Despite months of controversy and non-stop online bickering, Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters (read my review here) didn’t scare its way into the number one spot during its opening weekend. But it came pretty close. The horror-comedy reboot, indirectly called “the female Ghostbusters,” scored a healthy $46 million, which puts it on track to earn back its $144 million budget. A few want to call this one a flop, but it looks like bustin’ is still making people feel good, even if some can’t support a gender-reversed redo.
In the actual number one spot, however, is Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life of Pets, returning for a second week on top with an extra $50.6 million in its coin purse. The original animated movie already earned its $75 million budget back and then some last week, so anything gained since then is pure cheddar. That said, Illumination is certainly happy, and a sequel will probably be announced soon.
You know who else is happy this weekend? Disney. Their latest Pixar sequel, Finding Dory, just became the highest grossing animated film in North America ever. That’s quite an accomplishment, no? With an extra $11 million in its pocket in fourth place, it surpasses Shrek 2‘s $441.2 million with $445.5 million total. And it’ll only continue fishing up more money as the weeks go on. Needless to say, this one is a hit, but we’ll see how Finding Dory and The Secret Life of Pets hold their own with Ice Age: Collision Course crashes into theaters next week. It’s already doing well overseas.
Let’s keep the good news coming, shall we? Also celebrating a nice weekend is Woody Allen’s Cafe Society, which opened in five theaters to $361,000, with $71,000 earned per theater. That’s a mighty pretty penny. Hopefully this bodes well for the film’s expansion. And it’s certainly doing better than the other Kristen Stewart release this weekend, Equals, which nabbed a meager around $9,000 in three theaters.
This weekend’s only other wide release was The Infiltrator, which earned a better-than-expected $6.7 million throughout its five-day debut. With a budget around $47.5 million, however, the Bryan Cranston-lead adult drama-thriller have some leg work to do in the weeks to come.
As for the rest, The Legend of Tarzan continues to do better-than-anticipated in third place with $11.1 million, while Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates earns a decent $7.5 million during its second weekend. And The BFG continues its sad odyssey as it falls down to ninth place during its third weekend with a poor $3.7 million. Hopefully time will be kinder to you, dear friend.
Check out the box office numbers, courtesy of THR and ComingSoon.net, below.
- The Secret Life of Pets Weekend: $50.6 million Domestic Total: $203.2 million
- Ghostbusters Weekend: $46 million Domestic Total: $46 million
- The Legend of Tarzan Weekend: $11.1 million Domestic Total: $103.1 million
- Finding Dory Weekend: $11 million Domestic Total: $445.5 million
- Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Weekend: $7.5 million Domestic Total: $31.3 million
- The Purge: Election Year Weekend: $6.1 million Domestic Total: $71 million
- Central Intelligence Weekend: $5.30 million Domestic Total: $117.5 million
- The Infiltrator Weekend: $5.29 million Domestic Total: $6.7 million
- The BFG Weekend: $3.7 million Domestic Total: $47.3 million
- Independence Day: Resurgence Weekend: $3.5 million Domestic Total: $98.5 million
