20th Century Studios and Disney’s family-friendly action-comedy “Free Guy” is a genuine box office hit.
The measure of success at the box-office during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed somewhat, with one of the key new indicators being a film’s second-weekend drop-off rate.
Many films which have opened well have seen their numbers plummet in their second weekend with drop-offs of 60-70%. That’s not the case with the Ryan Reynolds-led film which held firm with a mere 34% fall in its sophomore weekend with an $18.8 million gross.
That’s the lowest decline of any film opening with over $10 million in the pandemic era. It currently sports a ten-day domestic total of $58.8 million.
Overseas it also pulled in $17.1 million from 46 markets and will close out Sunday with a worldwide total of $111.9 million. “Free Guy” is scoring an exclusive theatrical release ahead of a Disney+ premiere in late September/early October.
The only real competition this week was Paramount’s “PAW Patrol: The Movie” which opened to a better-than-expected $13 million domestically – even with the film also debuted day-and-date on the Paramount+ service.
The CG animated dog heroes film also pulled in a further $12.8 million this weekend internationally and now sits at $34.5 million worldwide.
“Jungle Cruise” stayed in third with a further $6.2 million and a combined $173.7 million global gross so far. “Don’t Breathe 2” whispered in fourth with $5 million, “Respect” was fifth with $3.8 million, and “The Suicide Squad” was sixth with $3.4 million.
Seventh through ninth were occupied by three newcomers which all bombed on arrival with all scoring a little over $2 million – Martin Campbell’s mixed reviewed “The Protege,” the well reviewed horror tale “The Night House,” and the Hugh Jackman-led mixed reviewed sci-fi “Reminiscence” which is also available on HBO Max.
Source: THR
