. This weekend,Straight Outta Comptontook in a $4,214 per-screen average from 3,142 theaters, a 117-theater increase from last weekend.
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nationdropped from second place to third place this weekend, pulling in $8.3 million, dropping just 27.5% in its fifth weekend in theaters. The action-thriller has earned $170.3 million so far at the domestic box office, with an additional $309 million in foreign markets for a worldwide haul of $479.3 million, from a $150 million budget.No Escape, a newaction-thrillerfrom The Weinstein Company, debuted in fourth place with $8.2 million. It opened in 3,355 theaters this weekend, pulling in a $2,470 per-screen average. It has earned $10.3 million domestically so far, after its debut on Wednesday.
The weekend’s final new release, Warner Bros.‘We Are Your Friends, failed to even crack the top 10 in its opening frame, debuting in 13th place with a paltry $1.8 million. The dramatic comedy starringZac Efronopened in 2,333 theaters, with a horrendous per-screen average of $773. Some are attributing the movie’s failure for opening in the last weekend of August, when the movie’s primary audience, college students, are busy heading back to campus to start a new school year. A recent Rentrak study revealed that over 70% of U.S. colleges were back in session over this weekend.
Rounding out the top 10 this weekend wasSinister 2in fifth place with $4.6 million ($18.5 million domestic),The Man from U.N.C.L.E.in sixth place with $4.4 million ($34.1 million domestic),Hitman: Agent 47in seventh place with $3.8 million ($15.2 million domestic),The Giftearning $3.13 million in eighth place ($35.9 million domestic),Jurassic Worldreturning to the top 10 in ninth place with $3.12 million ($643 million domestic) andAnt-Manlanding in 10th place with $3 million ($169.1 million domestic). While the lovableanimatedcomedyMinionsdidn’t crack the top 10, it did pass $1 billion worldwide ($324.8 million domestic, $694.1 million international), setting yet another box office record for Universal Pictures. The studio is now the first in cinematic history to have three $1 billion films open in the same year, followingJurassic World($1.63 billion) andFurious 7($1.51 billion).
Debuting in limited release this weekend was the zombie thrillerZ for Zachariah, which earned $58,000 from 29 theaters for a $2,000 per-screen average,Turbo Kidwith $50,000 from 38 theaters for a $1,316 per-screen average, The Second Mother with $28,000 from three theaters for a $9,333 per-screen average and Queen of Earth, which opened with $12,000 from two theaters for a $6,000 per-screen average. The indie Digging for Fire also expanded from three theaters last weekend to 30 theaters, earning $48,000 for a $1,600 per-screen average. Check back next week to see if any of this weekend’s indie releases expand into more theaters over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Next weekend brings us the start of the fall movie season, and two new movies in wide release EuropaCorp’sThe Transporter Refueledand Broad Green Pictures’A Walk in the Woods, opening on Wednesday, September 2.The Transporter Refueledis expected to open in 2,800 theaters, but we don’t have an exact theater count forA Walk in the Woods. Also opening in limited release are RADiUS-TWC’s dramatic comedyBefore We Go, the directorial debut ofChris Evans, who stars withAlice Eve, and Shout Factory’s vampire comedyBloodsucking Bastardsfrom the improv troupeDr. God, which starsFran KranzandPedro Pascal. CanStraight Outta Comptonwin for a fourth week in a row? Or willThe Transporter Refueledend its impressive run atop the box office? Check back on Tuesday for our full box office predictions for Labor Day weekend, but, in the meantime, take a look at the box office estimates for this weekend.
