The box office has been one hard nut to crack this year, and this late August weekend serves as hard evidence to that statement. While some movies saw success or a steady run since last weekend, others stumbled out of the gate. COVID-19 has made theatergoing a difficult subject for all, and these releases and box office debuts underscore that.
On a brighter note,Free Guywas able to maintain the number one spot at the box office leaderboard, earning $18.8 million on its second weekend. TheRyan Reynoldsaction comedy only fell 34% from its first weekend to its second, an impressive drop for any film, pandemic or not. Other major summer releases, fromBlack WidowtoF9, saw about a 70% drop from their debut weekend to their second. Word of mouth has certainly helpedFree Guy, and it’s hard to imagine it facing any stiff competition until Labor Day weekend with the release of Marvel’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
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The only other major animated title this summer,The Boss Baby: Family Business, earned $16 million in its first weekend, though the pandemic has only gotten more severe since early July. Complicating matters even further,PAW Patrol: The Moviedidn’t even play in Regal Cinemas, a major theater chain across the United States.
Jungle Cruiseremained aflot in the top five, earning the third spot with $6.2 million in its fourth weekend. TheDwayne JohnsonandEmily Blunt-led family film has made $92.5 million domestically, closing in on the $100 million mark. The only other films of 2021 to have achieved that milestone thus far includesBlack Widow,F9, andA Quiet Place Part II.
The number four spot was granted toDon’t Breathe 2, staying strong in its second weekend. TheStephen Langhorror film landed at $5 million, with a total thus far of $19.67 million.Respect, another film that debuted last weekend, also remained in the top five, collecting $3.8 million and the number five slot.
While the older audience ofReminiscencecould be hesitant to return to theaters, one would also imagine that the parents of young kids (who remain unvaccinated) would also not be too eager to get back to the movies. A case like this truly shows how the box office this year remains a difficult puzzle.
The Night HouseandThe Protegealso were shut out of the top five in their first weekends, with both earning just under $3 million. It’s a tight race between the two titles at the moment, and either could come out on top in the end. As it stands now,The Protegehas a slight edge with the seventh spot.James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadalso found itself on the outskirts of the top five, coming in sixth place with around $3.4 million in its third weekend.
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