The debut of Austin Butler’s crime thriller “Catch Stealing,” Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman’s comedy “The Roses,” and the unrated remake of “The Toxic Avenger” all do not break the fourth weekend of “weapons” at the top spot at the box office, as the summer season follows the official daily weekend.
Sony Pictures’ “Stolen” will be the closest of these three, with previews coming from the $3.2 million first day and 3,578 locations on Friday. Director Darren Aronofsky’s New York Noir also took the lead at the screening last Saturday. It is currently forecasting a $9.5 million debut on a four-day holiday frame, below eight digits. This is a very calm start to the original, well reviewed, R-rate, with a production budget of $40 million. Viewers are somewhat positive, with film fan pollsters getting a “B” grade.
Meanwhile, Searchlight Pictures has its own R-rate comedy with “The Roses” director Jay Roach this weekend in a new adaptation of Warren Adler’s novel “The War of the Roses.” Danny DeVito previously led the 1989 adaptation along with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. With a total of $86 million, he was the 12th largest domestic earner of the year.
But times have changed. Comedies like “The Roses” are often not theatrical appeal, even in ensembles that include Cumberbatch and Colman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney and others. The film has won just $2.4 million from 2,700 locations on Friday, winning preview screenings and appears to be heading for fifth place. We expect a four-day North opening of $7 million. The reviews were pretty unhelpful, but the “B+” grade on the Cinema score makes the public a bit higher.
“Catched Theft” and “Ball” could end up back in theaters and behind the re-release of Universal’s “Jaws” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Steven Spielberg Classic. Fifty years later, Big Fish is still able to attract crowds, with $3 million and previews on Friday at 3,200 venues. The thriller is hoping for $9.7 million in a four-day frame, making it the second on the domestic charts. Even more noteworthy, it re-released to 1,246 theatres in 2022, bringing out the numbers after playing nostalgia just three years ago.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. and New Line’s ensemble horror original “weapons” can be won once again No. 1 after being replaced by the two-day event release of Netflix’s “KPOP Demon Hunters” last week. (Of course, the theatre evasion streamers didn’t mind promoting that victory.
“Weapons” added another $2.7 million on Friday, down 42% from their daily total a week ago. Writer-director Zach Cleger’s R-Rate Original continues to enjoy the benefits of great reviews, so it brings it back on track for another great hold. The country believes its total is $134 million throughout Labor Day, making it the 12th highest North American Release of the Year, approaching the “final destination pedigree” ($138 million).
Disney’s Freakier Friday also ran for nearly a month, adding another $1.7 million on Friday, down 37% from daily figures a week ago. The sequel to the comedy of Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis is headed for a total of $82 million domestically through Monday.
Further down the charts, the Cineverse and iconic release will open at 1,995 venues at theaters that have been held at the Fantastic Festival in 2023, and in theaters nearly two years after struggling with land distribution. Starring Peter Dinklege, Jacob Tremblay, Taylor Page and Elijah Wood, the film earned around $650,000 on Friday, winning previews and embraced the bow outside the top 10.
