Transformers 4 Destroys Movie Competition
Paramount Pictures’ Transformers: Age of Extinction with a cast led by Mark Wahlberg debuted with $100.0 million at the box office last weekend. The fourth installment of the popular sci-fi action franchise performed in line with pre-release expectations and delivered the largest opening weekend performance of 2014 to date, just topping the $95.02 million start of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Without adjusting for ticket price inflation, Transformers: Age of Extinction delivered the fourth largest June opening weekend of all-time behind only last year’s Man of Steel, 2010’s Toy Story 3 and 2009’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The opening weekend performance of Transformers: Age of Extinction was in the same neighborhood as the $97.85 million opening weekend of 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon, though the opening weekend of Dark of the Moon was obviously deflated from that film opening on a Wednesday.
Mark Wahlberg stars in Transformers: Age of Extinction. (Photo: Andrew Cooper/Paramount Pictures)
Sony Pictures’ 22 Jump Street placed in a distant second with $15.84 million. The successful action comedy sequel starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum fell 42 percent from the previous weekend, which represented a solid hold, especially given the new competition the film faced from Transformers: Age of Extinction. 22 Jump Street has grossed an impressive $140.28 million in 17 days, which means it has already surpassed the $138.45 million final domestic gross of 2012’s 21 Jump Street. 22 Jump Street is currently running 51 percent ahead of the $92.88 million 17-day take of 21 Jump Street.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 placed in third with $13.24 million. The 3D computer animated sequel from 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation was down 46 percent from the previous weekend. How to Train Your Dragon 2 has yet to stabilize for a family film and continues to perform below expectations with a 17-day gross of $121.95 million. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is now running a disappointing 9 percent behind the $133.40 million 17-day gross of 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon.
On the heels of its first place debut, Sony’s Think Like a Man Too fell three spots and a sharp 65 percent to land in fourth with $10.32 million. The Kevin Hart led ensemble comedy sequel was off to a very solid start, especially with its modest price tag, but has displayed poor holding power since then. With a 10-day gross of $48.08 million, Think Like a Man Too is running 20.5 percent behind the $60.47 million 10-day take of 2012’s Think Like a Man.
Holding up far better last weekend was Disney Entertainment’s Maleficent, which was down just 35 percent to round out last weekend’s top five with $8.38 million. In the process, the 3D fantasy blockbuster starring Angelina Jolie surpassed the $200 million domestic milestone this weekend. Maleficent has grossed $202.01 million in 31 days and is very likely to continue holding up well going forward.
Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 also surpassed the $200 million domestic mark last weekend. The 3D superhero sequel took in $322,430 for the frame and has grossed $200.19 million through 59 days of release.
In its second weekend, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Jersey Boys placed in sixth with $7.71 million. The Clint Eastwood directed musical was down a solid 42 percent last weekend. Jersey Boys has grossed $27.44 million in 10 days. That is in line with the film’s modest expectations.
| This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | Transformers: Age of Extinction | $100.03M | $100.03M | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 Jump Street | $15.84M | $140.28M | 3 |
| 3 | 3 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | $13.24M | $121.95M | 3 |
| 4 | 1 | Think Like a Man Too | $10.32M | $48.08M | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | Maleficent | $8.38M | $202.01M | 5 |
| 6 | 4 | Jersey Boys | $7.71M | $27.44M | 2 |
| 7 | 6 | Edge of Tomorrow | $5.40M | $84.35M | 4 |
| 8 | 7 | The Fault in Our Stars | $5.13M | $109.88M | 4 |
| 9 | 8 | X-Men: Days of Future Past | $3.32M | $223.41M | 6 |
| 10 | 10 | Chef | $1.66M | $19.41M | 10 |
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.
