The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Debuts on Top
Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man 2 started the summer movie season with a $91.61 million debut last weekend (May 2-4). The expensive second film in Sony’s re-launched Spider-Man franchise opened on the lower end of expectations. While The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was off to a solid start last weekend, the start was relativity soft compared to other superhero films in recent years that have kicked off the summer movie season during the first week of May; the most recent of which, Iron Man 3, having opened with $174.14 million last May.
Comparing The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man is a bit tricky since that film opened on a Tuesday, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did debut in the same neighborhood as recent superhero films Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Without adjusting for ticket price inflation, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 delivered the 15th largest opening weekend ever for the month of May.
20th Century Fox’s The Other Woman continued its strong performance last weekend with a second place take of $14.41 million. The modestly budgeted comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton was down 42 percent, which represented a solid second weekend hold. With a stronger than expected 10-day start of $47.55 million, The Other Woman is successfully serving as an alternative choice to the summer’s early blockbuster fare, but the film will soon face more direct competition of its own when Universal Pictures releases Neighbors on Friday.
Heaven is for Real claimed third place with $8.60 million for the weekend. Sony Entertainment’s break-out faith-based drama was down 40 percent from the previous weekend, as it continued to hold up well. Like The Other Woman, Heaven is for Real will also hope to continue to serve as an alternative for moviegoers not in the mood for early summer blockbuster fare. Heaven is for Real continues to distance itself from expectations with a very strong $65.50 million through 19 days of release.
Disney Studios’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier placed in fourth with $7.77 million. The blockbuster superhero sequel was down 52 percent from the previous weekend, as it understandably took a significant hit from the arrival of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the marketplace. In the bigger picture, Captain America: The Winter Soldier continues to impress in a big way with a 31-day take of $237.16 million. That leaves the film just $12.84 million away from clearing the $250 million domestic mark.
20th Century Fox’s Rio 2 rounded out the weekend’s top five with $7.71 million and in the process surpassed the $100 million domestic milestone last weekend. The computer animated film from Blue Sky Studios was down 44 percent from the previous weekend, as it also took a hit from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Rio 2 has grossed $106.58 million through 24 days of release and will hope to re-stabilize next weekend.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | N/A | The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | $91.61M | $91.61M | 1 |
2 | 1 | The Other Woman | $14.41M | $47.55M | 2 |
3 | 3 | Heaven Is for Real | $8.60M | $65.50M | 3 |
4 | 2 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | $7.77M | $237.16M | 5 |
5 | 4 | Rio 2 | $7.71M | $106.58M | 4 |
6 | 5 | Brick Mansions | $3.69M | $15.63M | 2 |
7 | 9 | Divergent | $2.18M | $142.67M | 7 |
8 | 7 | The Quiet Ones | $1.99M | $6.76M | 2 |
9 | N/A | God’s Not Dead | $1.77M | $55.56M | 7 |
10 | 8 | Bears | $1.41M | $13.37M | 3 |
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.