Weekend Wrap-Up: Dumbo Marches to the Top
April 2, 2019
Dumbo wasn’t able to match expectations, but it still topped the chart over the weekend with $45.99 million. This isn’t enough for this weekend to match last weekend, as it fell 7.3% to $137 million. This is better than the same weekend last year by a tiny 0.6%, but anything that keeps 2019’s winning streak alive is good news in my book. Year-to-date, 2019 is still behind 2018 by practically the same margin as it was last weekend. In fact, the margin in raw dollars rose to $470 million, while the percent gap dipped below 17% at $2.34 billion to $2.81 billion. Hopefully things will improve in April.
Dumbo opened with $45.99 million making it the weakest debut for a live-action Disney remake, depending on how you look at things. (I don’t consider Christopher Robin to be part of this group, while Alice Through the Looking Glass is a sequel to a film that predates this trend.) I think the film failed to connect with audiences as much as many thought it would, in part because of the quality of the film. Its reviews are mixed, while it earned an A minus from CinemaScore, which is merely fine for a family film. Additionally, there are two more live-action Disney remakes being released later this year and I think people are just getting tired of them.
Us fell 53% to $33.23 million over the weekend for a total of $127.84 million after two weeks of release. This is a really solid hold for a horror movie and puts the film on pace to top Get Out at the domestic box office. Granted, it also cost a lot more to make, but it will still be fantastically profitable breaking even before it reaches the home market.
Captain Marvel held on better than expected with $20.66 million over the weekend for a four-week total of $353.97 million. This could be the film’s final weekend in the top five, but it is already a monster hit and should have no real problem getting to $400 million, although Avengers: Endgame might open before that happens.
Unplanned was next with $6.38 million in 1,059 theaters during its opening weekend. It is, unfortunately, preaching to the choir, hence the stark difference between its mixed reviews and the A plus from CinemaScore. This could hurt its legs. However, it has already done enough to ensure it will be a financial success.
Five Feet Apart rounded out the top five with $6.20 million over the weekend for a total of $35.82 million after three weeks of release.
Hotel Mumbai expanded enough to get to eighth place with $3.16 million for a total of $3.28 million including its limited release run. It likely won’t expand significantly beyond this point, but it also likely won’t see its theater count collapse quickly either.
That can’t be said of The Beach Bum, which missed the Mendoza Line with just $1.76 million during the weekend. Its reviews won’t help its legs, but theater owners will drop it before its word-of-mouth has a real chance to have an impact on its ticket sales.
-5-News.jpg)
Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, The Beach Bum, Us, Five Feet Apart, Hotel Mumbai, Unplanned