TOP 12 FILMS AT THE BOX OFFICE
Hollywood had one of its best summers ever at the domestic box office, but it was a sharply lopsided victory. Studios either thrived or withered, an outcome that reflects the winner-take-all nature of the mass-appeal movie business.
Ticket sales at North American cinemas rose an estimated 10.4 percent, to $4.48 billion, for the period between the first weekend in May and Labor Day, from the same period a year earlier, the analytics firm Rentrak said. Hollywood’s summer has historically accounted for up to 40 percent of annual domestic ticket sales.
But the strong season was overwhelmingly owing to movies supplied by just two of Hollywood’s six major studios. Twelve movies took in more than $100 million in the U.S. and Canada, and eight of them were from Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios. Together, Universal and Disney controlled 60 percent of the market, Rentrak said.
Universal’s “Jurassic World” was the No. 1 draw, taking in nearly $647 million, for a global total of $1.65 billion.
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” from Disney’s Marvel division, was second, selling $457.8 million ($1.4 billion worldwide).
Third place went to one of the few original movies to hit big: “Inside Out,” from Disney’s Pixar unit, took in $348.2 million ($706 million worldwide).
But almost every other film studio struggled.
The once rock-solid Warner Bros. found hits in “San Andreas” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” but mostly suffered dud after dud, including “Magic Mike XXL,” “Entourage,” “Hot Pursuit,” “Vacation” and “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” After a stellar summer last year, 20th Century Fox had a major flop this time around with “Fantastic Four.” Sony Pictures was barely in the game.
For years, Hollywood has pursued event-style movies intended to play to everyone — old and young, male and female, domestic and foreign. (“Old” is defined by the studios as anyone older than 35.) But some of these offerings have grown so colossal that other movies, even very expensive and heavily marketed ones that receive decent reviews, are having a hard time getting noticed.
“We’re not seeing as many doubles and triples, and those movies are the ones that really keep the box office healthy,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Rentrak. “It was an extremely topheavy summer.”
Last summer, nine of the top 10 movies in North America collected roughly $200 million or more in ticket sales. This year, only four movies did that: “Jurassic World,” “Age of Ultron,” “Inside Out” and Universal’s animated “Minions.”
1. WAR ROOM (not reviewed) The Jordans seem to have it all, but appearances can be deceiving. Husband Tony (T.C. Stallings) flirts with temptation, and wife Elizabeth (Priscilla Shirer) becomes increasingly bitter, crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. Their lives take an unexpected turn for the better when Elizabeth meets her newest client, who encourages the couple to find happiness through prayer. (PG) 120 minutes — Tribune Media $13.3 million; $28.7 million; 2 weeks
2. A WALK IN THE WOODS, Robert Redford and Nick Nolte offer a predictable, yet mostly pleasing, addition to the curmudgeon buddy-movie genre. Redford is Bill Bryson, a travel writer who tries to tackle the Appalachian Trail with an alcoholic friend (Nolte). Some light physical comedy and deep thought ensues. There are few surprises, but it’s nice to see Redford having some fun. (R) 104 minutes — Peter Hartlaub $10.9 million, 1 week
3. STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, The timing is right for this biopic of N.W.A, and director F. Gary Gray provides an entertaining, reflective exploration of the groundbreaking rap group’s 1980s and early-1990s run. The drama has more in common with “The Social Network” than “Menace II Society,” although it earns its R rating for scenes of violence and sex. O’Shea Jackson Jr. is a standout, playing his reallife father, Ice Cube. (R) 147 minutes — P.H. $10.8 million; $149.8 million; 4 weeks
4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — ROGUE NATION, Tom Cruise delivers again in this entertaining, relentless action movie, in which agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) finds himself fighting a terrorist group committed only to spreading mayhem throughout the world. (PG-13) 110 minutes. — Mick LaSalle $9.4 million; $182.7 million; 6 weeks
5. THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (not reviewed) The fourth installment in the action series about a highly skilled driver who will deliver anything if the price is right. Ed Skrein replaces Jason Statham as the main character. (PG-13) 96 minutes $9 million, 1 week
6. NO ESCAPE, Owen Wilson as an action hero? Interesting idea, but this thriller, about an American family abroad trying to elude hordes of murderous rebels, has lots of tension but also lots of hokum. The movie does not rank high on the plausibility scale. (R) 103 minutes — Walter Addiego $7 million; $20 million; 2 weeks
7. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., Kind of a mess, by the standards of most action movies, this is “Citizen Kane” by Guy Ritchie standards, a mediocre film of the 1960s TV series that loses momentum throughout but has a few amusing moments. (PG-13) 116 minutes — M.L. $4.5 million; $40.4 million; 4 weeks
8. INSIDE OUT, The latest from Pixar is an ambitious, original movie that depicts the inner workings of a little girl’s mind. It has a great opening and a satisfying finish, and though it sags somewhat in the middle, it never loses its audience. (PG) 94 minutes — M.L. $4.5 million; $349.5 million; 12 weeks
9. UN GALLO CON MUCHOS HUEVOS (not reviewed) When an evil rancher threatens to destroy his home and family, a timid young rooster named Toto (Bruno Bichir) summons the courage to fight to save the day. (PG-13) 98 minutes $4.4 million; 1 week
10. SINISTER 2, The original had several genuine scares and overqualified performers, but this sequel, about a mother and her twin sons moving into a haunted rural house, has none of those things. It also misses the escalating sense of dread and mystery of its predecessor. (R) 97 minutes — Andrew Barker $4.2 million; $24.5 million; 3 weeks
11. MINIONS, This spin-off from the “Despicable Me” films is a tired yet frenetic and pointless exercise about little yellow guys who arrive in England in 1968, intent on stealing the queen’s crown. Just dreadful from beginning to end. (PG) 91 minutes — M.L. $3.9 million; $329.8 million; 9 weeks
12. ANT-MAN, xxx1/2 This is smaller scale and more human than most of the Marvel Comics superhero movies and therefore better, with Paul Rudd as a newly released prisoner who takes on the burden of saving humanity. Michael Douglas co-stars. (PG-13) 117 minutes. — M.L. $3.8 million; $174 million; 8 weeks