OPENING: Noah (PAR) $41M to $45M for weekend's No. 1; (OPRD) tanksin No. 7 with maybe $$4.5M to 5.5M;
Cesar Chavez (LGF) in limited release.
NOTEWORTHY: The Grand Budapest Hotel (FSL) expands for $8.3M and another strong per screen;
Bad Words (FOC) expands to weak result.
UPDATED: Saturday, 7: AM: Estimates for Darren Aronofsky's Noah are now anywhere from $41M to $44.6M based on a strong $15M Friday box office. I wondered while writing the box office last night if Southern CA audiences watching the film when the earthquake hit got a little seasick and thought how realistic the special effects were. Noah was playing like a mainstream movie when it opened, but that bump indicates that it had some cross-over from the faith-based audiences which continue to keep
God's Not Dead in business.
Although based on the Bibilical story, Noah doesn't mention the name God once how funny that God's Not Dead made such a surprise second weekend showing as if to say, 'oh yeah?'
Surprisingly, the faith-based film that stars Josh Wheaton and Kevin Sorbo, is continuing to play strong in its second weekend and this morning is expected to take $7.8M to $8M for the three-day or a per screen of $6,800. That would only be a 15% drop - a phenom hold as usually the pattern for faith-based films is to open big and then drop around 60% the following weekend.
Divergent (LGF) in its second weekend had an $8.2M Friday and is estimated to take in $26M+ for a 52% drop (not too bad) as it moves its way to the $100M mark. It should end the weekend with around $95M. The studio has been quite adept at launching franchises ( The Hunger Games) and Divergent - based on the Veronica Roth YA series -chalks up another from them. However, the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led
Sabotage from QED and Open Road Films is the aging action star's lowest gross yet since leaving politics. The bloody R-rated picture from David Ayer ( Training Day) has been upgraded slightly to a possible $5.4M weekend, but that can't help this flagging film as U.S. audiences have spoken three times already on their lack of interest in Arnold. How ironic that Sam Worthington ( Terminator Salvation) also stars.
As previously mentioned, it's another great weekend for
The Grand Budapest Hotel which added 673 runs as it expands across the nation. Audiences just love this quirky Wes Anderson ensemble which is likely to take in $8.3M racking up another strong per screen - this time over 8K over the 3-day. Every indication is that Warner Bros.' '300: Rise of an Empire' will cross the $100M mark and then some as estimates this morning have it ending the weekend with $101M. And Disney's
Muppets Most Wanted is in a tie with Fox/DreamWorks Animation's
Mr. Peabody and Sherman for the No. 3 spot in its second weekend out but its weekend-to-weekend drop is not bad at 43%. It truly does play to adults as well, which I literally had to see to believe. Here are numbers as they look this morning:
1).
Noah (PAR), 3,567 theaters / $14.9M to $15.1M Fri./ 3-day cume: $41M to $44.6M / Wk 1
2).
Divergent (LGF), 3,936 theaters (0) / $8.3M Fri. / 3-day cume: $26.1M to $26.5M / Total cume: $95M / Wk 2
3/4).
Mr. Peabody And Sherman (FOX), 3,299 theaters (-308) / $2.18M Fri. / 3-day cume: $9.5M to $9.8M / Total cume: $94.9M to $95.3M / Wk 4
Muppets Most Wanted (DIS), 3,194 theaters (0) / $2.6M Fri. / 3-day cume: $9.7M to $9.9M / Total Cume: $31.6M to $31.8M / Wk 2
5).
The Grand Budapest Hotel (FSL), 977 theaters (+673) / $2.3M Fri. / 3-day cume: $8.3M / Per screen: $8,400 / Total cume: $24M / Wk 4
6).
God's Not Dead (FREE), 1,178 theaters (+362) / $2.2M Fri. / 3-day cume: $7.7M to $8M / Per screen: $6,780 / Total cume: $20.7M to $21M / Wk 2
7).
Sabotage (OPRD), 2,486 theaters / $1.78M Fri. / 3-day cume: $5.38M / Wk 1
8/9).
Need For Speed (DIS), 2,705 theaters (-410) / $1.1 Fri. / 3-day cume: $4.1M / Total cume: $37.5M / Wk 3
300: Rise Of An Empire (WB), 2,601 theaters (-484) / $1.17M Fri. / 3-day cume: $4M to $4.1M / Total cume: $100.9M / Wk 4
10).
Non-Stop (UNI), 2,515 theaters (-430) / $1.15M Fri./ 3-day cume: $3.8M to $4M / Total cume: $84.9M to $85.1M / Wk 5
NOTEWORTHY: Cesar Chavez (LGF), 664 theaters / $1M Fri. / 3-day cume: $3.1M to $3.5M / Per screen: $3,550 / Wk 1;
Bad Words (FOCUS) 842 theaters (+755) / $780K Fri. / 3-day cume: $2.7M / Per screen: $3,190 / Total cume: $3.58M
PREVIOUSLY: Friday, 10:46 PM: Noah has been gaining steam all day and it looks poised to bring in about $45M over the 3-day weekend for Paramount Pictures in a gross that is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack as it's gotta be getting some of the faith-based crowd. It's on track to take in $14.7M to $16M on Friday alone. Also,
God's Not Dead is holding incredibly strong in its second weekend having added 362 screens to keep its per screen average at around $6,700; the film may take in around $8M, which would be only a 12% to 15% drop.
Interestingly, we have also been keeping tabs on the social engagement on
Noah across the big three - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube - and
Noah is the top film across the entire Social Media Universe. According to RelishMix, two big things happening: "Emma Watson is at the helm driving fans to opening weekend, while YouTube fan generated posts are sailing past official Paramount video trailers which is a good sign for the film," according to the company. The critics were rough on it and rightly so apparently as it got a C CinemaScore.
Yes, a C ... which is very bad news for word of mouth and next weekend's drop. Bad news also for
Sabotage is the third strike out for Arnold Schwarzenegger who has tried to make a comeback since leaving the Governor's office. It's not going to crack the Top Five and will likely only take in maybe $5M for the weekend on 2,486 runs. His last two films (not counting the ensemble piece The Expendables), tanked domestically. He can no longer carry a film here. It's a sad fact. And things are getting worse the more he tries. Escape Plan last year had an opening of only $9.8M in October and in January of last year The Last Stand grossed $6.2M. Arnold had a very, very good run while it lasted both domestically and overseas as the top action star in the world at one point. Internationally, he still can draw audiences. 81% of the $137.3M take for Escape Plan came from audiences abroad; same with Last Stand, which got 75% of its total $48.3M worldwide total from international territories. Sabotage, from Open Road Films, got a B CinemaScore, better than Noah at least.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is having another good weekend with what looks to be another $8K+ per screen or an $8.2M gross and now is in the top five for Fox Searchlight. Well done.
Divergent in its second weekend looked to take in more than thought - $25.9M to $26.5M estimated - for a weekend drop of maybe 53%, a lesser drop than Hunger Games which was off 62% in its second weekend. It will definitely pass $100M this coming week for Lionsgate and Summit as will likely
Mr. Peabody and Sherman from Fox/DreamWorks Animation.
But all bets are on that Warner Bros./Legendary Films
300: Rise of an Empire will pass $100M this weekend after 4 weeks in release. While Disney's
Muppets Most Wanted is holding well in its second weekend as well with only a 36% drop expected as the studio kept the same number of screens. Estimates are anywhere from $10M to $10.9M. (Gotta shine the light on
American Hustle for a moment. It'll be at $150M at the end of the weekend). Positions and numbers are likely to change in the morning.
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Amzing Moment: BOX OFFICE: 'Noah' Rises, 'God's …