‘Hotel Transylvania 2’ Sets September Box Office Record Earning $47.5 Million
Hotel Transylvania 2 broke the box office North American record for a September opening previously set by its predecessor Hotel Transylvania by surpassing its own expectations and raking in $47.5 million, $5 million more than Hotel Transylvania, reports Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter.
Saba Hamedy of the L.A. Times reports that Transylvania 2 soared at the international box office as well, earning $29.2 million across 42 markets, which Sony Pictures Animations says is a 150 percent raise over the original.
Hotel Transylvania 2 marks the biggest opening ever for SPA and marks the third time in the last four weeks that a Sony Pictures film has nabbed the No. 1 spot at the box office following the successes of The Perfect Guy and War Room. Sony Head of Distribution Rory Bruer spoke to Hamedy about the company’s momentum.
“We’re on a roll right now. This is a huge opening. I think there’s something in it for everyone whether you’re an adult or a kid.”
Sony President of Marketing Josh Greenstein concurred.
“We had a great date, and this is a big win for Sony Pictures Animation. The movie is exploding.”
Hotel Transylvania 2 features an all-star voice cast including Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Keegan Michael-Key, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Fran Drescher, Megan Mullally, Rob Riggle, and comedy legend Mel Brooks.
The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway grabbed the No. 2 spot at the box office opening to $18.2 million. The Intern, directed by Nancy Meyers, continues to establish Meyers as an auteur of touching, heartfelt fare targeting the middle aged audience, proved to be a success both for Meyers and for Warner Brothers. WB Executive VP of Domestic Distribution Jeff Goldstein commented on Meyers consistency, noting that the film performed well all across North America.
“This is a terrific result, and Nancy Meyers really is a brand.”
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials took the No. 3 spot dropping 53.8 percent from last week’s top spot earning $14 million.
Universal’s Everest, which showed impressive numbers in limited big screen / IMAX release last week, took the No. 4 spot bringing in $13.1 million after expanding to an additional 2,461 screens, according to Box Office Mojo.
Rounding out the top five, Black Mass, the biopic of notorious Boston mobster Whitey Bulger starring Johnny Depp, dropped off just under 50 percent to earn $11.5 million in its second week.
[Photo Image: Handout / TNS]
