Weekend Estimates: Pacific Rim Leads Weak Field of Openers
March 25, 2018
Black Panther’s run at the top of the domestic chart will finally come to an end this weekend, with Pacific Rim: Uprising taking over as the most popular film in the US and Canada. The switch over is mostly due to Panther beginning to run out of steam, rather than Uprising showing any particular strength though. Universal’s sci-fi action movie will pick up $28.005 million over its opening weekend in North America, about in line with expectations, but disappointing for a film that cost $150 million to make. Overseas markets, particularly in Asia, are where the box office action is at for this one.
On that front, things are looking fairly good. Pacific Rim is opening with around $122.5 million internationally, including an estimated $65 million in China. Other good territories include South Korea, with $6.879 million; Russia, $6.806 million; Mexico, $4.906 million; Malaysia, $3.832 million; Indonesia, $3.667 million; and Taiwan, $3.421 million. The film is number one in all of those markets. Europe is looking softer, with 2nd-place openings in France ($2.522m), the UK ($2.408m), and Germany ($1.861m). Overall, Pacific Rim is the number one global film this weekend, although it won’t stay that way for long.
Black Panther passed some more notable milestones this weekend. Its $16.658 million in earnings will take it to $630.9 million domestically, and make it the top-grossing super hero movie of all time in North America, just ahead of The Avengers. It remains on track for over $650 million in total domestically. Internationally, it will pass $600 million this weekend, making it the 6th-highest grossing super hero movie overseas.
In third place this weekend, I Can Only Imagine will be down just 19% from last weekend, albeit thanks largely to playing in more theaters. Its $13.8 million projected weekend takes it to $38.3 million so far. That means more people have seen the indie drama than Pacific Rim so far, and its about on par with Tomb Raider for cumulative box office after two weekends. Word of mouth remains particularly strong for this one.
The remaining new releases this weekend are all looking like tepid performers. Sherlock Gnomes will make about $10.6 million; Paul, Apostle of Christ is headed for a $5-million debut; Midnight Sun will earn $4.1 million; and Unsane is coming in around $3.85 million. All four films had the unenviable task of finding a good release date between the blockbusters, and couldn’t really find an audience. Paul, Apostle of Christ might get a shot at some extra earnings through Easter, so can’t be entirely written off quite yet.
Limited releases are looking much more interesting. Isle of Dogs is projected to open with $1.57 million from just 27 theaters. Its $58,000 theater average is the best of 2018 so far, ahead of Black Panther’s $50,250 average on its debut weekend. The Death of Stalin’s first two weekends hold third and fifth place among 2018 theater averages, and it is powering ahead on its third weekend, with $1.06 million from 141 locations, as it expands nationwide.
- Weekend estimates
- Pacific Rim: Uprising Comparisons
- Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise history
- Biggest sixth weekends of all time
- Top-grossing super hero movies
- Black Panther daily tracking vs. $650 million-plus movies
- Sherlock Gnomes Comparisons
- Paul, Apostle of Christ Comparisons
- Midnight Sun Comparisons
- Unsane Comparisons
- Tomb Raider Comparisons
- Love, Simon Comparisons
- I Can Only Imagine Comparisons
- A Wrinkle in Time Comparisons
- The Strangers: Prey at Night Comparisons
- Red Sparrow Comparisons
- Game Night Comparisons
- Peter Rabbit Comparisons
- Death Wish Comparisons
- Annihilation Comparisons
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Black Panther, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Midnight Sun, Sherlock Gnomes, Tomb Raider, Isle of Dogs, The Death of Stalin, I Can Only Imagine, Paul, Apostle of Christ, Unsane, Marvel Cinematic Universe