New Movies Take Top Three Places
As was expected, 20th Century Fox’s The Maze Runner debuted in first place last weekend with $32.51 million. The modestly budgeted young adult adaptation opened in line with expectations and performed well with its price tag in mind. Without adjusting for ticket price inflation, The Maze Runner delivered the sixth largest opening weekend performance of all time for the month of September. The Maze Runner opened 20 percent stronger than the $27.02 million start of last year’s Ender’s Game and is likely to hold up better than Ender’s Game did in part from facing relatively softer competition. After last weekend’s performance, 20th Century Fox has scheduled The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials for release on Sept. 18, 2015.
The Gladers react to a surprising development in The Maze Runner. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)
A Walk Among the Tombstones debuted in second place with $12.76 million. Universal Pictures’ modestly budgeted action thriller starring Liam Neeson opened just below pre-release expectations. A Walk Among the Tombstones opened softer than Neeson’s recent vehicles; including 35 percent softer than the $19.67 million debut of 2012’s The Grey. A Walk Among the Tombstones is likely to take a significant hit next weekend when Sony Pictures’ The Equalizer arrives in theaters this coming Friday.
Warner Bros. Studios’ This Is Where I Leave You opened in third place with $11.56 million. The modestly budgeted comedy starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey opened towards the lower end of expectations. This Is Where I Leave You
Sony Pictures’ No Good Deed was down three spots and 60 percent from the previous weekend’s first place debut to place in fourth with $9.79 million. While the low-budget thriller starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson experienced a sharp second weekend decline, in the bigger picture the film is still performing well with a 10-day take of $39.70 million.
Dolphin Tale 2 rounded out the weekend’s top five with $8.87 million. The family sequel from Warner Bros. was down 44 percent from the previous weekend, as it was unable to duplicate the second weekend strength of 2011’s Dolphin Tale, which fell just 27 percent in its second weekend to gross $13.91 million. Dolphin Tale 2 has grossed a respectable $26.93 million in 10 days, but is currently running 28 percent behind the $37.18 million 10-day take of Dolphin Tale.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy placed in sixth with $5.24 million. The blockbuster sci-fi superhero film was down 35 percent from the previous weekend. With a massive 52-day take of $313.73 million, Guardians of the Galaxy is set to soon surpass the $318.41 million unadjusted final gross of 2008’s Iron Man.
| This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | The Maze Runner | $32.51M | $32.51M | 1 |
| 2 | N/A | A Walk Among the Tombstones | $12.76M | $12.76M | 1 |
| 3 | N/A | This Is Where I Leave You | $11.56M | $11.56M | 1 |
| 4 | 1 | No Good Deed | $9.79M | $39.70M | 2 |
| 5 | 2 | Dolphin Tale 2 | $8.87M | $26.93M | 2 |
| 6 | 3 | Guardians of the Galaxy | $5.24M | $313.73M | 8 |
| 7 | 5 | Let’s Be Cops | $2.71M | $77.23M | 6 |
| 8 | 4 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | $2.65M | $185.02M | 7 |
| 9 | 6 | The Drop | $2.07M | $7.71M | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | If I Stay | $1.84M | $47.68M | 5 |
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.
