This was the sort of weekend all the studios love, as three new releases all performed exceptionally well, with one in particular overshooting the estimated mark. Here’s what went down:
Debuting in first place as expected was the critically acclaimed The LEGO Batman Movie, which brought in a solid $55.6 million. The film manages to appeal to families and adults who love the character, LEGO, and/or both, and it should have some strong legs over the coming weeks, thanks to the rave reviews and likely word of mouth.
Debuting in second place was the critically maligned Fifty Shades Darker, which hit $46.8 million. While significantly off from the first film’s $85 million, it’s still a decent haul. The movie should continue to perform through Valentine’s Day, but look for a significant drop-off after that.
The final debut of the weekend comes from John Wick: Chapter 2, which arrived in third place with an outstanding $30 million. This is double what the original made during its own opening weekend, a rarity for sequels. John Wick: Chapter 2 is another film that should have legs, as reviews have been simply outstanding for Keanu Reeves’ newest franchise.
As for the rest of the top five, Split was in fourth place with $9.3 million, while Hidden Figures closed things out in fifth place with $8 million.
So, to recap, here were our predictions:
1) The LEGO Batman Movie – $75 million
2) Fifty Shades Darker – $43 million
3) John Wick: Chapter 2 – $26 million
4) Split – $9 million
5) Hidden Figures – $8.5 million
And here’s how the weekend turned out”:
1) The LEGO Batman Movie – $55.6million
2) Fifty Shades Darker – $46.8 million
3) John Wick: Chapter 2 – $30 million
4) Split – $9.3 million
5) Hidden Figures – $8 million
Next weekend sees the release of A Cure For Wellness, Fist Fight and The Great Wall. Be sure to check back on Friday to see our predictions!
