‘Scary Stories’ And ‘Dora’ Take On ‘Hobbs & Shaw’

CBS Films

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s Hobbs & Shaw maintained the highest spot for a second weekend in a row, however it was in all probability nearer than most had anticipated. There’s a few causes for that. First, Hobbs had a steeper fall than Universal had hoped, dropping 58 p.c to $25.four million. A 58 p.c fall is just not uncommon for a tentpole, however Universal had in all probability hoped with no different tentpole competitors that it could have the ability to skate by means of most of August. It’s earned $108 million after two weeks, however films opening on comparable weekends in August had smaller second-weekend falls (The Bourne Ultimatum fell 52 p.c; Signs fell 51 p.c; and Rise of the Planet of the Apes fell solely 49 p.c). It’ll be superb, nonetheless, as a result of it’s already added over $200 million abroad, and it nonetheless hasn’t opened in China, the place Fast & Furious films are large.

The different cause it was nearer than many had thought is as a result of Scary Stories to Tell within the Dark from producer Guillermo del Toro carried out higher than anticipated. The movie, directed by André Øvredal, generated excellent opinions (80 p.c on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned a formidable $20.eight million, the second greatest opening ever for a movie beneath the CBS Films banner behind solely Daniel Radcliffe’s The Woman in Black ($20.87 million). Ironically, CBS Films is shutting down with CBS’s merger with Viacom, and the success of Scary Stories is just not more likely to change that. With solely a $28 million finances, Scary Stories is sitting fairly and will proceed to carry out effectively all through the month regardless of a C Cinemascore (decrease Cinemascores should not uncommon for horror movies).

Lion King took the third spot in its fourth weekend, because it continues to place up spectacular numbers. With an extra $20 million, it’s now earned $473 million stateside because it closes in on the $504 million earned by Beauty and the Beast to take the highest spot amongst live-action remakes.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold earned $17 million in its opening weekend. It additionally obtained assist from stable opinions (81 p.c on Rotten Tomatoes) and an A Cinemascore. It price Nickelodeon Movies $49 million to supply, nonetheless, so it’s going to wish to carry out effectively abroad for an opportunity to proceed the franchise, which is a tricky promote demographically talking (it’s aimed toward tween ladies who grew up watching Dora the Explorer however who haven’t but grown out of Dora the Explorer). Great opinions and stable phrase of mouth, nonetheless, may assist preserve it alive and hopefully households will decide to see it over Angry Birds 2 subsequent weekend.