Most expected Warner Bros.‘Suicide Squadto dominate at the box office throughout the month of August before it hit theaters three weeks ago. However, after suffering a hugesecond weekend dropof 67.4% last weekend, many believed that its reign would come to an end this weekend, with three new releases hitting theaters, the epic remakeBen-Hur, the animated adventureKubo and the Two Stringsand the true story adaptationWar Dogs. As it turns out, all three of those newcomers underperformed leading toSuicide Squadwinning for the third week in a row with $20.7 million.
Suicide Squad’s $133.6 million made it the fourth-highest opening of the year. The debut falls below Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil War($179.1 million), Warner Bros./DC’sBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice($166 million) and Disney Pixar’sFinding Dory($135 million). Disney Pixar’sFinding Doryis still the highest-grossing domestic release this year so far, with $473.8 million, and the R-ratedDeadpoollands in the fifth highest debut spot with $132.4 million.Box Office Mojoreports that Warner Bros.‘Task Force Xadaptation has currently made $262.2 million domestically, the eighth-highest total this year, and $572.6 million worldwide, the 11th highest tally.
Kubo and the Two Stringswas the only movie out of this trio of new releases that was a hit with critics, with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, withBen-Hurat 29% andWar Dogsjust barely missing a “Fresh” rating with 59%. Positive reviews haven’t lead to big box office success in the past with Laika films.Coralinehas an impressive 90% score on RT, but it only opened with $16.8 million and finished with $75.2 million.ParaNorman(87%, $14 million, $56 million) andThe Boxtrolls(75%, $17.2 million, $50.8 million) had similar results. The hit animated comedySausage Partyremained in second place with $15.3 million, with the three new releases rounding out the top 5,War Dogs($14.3 million),Kubo and the Two Strings($12.6 million) andBen-Hur($11.3 million).
Ben-Huris the epic story ofJudah Ben-Hur(Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based onLew Wallace’s timeless novel,Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the remake also starsMorgan FreemanandRodrigo Santoro.
War Dogsfollows two friends in their early 20s (Jonah HillandMiles Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan Military-a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government. The film also starsAna de Armas(Knock Knock) and four-time Oscar nomineeBradley Cooper(American Sniper,American Hustle,Silver Linings Playbook).
Kubo and the Two Stringsis an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced byArt ParkinsonofGame of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Akihiro (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and Kameyo (Academy Award nomineeBrenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winnerCharlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winnerMatthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nomineeRalph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nomineeRooney Mara), to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family, and fulfill his heroic destiny.
The top 10 is rounded out byPete’s Dragon($11.33 million),Bad Moms($8 million),Jason Bourne($7.9 million),The Secret Life of Pets($5.7 million) andFlorence Foster Jenkins($4.3 million). Also debuting in limited release is Independent’sKingsglaive: Final Fantasy: XV, which took in $114,000 from 24 theaters for a decent $4,750 per-screen average. Focus Features’A Tale of Love and Darknessearned $36,000 from just two theaters for an impressive $18,000 per-screen average, while Cohen Media Group’sThe People Vs. Fritz Bauerearned $33,781 from six theaters for a solid $5,630 per-screen average. There was no box office data released for Distrib Films’Down By LoveandThe Student and Mr. Henri, Magnolia’sLo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, Music Box Films’Mia Madre, A24’sMorris From Americaand Strand’sSpa Night. We don’t know for sure if any of these films will be expanding in the weeks and months to come.
Looking ahead to next weekend, three more movies will bring the summer movie season to a close. Sony’s thrillerDon’t Breathewill open in wide release, alongside Lionsgate’s action sequelMechanic: Resurrectionand The Weinstein Company’s boxing biopicHands of Stone. Also opening in limited release is Roadside Attractions’Southside With You, Seven Clubs’ thrillerBlack Songbird, IFC’s dramatic thrillerComplete Unknown, Independent’s horror filmDaylight’s End, Sony Pictures Classics’ comedyThe Hollars, Magnolia’s action-comedyIn Order of Disappearance, FilmBuff’sLevel Upand Five & Two Pictures' dramaRemember the Gold. Be sure to check back on Tuesday for next week’s predictions. Until then, take a look at the top 10 estimates for the weekend of August 19.
