The world according to Dan.

Roland Emmerich’s Midway shoots to top of box office with $17.5 million

The box office got a huge refresh during Veteran’s Day weekend, with nearly every title in the top five a new release. However, the sluggish returns in spite of a slate of new content didn’t bode well for 2019 box office health.

Appropriately for the holiday weekend, Roland Emmerich‘s epic World War II film Midway took the number one spot with estimated earnings totaling $17.5 million. But with a budget around $100 million, this is not a big win for the German-born director. The story was much the same for the new releases in the second and third place slots.

Midway spooked the Ewan McGregor-led Doctor Sleep—the follow-up to The Shining that apparently nobody wanted—into second place with $14.1 million. With a budget reported around $14 million, this is also a disappointment for Warner Bros.

John Cena‘s Playing With Fire that sees firefighters turn into babysitters takes the third place slot with an estimated $12.8 million, followed by the romantic dramedy Last Christmas which earned an estimated $11.6 million this holiday weekend.

Emmerich’s newest title tells the real life events around the Battle of Midway that took place from June 4 to 7, 1942—six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. It follows the lives of military pilots and soldiers who helped the United States beat the Imperial Japanese Navy, changing the course of history.

Woody Harrelson stars as Chester Nimitz, a fleet admiral in the U.S. Navy who led forces to victory during the most critical period of the war in the Pacific. Patrick Wilson brings to life Edwin T. Layton, an intelligence officer who helped convince Nimitz that Midway was Japan’s next target with the help of intelligence information.

Luke Evans and Ed Skrein portray squadron commanders Wade McClusky and Dick Best, who are credited with leading plane squadrons that destroyed Japanese carriers.

Rounding out the star-studded cast are Aaron Eckhart, Darren Criss, Nick Jonas, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, and Alexander Ludwig.

It’s worth noting that no studio was willing to give Emmerich the enormous budget he was seeking to make this passion project. He raised $24 million in equity from Chinese investors along with $76 million from independent investors, totaling $100 million for the budget. The Hollywood Reporter says Midway has been billed as “one of the most expensive indie films ever made.”

Investors will no doubt keep their eyes locked on the international box office in hopes it can help them at least break even, which is something Emmerich consistently manages to do. His biggest domestic box office win to date is with 1997’s Independence Day, which grossed $306 million domestically, and $817 million internationally.

Doctor Sleep is a massive financial disappointment. With a $14.1 million opening, it clocked in over $10 million below its $25 million expectations. The horror title takes place nearly four decades after the events from The Shining. This is especially notable during a time where seemingly everything based in the Stephen King universe inspires pandemonium from his dedicated fan base.

The R-rated film follows a now adult Dan Torrance (McGregor), who meets a young girl with similar powers as him. He seeks to protect her from a cult hoping to cultivate said power in exchange for immortality.

EW gave the film a dismal C+ rating calling it “a mess.” Adding, “It’s way too long, clashing somber sobriety with loony cheap thrills. The Shining homages turn shameless and cheap. The jump-scares are more funny than scary. Dan is a problem. McGregor used to be such a live-wire performer, but he’s frozen stolid here. It’s admirable to explore how family alcoholism and a childhood history of abuse can still affect a man forty years past his murderdad. But the language of pop therapy can make for deadly dialogue.”

Although King himself wasn’t a fan of the big screen adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, it was the latter’s imagery that inspired Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan. Fans might not have turned out in droves to see this film, at least Flanagan can go to sleep knowing King enjoyed his film. Fans don’t agree, however—it earned a tepid B+ from Cinemascore viewers.

John Cena knows how to win WWE title matches and the box office, but his comedy Playing With Fire only landed in third place this weekend. Cena portrays fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena), who alongside his team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) helps rescue three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) who are in the path of a wildfire that’s coming towards them.

Although the reviews for the PG-rated film are predominantly lackluster, Cinemascore says moviegoers saw it a bit more favorably, granting it a mediocre B+.

The romantic dramedy Last Christmas played with everyone’s hearts and minds, but it still became the fourth most watched film of the weekend. Despite the star power involved, fans weren’t biting on the George Michael inspired drama with a massive twist many saw coming since the trailer dropped.

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke stars as Kate, a young woman who works as an elf at a year long Christmas shop in London who has made more bad decisions in her life than she has bells on her shoes. She meets Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding‘s character Tom in the Paul Feig directed film, and her life promises to never be the same.

The film, loosely inspired by the George Michael hit of the same name, co-stars Emma Thompson (who also co-wrote the screenplay), Michelle Yeoh, Patti LuPone, Rob Delaney, and Peter Serafinowitcz. Reviews of the film have not been favorable, with EW calling it a “ridiculous holiday trifle” and branding it with a C+. Audiences agreed, giving it a terrible B- Cinemascore.

Rounding out the top five is last week’s box office winner, Terminator: Dark Fate with an estimated $10.8 million in ticket sales.

Overall, box office is down 5.2 percent year-to-date for the second week in a row, according to Comscore. Check out the Nov. 8-10 numbers below:

Midway — $17.5 million
Doctor Sleep — $14.1 million
Playing With Fire — $12.8 million
Last Christmas — $11.6 million
Terminator: Dark Fate — $10.8 million
Joker — $9.2 million
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil — $8 million
Harriet — $7.2 million
Zombieland 2: Double Tap — $4.3 million
The Addams Family — $4.2 million

Joker narrowly reclaims top box office spot from Maleficent sequel with $18.9 million

It’s a battle of the baddies at the box office this weekend with Joker narrowly reclaiming the top spot from Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

Joker continues to dominate the box office in its fourth week in theaters, besting Maleficent: Mistress of Evil by a very small percent but just enough to return to the top. The Joaquin Phoenix-led film earned approximately $18.9 million over the weekend, while the Disney sequel took in $18.5 million.

This total adds to the Joker‘s box office domination, earning the title of highest-grossing R-rated film beating previous record-holders Deadpool and Deadpool 2. The Todd Phillips directed drama has earned an estimated $277.6 million domestically to date, according to Comscore.

The third and fourth spot are also returning titles that are perfectly themed for the spooky October holiday of Halloween. The Addams Family follows Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in third place with $11.7 million followed by Zombieland: Double Tap, which earned $11.6 million for fourth place.

Rounding out the top five is a new addition this week — Countdown earned an estimated $9 million during its opening weekend. Just in time for Halloween, the horror thriller, stars Peter Facinelli, Tichina Arnold, Elizabeth Lail, and Anne Winter. It tells the story of a nurse who discovers a phone app that tells her when someone is going to die.

Countdown raked in the dollars despite its bad reviews, with audiences agreeing, in hindsight, it was probably worth skipping. Filmgoers gave the Justin Dec-directed title a dismal C+ Cinemascore, while Rotten Tomato critics declared it decidedly rotten with a 26% on their Tomatometer.

Also making its debut in theaters this week is Deon Taylor’s Black and Blue led by James Bond star Naomie Harris and action star Tyrese Gibson. It earned an estimated $8.3 million at the box office, placing it in the number six spot at the box office and an opening spot in the weekend’s top 10.

The drama tells the story of rookie cop Alicia West (Harris), who is caught between a rock and hard place after witnessing corrupt cops killing an informant. With the help of her old neighborhood friend Mouse (Gibson), the pair race against the clock to get the evidence she caught on her body cam before the bad guys have a chance to destroy it.

Black and Blue is a balanced and timely story that proves that the only color that turns good people bad is green. The film co-stars Mike Colter, Frank Grillo, Beau Knapp, and Nafessa Williams.

EW gave the film a B, emphasizing that “Taylor’s rogue-cop drama still manages to land more visceral hits than other recent films that have tried and failed to do the same.”

Another new release for the weekend, Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Current War: Director’s Cut, nabs the ninth place spot, opening to an estimated $2.7 million across 1,022 locations. Cumberbatch brings to life Thomas Edison who is battling against time and two businessmen who think they have a better idea to bring electricity to the United States.

The businessmen, George Westinghouse and his partner Nikolai Tesla, are portrayed by Michael Shannon and Nicholas Hoult, respectively.

Originally to be distributed by The Weinstein Company, The Current War found its buzzy awards season release stopped in its tracks back in 2017 when the first allegations against Weinstein broke. The Current War was shelved until May when a new distributor announced the Alfonso Gomez-Rejon-directed historical drama would finally be released in October. Jake Gallenhaal was originally attached to the role of Westinghouse when the film was announced in 2012.

Overall box office is down 5.1 percent year-to-date, according to Comscore. Check out the Oct. 25-27 numbers below:

Joker — $18.9 million
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil — $18.5 million
The Addams Family — $11.7 million
Zombieland 2: Double Tap — $11.6 million
Countdown— $9 million
Black and Blue—$8.3 million
Gemini Man — $4 million
The Lighthouse—$3 million
The Current War: Director’s Cut—$2.7 million
Abominable — $2 million

Joker laughs at the competition with second winning weekend in a row

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker continues to prove that movies rooted in comic books are not a fad, as it takes the top spot at the box office for a second week in a row.

The psychological thriller earned an estimated $55 million domestically, bringing its two-week total to $192.7 million. New releases rounded out the top three with animated The Addams Family nabbing second place with an estimated $30.3 million and Will Smith’s action thriller Gemini Man falling into third with an estimated $20.5 million.

Since October is a great month for all things creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky, it’s no surprise that MGM’s animated The Addams Family took the number two spot with an estimated $30.3 million, though the film outpaced expectations. Unlike Joker and It: Chapter Two (currently in eighth place with an estimated $3.2 million), The Addams Family brings PG-rated fun that’s suitable for the whole family.

The film, which follows the family as they relocated to New Jersey, stars the star-studded voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Aimee Garcia, and Finn Wolfhard. The film drew mediocre reviews, but a more positive B+ CinemaScore. from audiences.

The animated take on the altogether ookie family performed better than either of the previous two Addams Family big-screen adaptations, 1993’s Addams Family Values, which opened to $14.1 million, and 1991’s The Addams Family, which opened to $24.2 million. However, this does not account for inflation. It’s likely the film could get a sequel with strong brand recognition and opening weekend numbers that exceeded projections.

Box office action star Will Smith takes the third spot with Gemini Man, earning an estimated $20.5 million. The action thriller, directed by Ang Lee, follows an elite assassin named Henry Brogan (Smith) who suddenly becomes the target of a mysterious young operative that somehow knows his every move. The film also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong.

Gemini Man has been ravaged by critics, excepting praise for the de-aging technology on display, and audiences aren’t much more positive, bestowing it with a decent B+ Cinemascore. Though the film marked the largest ever opening for director Ang Lee, it’s less than stellar for Smith, marking it his sixteenth highest opening behind more somber, dramatic fare like The Pursuit of Happyness.

People put their mobile devices away to catch Lionsgate’s comedy Jexi in theaters, making an estimated $3.1 million during its opening weekend. Led by Adam Devine, the comedy tells the story of what can happen when you love your phone more than anything else in your life. It’s also a warning for those that can’t live without their virtual assistants, as they could surprise you one day and show you just how intelligent they really are.

Jexi co-stars Alexandra Shipp as Devine’s potential love interest, if only his assistant Jexi (voiced by Rose Byrne) doesn’t ruin his life first. Michael Peña plays his boss, and Wanda Sykes is a hilarious mobile phone company employee. Justin Hartley, Charlyne Yin, Ron Funches, and Kid Cudi also co-star

The Jon Lucas and Scott Moore-directed film has not received positive reviews from critics, earning a dismal 15 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And while it’s probably safe to say that Jexi won’t be winning any Academy Awards, Cinemascore confirms theatergoers are feeling tepid about this title, too—they gave it a B-.

Bong Joon Ho’s critically lauded Parasite had a big debut earning $376,264 with screenings available at just three theaters. This is the highest per-location opening of 2019, a huge feat for the foreign release that was awarded the coveted Palm d’Or from the 2019 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

The dark comedy follows Kim Ki-Taek (Kang-ho Song), an unemployed driver and his family. His luck drastically changes for the better when they’re employed by the Park family. But it’s short-lived as everything falls apart when they become entangled in a tragic series of events. The film has earned rave reviews and could be a strong contender in the Oscars race as awards season ramps up.

Holdovers round out the top five with animated flick Abominable taking fourth place with an estimated $6.2 million in ticket sales. Downton Abbey continues to prove its box office power, putting the feather in the cap of the top five, with a fifth-place finish of an estimated $4.9 million.

Overall box office is down 5 percent year-to-date, holding steady from last week, according to Comscore. Check out the Oct. 11-13 numbers below:

Joker — $55 million
The Addams Family—$30.3 million
Gemini Man— $20.5
Abominable — $6.2 million
Downton Abbey — $4.9 million
Hustlers — $3.9 million
Judy— $3.3 million
It Chapter Two — $3.2 million
Jexi— $3.1 million
Ad Astra — $1.9 million

Joker breaks October box office record with $93.5 million opening weekend

All the world loves a clown — or at least lots of moviegoers paid to see one this weekend.

Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix’s dark supervillain drama Joker is on track to earn an estimated $93.5 million at the domestic box office from Friday through Sunday, shrugging off controversy and setting a new record for the biggest October opening ever. The Warner Bros. release dethrones another movie with comic book origins, Sony’s Venom, which bowed to $80.3 million a year ago. Overseas, Joker will add about $140.5 million from 73 markets, for a massive worldwide total of about $234 million.

Directed and co-written by Phillips, Joker puts a new, R-rated spin on the classic Batman villain and stars Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill failed stand-up comedian who unleashes havoc on Gotham City. Heading into the weekend, there were concerns that the film’s bleak themes and imagery could inspire real-life violence, prompting theaters to boost security. Families of victims of the 2012 mass shooting during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo., also wrote a letter to Warner Bros. expressing concerns about Joker and urged the studio to use its influence to help make society safer. Nevertheless, audiences have flocked to see the movie.

Reviews for Joker have mixed to positive (it currently has a 69% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes), while moviegoers gave it a B+ CinemaScore.

Rounding out the box office top five this weekend are DreamWorks Animation’s Abominable, with about $12.9 million; Focus Features’ period drama Downton Abbey, with about $8 million; STX Entertainment’s stripper tale Hustlers, with about $6.3 million; and Warner Bros’. horror sequel It Chapter Two (another movie about a freaky clown), with about $5.4 million.

Further down the list, the Judy Garland biopic Judy — featuring an acclaimed performance by Renee Zellweger — expands into wide release with an estimated $4.6 million, good for seventh place.

And in limited release, Pedro Almodovar’s semi-autobiographical drama Pain and Glory arrives in four theaters with an estimated $160,087, which works out to a robust per-screen average of $40,022.

Overall box office is down 5 percent year-to-date, according to Comscore, showing a slight improvement from last week. Check out the Oct. 4-6 numbers below.

Joker — $93.5 million
Abominable — $12 million
Downton Abbey — $8 million
Hustlers — $6.3 million
It Chapter Two — $5.4 million
Ad Astra — $4.6 million
Judy — $4.4 million
Rambo: Last Blood — $3.6 million
War — $1.5 million
Good Boys — $900,000

Spider-Man isn’t leaving the Marvel universe just yet

Marvel fans can rest easy, Spider-Man won’t be leaving their universe — at least for now.

Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios announced on Friday that Marvel Studios will continue to produce the Spider-Man Homecoming series, heading off fans’ fears that the popular superhero would disappear from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The third film in Spider-Man’s current incarnation, starring Tom Holland, will be released on July 16, 2021, the studios said.

The most recent film in the series, Spider-Man: Far From Home, was released in June in the United States and was Sony Pictures’ highest-grossing film, fetching $1.11 billion US worldwide through Aug. 18.

Last month, multiple reports and producers, including Marvel movie supremo Kevin Feige, said the two companies could not come to an understanding over sharing the character in the movies, after their previous deal expired.

Reports also indicated that Disney wanted a larger financial stake in the Sony-produced standalone Spider-Man movies.

The news about the breakup had disappointed fans, who took to Twitter to start a campaign with hashtags #SaveSpiderMan and #SaveSpidey.

“I am thrilled that Spidey’s journey in the MCU will continue,” Feige said on Friday.

Spider-Man will also appear in a future Marvel Studios film, the studios said.

Abominable freezes out competition for box office victory

Don’t count original animated titles out at the box office Yeti.

DreamWorks Animation’s Abominable scaled the box office charts this weekend for an estimated $20.9 million debut to score a snowy weekend victory. Alongside Us and Good Boys, it’s the only original title to debut at number one at the box office in 2019. It’s also the first original animated title to lay claim to that spot this year.

Female-driven holdovers round out the top three slots. Focus Features’ Downton Abbey continues to exceed expectations, taking in an estimated $14.5 million in its second weekend and falling to second place. The big screen adaptation of the beloved television series is proving to be everyone’s cup of tea around the world. It now boasts a global total of $107.1 million.

Hustlers continues to score with audiences, bouncing back up to third place in its third weekend of release after falling to fifth place last weekend. The Jennifer Lopez-led drama danced its way to an estimated $11.5 million on the lucite heels of a great week for Lopez (it was announced she will co-headline the 2020 Super Bowl alongside Shakira earlier this week).

Abominable is a yeti-sized win for original animation, proving families are still hungry for new storytelling in the animated sphere. It’s also the first animated Hollywood studio film with a female director at the helm — Jill Culton, alongside Todd Wilderman. The family-friendly flick follows a teenager (Chloe Bennet) and her two friends (Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Albert Tsai) who trek 3,000 miles across China and into the Himalayas to return a young Yeti, fondly named Everest, with his family. Eddie Izzard and Sarah Paulson also lend voice talent as a wealthy man and eager zoologist hell-bent on capturing the creature for research.

It could be poised for a blizzard of strong returns going forward, given its sterling A CinemaScore and positive reviews. Abominable is the seventh Universal title to debut at number one this year (eight if you include Downton Abbey), giving them the most number one titles of any studio this year. It was co-produced by Universal’s DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studios.

The weekend’s other new release, Judy Garland biopic Judy, went over the rainbow with its opening numbers in limited release. Opening on only 461 screens, Judy cracked the top ten for a seventh place finish and an estimated $3.1 million in ticket sales. It marks the top opening for a film in platform release this year, according to Roadside Attractions.

Renee Zellweger is already earning heaps of Oscar buzz for her portrayal of legendary entertainer Judy Garland in the last concert engagements of her life. Audiences responded strongly to her performance, giving the film an A- CinemaScore. Additionally, Roadside Attractions reports Judy’s grosses jumped 35 percent from Friday to Saturday, suggesting terrific word-of-mouth. Judy expands nationwide next weekend where that momentum could continue.

We’re fully into fall movie season now as a horror sequel and original awards bait round out the top five. It: Chapter Two stays strong in its fourth week of release, scaring up an estimated $10.4 million in ticket sales. The horror sequel now boasts a $193.9 million domestic total and has crossed the $400 million mark worldwide with a cumulative gross of $417.4 million. Last weekend’s new Brad Pitt in space vehicle, Ad Astra, falls to fifth place with an estimated $10.1 million in ticket sales.

Overall box office is down 5.1 percent to date, according to Comscore, a steadily improving number. Check out the Sept. 27-29 numbers below.

1. Abominable— $20.9 million
2. Downton Abbey— $14.5 million
3. Hustlers— $11.5 million
4. It: Chapter Two— $10.4 million
5. Ad Astra— $10.1 million
6. Rambo: Last Blood— $8.6 million
7. Judy— $3.1 million
8. Good Boys— $2 million
9. The Lion King– $1.6 million
10. Angel Has Fallen — $1.5 million