Consider us shocked. Stunned, even. What looked to be an obvious number one at the box office this weekend has to settle for second place.
In his first ever sequel, Denzel Washington and The Equalizer 2 came out on top of the box office with an estimated $35.8 million. That’s a stronger arrival than the original’s $34.1 million. Clearly audiences were up for Denzel’s return to the franchise, even if reviews have been less than kind (The Equalizer 2 currently sits with 51% rotten).
Meanwhile, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again has to settle for second place with $34.4. It’s far from a bad number, and the movie should actually have legs over the next couple weeks, as it will sit as counter-programming to the next Mission: Impossible film, which arrives next weekend and will undoubtedly push The Equalizer 2 down the chart.
As for the rest of the top five, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation dropped to third place with $23 million. Ant-Man and The Wasp was in fourth place with $16 million, while Incredibles 2 closed things out in fifth place with $11 million.
So, to recap, here were our predictions:
1) Mama Mia; Here We Go Again – $42 million
2) Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – $26 million
3) The Equalizer 2 – $25 million
4) Ant-Man and The Wasp – $16 million
5) Incredibles 2 – $14 million
And here’s how the weekend is estimated to turn out:
1) The Equalizer 2 – $35.8 million
2) Mama Mia; Here We Go Again – $34.4 million
3) Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – $26 million
4) Ant-Man and The Wasp – $16 million
5) Incredibles 2 – $11 million
Next weekend sees the release of the highly anticipated Mission Impossible: Fallout, and Teen Titans Go To The Movies. Be sure to check back on Friday to see our predictions.
