Ouija, Nightcrawler Fight for First Place
It was an extremely close race for first place last weekend between Universal Pictures’ Ouija and Open Road Films’ Nightcrawler. Ouija ultimately led the way with $10.74 million, while Nightcrawler followed in second with $10.44 million.
With the aid of Halloween, Ouija remained in first place last weekend and was down just 46 percent from the previous weekend. The low-budget PG-13 horror film from Platinum Dunes didn’t hold up all that well during the midweek, but rebounded on Halloween and maintained momentum throughout the rest of the weekend. Ouija has grossed a very solid $34.80 million through 10 days of release.
Nightcrawler trailed Ouija by just $299,380 for the frame. The critically acclaimed crime thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal appeared set to lead the weekend after a close second place finish on Friday, but Friday’s $3.2 million performance ultimately wasn’t affected by Halloween as much as anticipated. Nightcrawler was able to open in line with pre-release expectations, which were boosted a bit by the film’s strong reviews and relatively strong online activity over the past few weeks.
It was a tight race for places three through seven last weekend, as third place and seventh place were separated by just $1.59 million. Holdovers in general held up well last weekend, thanks in part to the limited amount of new competition.
Sony Pictures’ Fury claimed third place with $8.82 million. The David Ayer directed World War II film starring Brad Pitt held up nicely last weekend, as it was down 34 percent from the previous weekend. Fury surpassed the $60 million mark last weekend and has grossed $60.16 million in 17 days. The film continues to perform in line with the lower end of expectations.
Twentieth Century Fox’s Gone Girl placed in fourth with $8.48 million. The critically acclaimed David Fincher directed film starring Ben Affleck held up very well, as it was down just 23 percent from the previous weekend. Last weekend’s hold was especially impressive given the added competition the film faced from Nightcrawler. Gone Girl has grossed a very impressive $136.28 million in 31 days. The film is already the highest grossing film of Fincher’s career and is now just $13.72 million away from reaching the $150 million mark.
The Book of Life rounded out the weekend’s top five with $8.21 million. Twentieth Century Fox’s modestly budgeted computer animated film was down a slim 18 percent from the previous weekend. Like Ouija, The Book of Life received a boost from the holiday weekend, although its boost was on Saturday. The film also likely received an added boost from moviegoers who wanted to catch it before Walt Disney Entertainment’s Big Hero 6 arrives in the marketplace next weekend. The Book of Life surpassed the $40 million mark last weekend and has grossed a solid $40.43 million in 17 days.
John Wick took sixth place with $7.99 million. The Keanu Reeves led action thriller from Lionsgate Entertainment did lose a bit of momentum over the weekend, as it was down 45 percent from the previous weekend. With that said, John Wick is still performing on the high end of expectations with $27.53 million in 10 days.
The Weinstein Co.’s St. Vincent placed in seventh with $7.23 million. The low-budget comedy starring Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy held up especially well last weekend, as it was down just 7 percent from last weekend. St. Vincent was helped out last weekend by strong word of mouth and from expanding into an additional 270 locations. The film has grossed $19.00 million to date and will hope to continue to hold up well going forward.
The weekend’s other two new wide releases were both dead on arrival. Clarius’ Before I Go to Sleep debuted on the very low end of its already low expectations with $1.84 million, while Lionsgate’s Saw 10th Anniversary opened with a very disappointing $650,051. That gave Before I Go to Sleep and Saw 10th Anniversary respective per-location averages of just $953 and $315 for the frame.
On the limited front, Fox Searchlight’s Birdman took in $2.39 million from 231 locations. That gave the critically acclaimed Alejandro G. Iñárritu directed film starring Michael Keaton a healthy, but not exceptional, per-location average of $10,348 for the frame. Birdman has grossed $4.88 million through 17 days of platform release.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
1 | 1 | Ouija | $10.74M | $34.80M | 2 |
2 | N/A | Nightcrawler | $10.44M | $10.44M | 1 |
3 | 3 | Fury | $8.82M | $60.16M | 3 |
4 | 4 | Gone Girl | $8.48M | $136.28M | 5 |
5 | 5 | The Book of Life | $8.21M | $40.43M | 3 |
6 | 2 | John Wick | $7.99M | $27.53M | 2 |
7 | 6 | St. Vincent | $7.23M | $19.00M | 4 |
8 | 7 | Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | $6.59M | $53.73M | 4 |
9 | 10 | The Judge | $3.36M | $39.51M | 4 |
10 | 9 | Dracula Untold | $2.98M | $52.90M | 4 |
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.