Support NeoGAF

[xaosslug]

tomatometer:

79% Ant-Man

54% Minions

85% Trainwreck

98% Inside Out

71% Jurassic World

26% Terminator: Genisys
-
-
-

86% Mr. Holmes
n/a Bajrangi Bhaijaan

metacritic:

*click pic(s) for source*

‘Ant-Man’ Tops With $58 Million, ‘Trainwreck’ Impresses With $30.2 Million

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” landed with a solid $58 million at the weekend box office, while “Trainwreck’s” Amy Schumer put her own raunchy spin on romantic comedies to the tune of a $30.2 million debut.

It marks Marvel’s 12th consecutive first place opening, although “Ant-Man” isn’t at the level of other, bigger-name costumed heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, all of whom performed better out of the gate with their solo adventures. Going into the weekend, analysts expected “Ant-Man” to top $60 million, but its opening is similar to “The Incredible Hulk,” which earned an initial $55 million on its way to a $134 million U.S. haul.

“They are a victim of their own success,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “Any time you have a brand like Marvel, the expectations get blown out of proportion.”

That may be, but the studio sounds disappointed it couldn’t elevate “Ant-Man” to “Guardians of the Galaxy”-like numbers. Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis admitted that he wished the movie had done better, but still praised Marvel as a model of consistency.

“No one else could take what is really an obscure character and launch it in such a big way,” said Hollis. “It’s a sign that they’re doing so much right and that it’s a brand that has overwhelming momentum.”

Not every film was on the defensive. Universal’s “Trainwreck” bested initial projections which had it debuting to roughly $20 million. The story of a commitment-phobic woman who falls for a sports doctor got a boost from strong reviews and a long and winding promotional tour that saw Schumer doing everything from posing provocatively with C3PO to sexting Katie Couric’s husband.

“Amy Schumer is absolutely a star,” said Nick Carpou, Universal’s domestic distribution chief. “Based on exit polling, after the humor, she’s the second biggest reason people went out to see the film.”

“Trainwreck” kicks off Schumer’s film career on a high note and marks the second biggest opening for director Judd Apatow, behind only “Knocked Up’s” $30.7 million debut. Crowds were primarily comprised of women, as females represented 66% of ticket buyers. Universal produced the comedy for a modest $35 million, so it should make a healthy return on its investment.

That’s a fraction of the $130 million that Marvel spent on the story of a thief (Paul Rudd) who becomes a hero after donning a suit that gives him the powers of an arthropod. The superhero film will lean heavily on foreign crowds as it looks for profits. Internationally, “Ant-Man” opened in 37 markets, including Mexico, the U.K., France, and Russia, pulling in $56 million.

“Ant-Man,” which employs a more tongue-in-cheek, lighter tone than most superhero movies had hoped to pull in younger crowds. To that end, the domestic audience for “Ant-Man” was 28% comprised of families. Fifty eight percent of ticket buyers were male, 59% were adult, and 13% were teens.

In its second weekend, Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s “Minions” captured runner-up status, pulling in $50.2 million. The “Despicable Me” spin-off has racked up $216.7 million stateside since it debuted, while selling boatloads of merchandise.

In milestone news, “Jurassic World” became just the fourth film in history to top $600 million domestically. The dinosaur thriller added $11.4 million to take fifth place on the box office chart and propel its North American total to $611.1 million.

Meanwhile, “Inside Out” pushed past $300 million domestically, joining “Toy Story 3″ and “Finding Nemo” as the third Pixar film to reach that mark. Domestically, “Inside Out” racked up $11.6 million for a fourth place finish, bringing its North American gross to $306.4 million.

Among art house releases, Woody Allen’s “Irrational Man” pulled in $188,115 on five screens during its first weekend, for a per screen average of $37,623. Also opening, “Mr. Holmes” with Ian McKellen as an aging super sleuth, grossed an estimated $2.5 million on 363 screens, for a per screen average of $6,856.

Overall box office numbers are still being tallied, but it looks like ticket sales will be up more than 30% over the same period last year. It marks the sixth consecutive weekend of gains, a sign that business is booming at the multiplexes. That cuts both ways, as Disney and Marvel discovered.

“It’s great for the business, but what it means is that it’s more competitive,” said Hollis.

*click pic for full list/source*


*click pic for source*

 

[Jawmuncher]

Going to see Ant Man today. Really want to see JW beat Titanic even if only barely.

 

[G-Fex]

Is it too late to change release dates?

 

[rexor0717]

Glad Ant-Man is doing alright. I enjoyed the movie much more than the trailers would have led me to believe.

 

[Tucah]

I enjoyed Ant-Man quite a bit but I'm not surprised it wasn't that big. Just anecdotally, but my theater was only half full at a pretty prime time, and very few of my friends had any interest at all when they're normally all about Marvel stuff.

 

[The Elite]

It's a shame Ant-Man couldn't perform better, great film.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Trainwreck is gonna be another big W for Universal...they're really raking them up this year

 

[guek]

Here's to hoping this ant has legs

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

RIP Marvel

 

[Mortemis]

Damn, inside out made it to 300M without ever beig #1? Edit: nvm

Probably gonna see the film today, but damn I just think that's crazy.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Hope to see Trainwreck sometime in the upcoming week.

 

[mreddie]

Marvel still making money. But yeah, July still is a difficult month to make money but that might not affect Guardians Vol.2 in 2017 but maybe Captain Marvel a year later.

Hope the Ant has legs especially with Pixels this week which looks...sigh.

 

[Joni]

Damn, inside out made it to 300M without ever beig #1?

Probably gonna see the film today, but damn I just think that's crazy.

It made first place a couple of weeks ago, just before Minions launched

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Damn, inside out made it to 300M without ever beig #1?

Probably gonna see the film today, but damn I just think that's crazy.

The actuals revealed it just slipped by Jurassic World a couple weekends ago to be #1

 

[Dysun]

Ant Man was fun, but Ultron certainly didn't buoy interest in the MCU like the original did

 

[G-Fex]

could AoU have potentially waned interest in this?

 

[John Dunbar]

it would be great if this was the most that marvel movies would be expected to make in the future, but the world is not that kind.

 

[Mortemis]

It made first place a couple of weeks ago, just before Minions launched

The actuals revealed it just slipped by Jurassic World a couple weekends ago to be #1

Ah, thanks. Still a decent run, didn't expect it to reach 300M domestic.

 

[Escape Goat]

could AoU have potentially waned interest in this?

maybe? How would anyone know?

 

[mattiewheels]

This JW total is blowing my mind, is there something going on with that movie besides being a serviceable but interchangeable sequel to JP?

 

[farisr]

I have a feeling Ant Man is not going to drop as much as expected for the 2nd weekend (or, it's going to make more than expected throughout this whole week).

 

[Gonzalez]

could AoU have potentially waned interest in this?

That, and close up shots of insects are disgusting

 

[HK-47]

Arent Inside Out's drops pretty great with the direct competition of Minions?

 

[mreddie]

This JW total is blowing my mind, is there something going on with that movie besides being a serviceable but interchangeable sequel to JP?

Kids like Dinos which in the movie, they say kids think Dinos are boring now.

I know, that tidbit still amazes me.

 

[3N16MA]

Arent Inside Out's drops pretty great with the direct competition of Minions?

Seems to room for both of them and IO is getting some good holds.

 

[Jarmel]

So Ant-Man didn't reach $60 million but still landed as #1? Guess Minions didn't has as strong legs as expected.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Can JW make the 50 mil needed to top Titanic before it leaves theaters? Prospect's getting kinda iffy.

This JW total is blowing my mind, is there something going on with that movie besides being a serviceable but interchangeable sequel to JP?

Not really. But there wasn't much going on with Titanic, either. The zeitgeist isn't easily explainable or divinable. If it was, this wouldn't be such a rare, weird, exciting thing.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Kids like Dinos which in the movie, they say kids think Dinos are boring now.

I know, that tidbit still amazes me.

30 something's on a nostalgia trip are not kids.


Edit. Change quote. Thread moving fast.

 

[3N16MA]

Ah, thanks. Still a decent run, didn't expect it to reach 300M domestic.

Once it hit 90M OW there was a very good chance it would hit 300M.

 

[Escape Goat]

Did anyone go see Mr Holmes? An Ian McKellan movie sounds like fun.

 

[Vanish]

could AoU have potentially waned interest in this?

I think what waned interest was the superhero. I know a couple of people who thought the idea of a superhero named antman was stupid and dismissed it. A shame really since it's one of the better Marvel films.

 

[VistraNorrez]

it would be great if this was the most that marvel movies would be expected to make in the future, but the world is not that kind.

Why stop there? All of these giant blockbusters should open lower. I can't think of a single gigantic budget film in the past 15 years (maybe even longer) that truly deserved to make $200 Million+.

 

[G-Fex]

Did anyone go see Mr Holmes? An Ian McKellan movie sounds like fun.

This is all I care about

 

[TheYoungHeroRises]

Ant-Man is Marvel's version of A Bug's Life am I right?

I mean Pixar and Marvel are part of the vast Disney empire so it's probably just a coincidence.

 

[entremet]

I think Ant Man will have legs due to word of month.

 

[John Dunbar]

Why stop there? All of these giant blockbusters should open lower. I can't think of a single gigantic budget film in the past 15 years (maybe even longer) that truly deserved to make $200 Million+.

i can't dream that big.

 

[mattiewheels]

Not really. But there wasn't much going on with Titanic, either. The zeitgeist isn't easily explainable or divinable. If it was, this wouldn't be such a rare, weird, exciting thing.

Maybe it really is.....The Pratt Factor

 

[The Auxiliary]

58 million ain't bad! I was afraid it'd do way less.

 

[Slayven]

60 Mill seems like a good opening or am I crazy? No one sane though it was going to being 100 mil.

 

[Abounder]

I think Pixels will eat into Ant-Man's legs

Ant-Man is Marvel's version of A Bug's Life am I right?

I mean Pixar and Marvel are part of the vast Disney empire so it's probably just a coincidence.

And then tie it all together with "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" for the ultimate miniature scaled adventure

 

[Escape Goat]

Anna Farris is going to divorce him because now he has to be super fit for all his leading roles. She likes him chubby.

 

[kswiston]

Worldwide Updates:

Magic Mike XXL - $90M
Terminator Genisys - $277M
Spy - $227M
Pitch Perfect 2 - $280M
Ted 2 - $143M
Jurassic World - $1.513B
Minions - $626M
Age of Ultron - $1.394B
Inside Out - $490M

Jurassic World will pass Avengers to become the third highest grossing film of all time in the couple of days.

 

[Gonzalez]

Maybe it really is.....The Pratt Factor

There is no such thing as "The Pratt Factor".

 

[RastaMentality]

All of my friends suddenly gained interest in Trainwreck just this weekend. Wasn't surprised it did so well.

 

[Slayven]

Anna Farris is going to divorce him because now he has to be super fit for all his leading roles. She likes him chubby.

Or she will do Scary Movie 5 and say "From the wife of Chris Pratt"

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Mr Holmes is mediocre, it should be further down that list.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

I hope we can get an Ant-Man sequel.

 

[xaosslug]

Kids like Dinos which in the movie, they say kids think Dinos are boring now.

I know, that tidbit still amazes me.

so meta.

 

[Cooter]

Marvel will continue to make money but with DC looking to be getting things going right and Xmen and Star Wars on the horizon they certainly have competition. Ant-Man shows us that any random Marvel IP isn't guaranteed massive numbers.

 

[3N16MA]

Can JW make the 50 mil needed to top Titanic before it leaves theaters? Prospect's getting kinda iffy.



Not really. But there wasn't much going on with Titanic, either. The zeitgeist isn't easily explainable or divinable. If it was, this wouldn't be such a rare, weird, exciting thing.

Avengers grossed 51M after this point. I think JW is still pulling ahead on most days when directly compared. However competition from MI5 and Pixels is coming.