Weekend Box Office: Big Opening Weekend, Much Bigger For At Least One
Out of the handful of movies released over the weekend, one in particular surprised all with its big opening. Straight Outta Compton made $24.2 million on Friday alone, and by the end of the weekend its box office total was a whopping $56.1 million. According to Entertainment Weekly, Universal Studios predicted the movie’s opening weekend would bring in somewhere around the mid-to-high 20s. On its first day, Compton clearly blew beyond the studio’s expectations. As far as music biopics go, this is the biggest opening ever. With the movie reportedly costing the studio near $29 million to make, Universal should be giving itself a big pat on the back for yet another box office smash this year.
In comparison, Compton’s through the roof box office makes The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s opening seem meager indeed. U.N.C.L.E. came in at third place overall bringing its opening weekend total to $13.5 million. This film, directed by Guy Ritchie, cost around $75 million to make and came in a little under WB Studio predictions. The film, set in the Cold War era boasts action, spy gadgets, and fun. It brings you back to a more fashionably put together period of time. Apparently, it’s also a period of time when few notice or acknowledge crazy dangerous antics being carried out right under their noses. In other words, a simpler time. U.N.C.L.E. received a B cinema rating which may not be good in the long run, but let’s hope everyone who will see this just spent their opening weekend with the guys from N.W.A.
Mistress America also shared its opening weekend with Straight Outta Compton. It is not so much a coming of age tale, as a story of failure and coping. After a college freshman’s parents divorce she stands to gain something by way of her maybe crazier soon-to-be step sister, Brooke. Her box office standings were not as impressive as the above two movies; Mistress brought in a meager $94,000 by the end of the weekend. Of course, this movie can’t be measured by the same yard stick as it was only shown in four theaters. The total box office numbers for this movie may not be comparable, but she managed to pull in a reported $23,500 per theater.
In terms of average per theater, Mistress America walks away the winner, Straight Outta Compton pulls into the number two slot with $20,348 and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. brings up the number three position with only $3,720. So really, U.N.C.L.E. will just remain as it is on the charts overall.
This big opening weekend offered a variety of films, which did you see?
[Image via Cinema Blend]
