The end of October typically sees an influx of horror movies vying to be the nextbox office hit. Last weekend, the horror-comedyBoo! A Madea Halloweenended up besting the horror sequelOuija 2,Jack Reacher: Never Go BackandKeeping Up With the Jonesesin what was the busiest frames of the year thus far. This Friday there are no horror movies, with Sony’s new Robert Langdon adventureInfernorepresenting the only new movie opening in wide release. We’re predicting that it should have no trouble taking the top spot with $38.6 million.
Box Office Mojoreports thatInfernowill open in approximately 3,400 theaters, which is actually less than its predecessors, and if our projection holds up, it will be the lowest debut of theRobert Langdonfranchise.The Da Vinci Codeopened in 3,757 theaters back in May 2006 with an impressive opening weekend tally of $77 million. It would go on to earn $217.5 million domestically and $540.7 million internationally for a worldwide total of $758.2 million. It’s 2009 follow-upAngels & Demonsopened at $46.2 million domestically, going on to earn $133.3 million domestically, $352.5 million internationally and $485.9 million worldwide. While this adventure should have no trouble securing the top spot, the franchise’s downward box office trend should continue withInferno, which doesn’t have the favor of the critics either, with just 26% on Rotten Tomatoes.
This new adventure finds the famous symbologist (Tom Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population.
Academy Award winnerRon Howardreturns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, Inferno. The film’s screenplay is written byDavid Koepp, based upon the novel by Dan Brown, withBrian GrazerandRon Howardserving as the producers. The supporting cast forInfernois rounded out byIrrfan Khanas Harry Sims, a.k.a. The Provost,Omar Syas Christoph Bruder andSidse Babett Knudsenas Dr. Elizabeth Sinskey, the head of the World Health Organization.Ben Fosteris playing the villain Bertrand Zobrist, a scientist trying to unleash a global plague that will solve the world’s problem with overpopulation.
We reported last week thatInfernois already off to a good start at theinternational box office, picking up $50 million in its overseas debut. After Sony hosted the world premiere screening in Florence, Italy last week, Italy became the top international market forInferno, earning $5 million from 676 screens, while Germany and Russia both pulled in $4.4 million apiece. The film earned $3.8 million in the U.K., followed by $2 million in Spain and $1.2 million in the Netherlands.Infernoalso launched in 11 Latin American markets for a combined total of $9 million. Brazil lead the way among the Latin American debuts with $4 million, followed by Mexico ($2.6 million). Southeast Asia generated $6 million in seven markets, led by Taiwan with $1.7 million, India with $1.3 million and Indonesia with $ 1 million. Australia launched with $1.8 million and the UAE took in $1 million.
The top 5 will be rounded out by last weekend’s winnerBoo! A Madea Halloweenwith $13.5 million, followed byJack Reacher: Never Go Backwith $12.7 million,Ouija: Origin of Evilwith $9.6 million andThe Accountantwith $8.4 million. The top 10 will be rounded out byThe Girl on the Train(4.5 million),Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children($3.9 million),Keeping Up with the Joneses($2.8 million),Kevin Hart: What Now?($2.6 million), andStorks$2 million. Also debuting in limited release is Magnolia’s documentaryGimme Danger, FIP’s dramaAe Dil Hai Mushkil, Argentum’s romanceNew Lifeand Paladin’s horror-thrillerThe Unspokenwill debut in limited release. There is one X factor in this weekend’s box office race, A24’sMoonlight.
Last weekend,Moonlightearned $402,075 from four theaters, for an astounding $100,519 per-screen average. That per-screen average was the highest of any movie released this year, and the second best in the past two years, behind onlyThe Revenant, which earned $474,560 from four theaters last year for a per-screen average of $118,640 last December. The critics are already raving aboutMoonlight, which has an astounding 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with just one “rotten” review out of 79. The film is set to expand to an undetermined amount of major markets this weekend, with a nationwide expansion set for November 4, going up againstDoctor Strange. Depending on how wide the expansion is, and ifMoonlightcan continue to post impressive numbers this weekend, it may be able to sneak into the top 10.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Marvel’s highly-anticipatedDoctor Strangewill go up against Lionsgate’sHacksaw Ridgeand DreamWorks Animation’sTrollsin wide release, although no theater counts have been given yet. Also opening in limited theatrical release is Magnolia’s documentaryHarry Benson: Shoot First, Focus Features' dramaLovingand another Magnolia documentary,Peter and the Fire. The Orion Pictures' horror-comedyTrash Firewill also open in limited release on Wednesday, November 2. Take a look at our projections for the top 10 below, and check back on Sunday for the box office estimates.
