The Mercury News

‘The Predator’ gobbles up its competitio­n

- By Lindsey Bahr

“The Predator” is at the top of the food chain in its first weekend in theaters.

20th Century Fox said Sunday that the film earned an estimated $24 million from more than 4,000 North American theaters.

But with an $88 million production price tag, the Shane Black-directed installmen­t in the 30-year-old franchise will be looking to internatio­nal receipts to offset the cost. This weekend, it earned $30.7 million from 72 foreign markets, bringing the global total to $54.7 million.

Starring Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown and Boyd Holbrook, “The Predator” made headlines just weeks before opening when the studio cut a scene that featured an actor who was a registered sex offender. It did not appear to have affected the film’s box office performanc­e.

Second place went to the “Conjuring” spinoff “The Nun,” which added $18.2 million in its second weekend. The horror pic has now grossed more than $85 million.

Lionsgate’s “A Simple Favor” opened close behind in third place with $16.1 million. The film from director Paul Feig stars Anna Kendrick as a mommy blogger investigat­ing the disappeara­nce of her friend played by Blake Lively. Feig has referred to it as a “friller,” a fun thriller.

Fourth and fifth places were neck and neck. According to Sunday estimates, “White Boy Rick,” with $8.8 million, had a slight advantage over “Crazy Rich Asians,” which added $8.7 million this week and is just shy of hitting $150 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. $24 “The million Predator”:

2. “The Nun”: $18.2 million

3. “A Simple Favor”: $16.1million

4. “White Boy Rick”: $8.8 million

5. “Crazy Rich Asians”: $8.7 million

6. “Peppermint”: $6.1million

7. “The Meg”: $3.8million

8. “Searching”: $3.2million

9. “Unbroken: Path to Redemption”: $2.4million.

10. “Mission: Impossible — Fallout”: $2.3million

 ?? 20TH CENTURY FOX ?? “The Predator,” which cost $88 million to produce, earned $24 million in its first weekend in theaters.
20TH CENTURY FOX “The Predator,” which cost $88 million to produce, earned $24 million in its first weekend in theaters.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States