‘Hobbs & Shaw’ taking checkered flag for 2nd week
LOS ANGELES » Audiences helped the “Fast & Furious” spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw” take another lap at No. 1 even with an onslaught of four major releases this weekend. From family films to R-rated adult fare, moviegoers had their pick as studios tried to capitalize on the last days of summer. But although August can be a great opportunity for nonsuperhero films, it’s not a sure thing.
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” fared better than the mob thriller “The Kitchen.”
“There are always going to be casualties when there are this many openers,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office tracker Comscore.
“Hobbs & Shaw” managed to hold on to first place again. According to estimates from Universal Pictures, the Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham action flick fell 58% from its first weekend but added $25.4 million from North American theaters.
It has grossed $108.5 million domestically and $332.6 million worldwide.
Second place went to the PG-13 “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” from CBS Films and eOne Entertainment, which cut through the clutter with a better than expected $20.8 million.
Lionsgate distributed the Guillermo del Toroproduced film.
“The filmmakers and the team at CBS Films are thrilled that moviegoers are embracing the world of ‘Scary Stories,’” del Toro said. “It’s particularly satisfying to see families experiencing the fun of the movie together.”
Dergarabedian noted that, even with a PG-13 rating, horror movies once again prove to be “a consistent draw at the box office.”