‘The Predator’ is off and running
Sci-fi thriller begins is box-office hunt at No. 1.
LOS ANGELES – “The Predator” is at the top of the food chain in its first weekend in theaters.
The film earned an estimated $24 million from more than 4,000 North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday. But with an $88 million production price tag, the Shane Black-directed installment in the 30year-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
Domestic audiences largely were male (62 percent) and white (45 percent), and underwhelmed, giving the movie a C-plus on CinemaScore that echoed the tepid critical response.
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 performance.
“Any conversation raises awareness,” says comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “If people are talking about it, then they’re aware of the movie.”
Second place went to the “Conjuring” spinoff “The Nun,” which added $18.2 million in its second weekend. The horror movie has now grossed more than $85 million.
“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. Female moviegoers drove the solid opening, making up 67 percent of the audience.
“It stood out in the marketplace,” says David Spitz, distribution president at Lionsgate, which released the movie.
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 and is just shy of hitting $150 million.
“White Boy Rick,” based on a true story, stars Matthew McConaughey as the father of a teenage FBI informant.
The Christian film “Unbroken: Path to Redemption” made its debut in ninth place with $2.4 million. It’s based on Laura Hillenbrand’s novel about Olympian and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini and picks up where “Unbroken” left off.
September often is a slow time at the box office, which makes a $24 million launch somewhat notable, Dergarabedian says. But while the year to date is still up nearly 9 percent, the weekend itself is down 5.8 percent from last year when “It” was still terrifying audiences and breaking records.
Final numbers are expected Monday.