‘Dory’ sinks ‘Independence Day’ with $73.2M at weekend box office
Finding Dory is the big kahuna of the summer box office.
Disney/Pixar’s animated sequel just kept swimming into its second weekend, harpooning $73.2 million and dipping just 46 per cent, according to studio estimates from comScore. In only 10 days, the Finding Nemo followup has hooked $286.6 million in the United States and $396.9 million worldwide.
“I’m not surprised that it did this well,” says comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “It’s been a go-to movie for everyone, and that’s the magic of the Pixar brand.
“Having a Pixar movie in the summer mix is always good for business.”
Dory, which arrives 13 years after the Oscar-winning Nemo, has stayed afloat thanks to glowing reviews (94 per cent positive on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes) and reactions from moviegoers (90 per cent liked it). The movie follows regal blue tang fish Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) as she searches for her parents (Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton), and features new and returning voice talent including Ed O’Neill, Albert Brooks and Idris Elba.
Dory’s titanic second weekend was enough to capsize Independence Day: Resurgence, which sank with $41.6 million for No. 2. The $165 million movie was met with abysmal reactions from critics (33 per cent positive reviews) and moviegoers (40 per cent liked it).
In third place, action comedy Central Intelligence stealthily pocketed $18.4 million in its second weekend. The CIA caper starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart has earned $69.3 million in 10 days.
Shark-attack thriller The Shallows made a splash its first week out, chomping off $16.7 million for No. 4. The modestly budgeted popcorn movie starring Blake Lively baited critics (74 per cent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences alike (69 per cent liked it).
Rounding out the top five was Free State of Jones. The poorly reviewed Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey brought in just $7.8 million.