This weekend was supposed to be a break between the massive openings of “Despicable Me 4” (Universal) and “Twisters” (Universal)/“Deadpool and Wolverine” (Disney) the following two weeks. It turned out that way, but not as expected.
“Longlegs” (Neon) and “Fly Me to the Moon” (Sony) were expected to come in second and third this weekend with combined $30 million to $35 million. That part happened. But Apple’s romantic comedy starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum was expected to take second place, with perhaps at least $15 million (previous projections were higher), while Oz Perkins’ distinctive horror thriller starring Nicolas Cage was expected to make $10 million or more.
Instead, “Longlegs” took second place with $22.6 million, while “Fly” is initially placed at $10 million (others put it lower), and only in fifth place. Both results are striking.
With a marketing budget of less than $10 million, “Longlegs” grossed more in a single weekend than all but two of Neon’s films (“Parasite” and “I, Tonya”) did in their entire run. Released on the 25th anniversary of “The Blair Witch Project,” it’s close enough to the unexpected results of the first films to be noteworthy.
Blair Witch, which launched the found footage horror genre and was by far its high point, had a limited release, with a first week that was equivalent to over $60 million today, compared to over $300 million adjusted. Different times, different results. Both have the distinction of having broken out in the heart of summer, Neon having smartly trusted its film and seeing this week as a potential standout. Mission accomplished. It’s even more impressive with so many horror films coming out regularly and Cage starring in new films. Saturday’s grosses were higher than Friday’s (excluding previews), which is a positive sign for word of mouth, unlike the C+ Cinemascore (the same as Blair Witch’s).
“Moon,” on the other hand, is Apple’s latest disappointing production to have enjoyed a major theatrical success thanks to a major distributor. Costing $100 million before release, even with an A- Cinemascore, the film failed to draw crowds or show momentum over the weekend (Saturday was lower than Friday’s takings only).
The company has several movies planned (including Warner Bros.’ “F1” next summer). Without a clear idea of how Apple would benefit from streaming later, it’s hard to make the case for continued theatrical release, and it reinforces the sense that Netflix figured this out a long time ago.
The sixth film in the “Despicable Me”/“Minions” series grossed just under $45 million, nearly double any other film this weekend. With a very respectable 40% drop in its second weekend, the studio is now projecting total worldwide revenue of more than $5 billion, putting it ahead of any other animated franchise excluding inflation.
Inside Out 2 (Disney) is third, down just 32 percent. With nearly $573 million, it remains a chance to join Barbie, which earned $636 million last year. A Quiet Place: Day One (Paramount), despite competition from Longlegs, holds on with nearly $12 million for fourth place.
In total, five films (if “Moon” does what it’s been asked to do) made $10 million or more this weekend. That’s healthy, and something that, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, wasn’t automatic in July (not at all in 2019, and then three out of four weekends in 2018). Total box office was about $127 million, down from $140 million last year. Year-to-date, grosses are up 16% from 2023.
One of the few midsummer awards contenders has hit the mark. “Sing Sing” (A24) starring Colman Domingo has opened well in four theaters (New York/Los Angeles) for $137,000 ($34,000 per theater) as it begins its slow rollout. In an unusual move, it isn’t expected to expand until August in order to build expected word of mouth and avoid competing with the juggernauts of the following two weeks. This inspiring prison-set film isn’t a guaranteed specialty film, so this cautious handling makes perfect sense.
A string of other respectable limited screenings were also presented. “National Anthem” (LD/Variance) made $42,400 in four New York/Los Angeles showings. Two documentaries were screened exclusively in New York, with “Eno” (Film First) making $14,446 at Film Forum. Its presentation includes a slightly different version on different days. “America’s Burning” (Abramorama) $11,325 ($15,450 in four showings). “Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story,” self-distributed by its directors, had a two-day (two showings only) run in Newport, Rhode Island for $12,699 (additional sold-out midweek showings for the documentary will bring it to $25,000).
In the opening round, Icelandic veteran Baltasar Kormákur’s “Touch” (Focus) collected $470,000 in 316, while “Dandelion” (IFC) could only claim $65,000 in 446.
The Top 10
1. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) Week 2; Last Weekend #1
$44,650,000 (-40%) in 4,449 (+21) theaters; PTA (average per theater): $10,036; cumulative: $211,102,000
2. Long legs (Neon) NEW – Cinemascore: C+; Metacritic: 78
$22,600,000 in 2,510 theaters; PTA: $9,004; Cumulative: $22,600,000
3. Inside Out 2 (Disney) Week 4; Last Weekend #2
$20,748,000 (-32%) in 3,815 (+55) theaters; PTA: $5,439; Cumulative: $572,792,000
4. A quiet place: first day (Paramount) Week 3; Last Weekend #3
$11,800,000 (-43%) in 3,378 (-310) theaters; PTA: $3,493; Cumulative: $116,229,000
5. Fly me to the moon (Sony) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 52; Estimated budget: $100 million
$10,000,000 in 3,356 theaters; PTA: $2,980; Cumulative: $10,000,000
6. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Sony) Week 6; Last Weekend #5
$4,400,000 (-34%) in 2,200 (-444) theaters; PTA: $2,000; cumulative: $184,876,000
7. Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 (Warner Bros.) Week 3; Last Weekend #6
$2,440,000 (-54%) in 2,587 (-747) theaters; PTA: $943; Cumulative: $27,028,000
8. MaXXXine (A24) Week 2; Last weekend #4
$2,071,000 (-69%) in 2,370 (-80) theaters; PTA: $874; cumulative: $11,776,000
9. Indian 2 (Film Distribution Network) NEW – Estimated budget: $24 million
$1,969,000 in 525 theaters; PTA: $1,849; cumulative: $1,969,000
10. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (Angel) Week 2; Last Weekend #7
$1,300,000 (-56%) in 2,137 (-63) theaters; PTA: $627; Cumulative: $9,700,000
Other specialist/independent titles
Movies (limited, limited expansions) are listed by release week, starting with those released that week; after the first three weeks, only movies grossing over $5,000 are listed. Metacritic ratings and first recorded film festivals when available.
Sing sing (A24) NEW – Metacritic: 81; Festivals included: Toronto 2023, South by Southwest 2024
$137,119 in 4 rooms; PTA: $34,280
Touch (Focus) NEW – Metacritic: 70; Festivals included: Sydney 2024
$470,000 in 310 theaters; PTA: $1,487
National anthem (LD/Variance) NEW – Metacritic: 72; Festivals included: South by Southwest 2023
$42,400 in 4 rooms; PTA: $10,600
Eno (Film First) NEW – Metacritic: 60; Festivals included: Sundance 2024
$14,446 in 1 theater; PTA: $14,446
Brother of the water (self-distributed) NEW – Metacritic: Festivals include:
$12,699 (two days) in 1 theater; PTA: $12,699
America is burning (Abramorama) NEW – Festivals include: Tribeca 2024
$11,325 in 1 theater; PTA: $11,325; Cumulative: $15,450
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (Cohen) NEW – Festivals include: Berlin, Tribeca 2024
$7,083 in 1 theater; PTA: $7,083
Dandelion (IFC) NEW – Metacritic: 64; Festivals include: South by Southwest 2024
$65,538 in 446 theaters; PTA: $147
Kill (Roadside Attractions) Week 2
$138,440 in 300 (-528) theaters; PTA: $461; cumulative: $1,047,000
Dad (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 3
$18,141 in 45 (-357) theaters; cumulative: $845,641
Last summer (Janus/Sideshow) Week 3
$24,000 in 24 (+17) theaters; Cumulative: $104,896
Thelma (Magnolia) Week 4
$415,000 in 449 (-156) theaters; cumulative: $7,731,000
The bikers (Focus) Week 4; also on PVOD
$410,000 in 712 (-850) theaters; cumulative: $20,341,000
Types of Kindness (Searchlight) Week 4
$324,000 in 730 (-190) theaters; cumulative: $4,683,000
Planet Janet (A24) Week 4
$45,684 in 41 (-49) theaters; cumulative: $615,262
Ghost Light (IFC) Week 5
$20,552 in 46 (+2) theaters; Cumulative: $633,763
Robot Dreams (Neon) Week 7
$49,000 in 300 (+262); Cumulative: $700,516