‘Star Trek Beyond’ races boldly to the top of the box office
With Capt. Kirk and Spock leading the USS Enterprise, Paramount’s “Star Trek Beyond” took over the box office over the weekend, unseating Universal’s “The Secret Life of Pets.”
“Star Trek Beyond,” the third installment since director J.J. Abrams revived the venerable franchise in 2009, pulled in an estimated $59.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, close to analyst expectations of about $60 million. Though down about 15 percent from its 2013 predecessor, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” the opening is still considered a solid debut for the big-budget picture and a welcome success for a studio that could use a hit after the relative disappointments of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” and “Zoolander 2.”
“Star Trek” has been one of Paramount’s most reliable franchises. The 2009 reboot posted $385 million globally, and the followup took in $467 million. With a production budget of $185 million, the “Beyond” team took advantage of rebates and tax benefits by producing the picture largely in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Dubai. That’s in contrast with the previous two installments, which Abrams wanted to shoot in Los Angeles.
Abrams, who directed the previous two “Star Treks,” produced “Beyond” with Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Entertainment.
Paramount already has announced a fourth “Star Trek,” featuring “Thor” and “Ghostbusters” star Chris Hemsworth. This weekend’s performance bodes well for the next film, Colligan said.
Dropping to second place was “The Secret Life of Pets,” adding an estimated $29.3 million in its third week. The animated picture has grossed $260.7 million domestically to date. Adding an international take now at $63 million, the film’s global gross sits at $323.7 million.
Sony’s all-female led “Ghostbusters” came in third in its second weekend with an estimated $21.6 million. This brings the film’s domestic gross to date to $86.9 million.
A new release from Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema, “Lights Out,” tied for third with $21.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, and had an international take of $8.3 million. The PG-13 supernatural horror tale beat analyst expectations of $16 million to $18 million.
Finishing up the top five was fellow new release “Ice Age: Collision Course,” from 20th Century Fox. The computer-animated picture pulled in $21 million in the U.S. and Canada, falling below analyst projections of $25 million. But the film already has an international take nearing $180 million.
“This franchise is still very viable on a global basis,” said Chris Aronson, the studio’s head of distribution. “It’s a good business to be in, the ‘Ice Age’ business.”
Aronson said that according to his studio’s estimates, “Ice Age” has now surpassed “Shrek” as the highest-grossing animated franchise.
This week, STX Entertainment’s “Bad Moms,” Universal’s “Jason Bourne” and Lionsgate’s “Nerve” premiere.