The weekend box-office estimates are coming in and both newcomers are performing better than expected.
Baz Luhrmann’s over-the-top biopic “Elvis,” starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, is on track for a $30-32 million opening following a $12.7 million Friday haul.
That’s on par/slightly above early estimates which projected it would come in around the $25-30 million. It’s also seeing older female audiences turn out, the demographic that’s been the hardest to lure back to cinemas.
“Elvis” is set to duke it out for the top spot with “Top Gun: Maverick” which continues to do considerable business in its current fifth weekend with a further $30 million.
That movie, which has now passed the $500 million mark domestically and crossed the $900 million mark globally earlier this week, fell just 33% this week as its return to IMAX and other premium screens help soften the decline.
“Jurassic World: Dominion” will take third place for its third weekend with a 56% drop to $26.1 million.
In fourth place is Scott Derrickson’s new horror tale “The Black Phone” which is coming in considerably above estimates. That movie was projected to debut with $15 million earlier this week, but is now well on track to crack over $23 million in its debut.
“Lightyear” will round out the top five with a steep 64% drop in its second weekend to a further $18-20 million weekend haul. That gives us four, possibly five, films catering to different audiences all pulling in over $20 million each this weekend. That’s the kind of numbers exhibitors are very happy about.
The rest of the top ten is crumbs with the “Doctor Strange” sequel in sixth place earning $1.8 million while everything below didn’t crack the $1 million mark.
Source: THR
