Weekend Wrap-Up: Box Office has Post-Holiday Indigestion
December 9, 2014
The post-holiday weekend is rarely a great weekend and this weekend was no exception. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 fell more than 60%, while no film in the top ten fell less than 40%. The only wide release in the top ten was The Pyramid, which barely topped the Mendoza Line. Overall, the box office fell 52% from last weekend to $78 million. That's 16% lower than the same weekend last year. Year-to-date, 2014 is behind 2013 by a 4.5% or $440 million margin. It is not going to close that margin over the next four weeks, but it should still top $10 billion before the year is over.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 held on a little better than expected with $22.03 million over the weekend for a total of $258.15 million after three weeks of release. If we compare the film's run so far with that of Catching Fire, then Mockingjay, Part 1 is on pace for just over $325 million. This is a great run, and enough to break even before taking into account the international numbers. That said, it is still below Guardians of the Galaxy's run meaning it would finish in second place for the year. I think the studio will try and give the film a boost over Christmas to get it to first place.
Penguins of Madagascar was well back with $10.91 million over the weekend for a total of $49.40 million after two weeks of release. It is not going to match its production budget domestically, so it will have to rely on international numbers to break even. Don't expect another Madagascar film focusing on the Penguins any time soon.
Horrible Bosses 2 had the best legs in the top five falling 46% to $8.42 million over the weekend for a total of $35.90 million after two. This is still well below the first film's pace and the best the film can hope for at this point is to break even after a long run on the home market.
Big Hero 6 fell to fourth place with $8.04 million over the weekend for a total of $177.46 million after a month of release. It is still on pace to reach $200 million, but it might need a push by the holidays to get there.
Interstellar rounded out the top five with $7.89 million over the weekend for a total of $158.45 million after just over a month of release.
The only new release in the top ten was The Pyramid, which earned $1.37 million in 589 theaters for an average of $2,326. This is within a rounding error of expectations, but that's hardly a reason to celebrate. Additionally, its reviews suggest really short legs. I suspect it will be nearly out of theaters by Christmas Day.
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Interstellar, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, Penguins of Madagascar, Big Hero 6, Horrible Bosses 2, The Pyramid, Madagascar