Weekend Box Office
Minions Debuts at Number One
Minions delivered last weekend with a $115.72 million debut. The highly anticipated 3D computer animated spin-off from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment opened on the high end of already lofty expectations. Without adjusting for inflation, Minions scored the second largest opening weekend take ever for an animated film; behind only the $121.63 million start of 2007’s Shrek the Third. Minions opened just ahead of the $110.31 million debut of 2010’s Toy Story 3. Minions was an impressive 28.5 percent stronger than the $90.03 million three-day start of 2013’s Despicable Me 2, although it should be noted that Despicable Me 2 opened on a Wednesday. Minions was clearly helped out by goodwill from both Despicable Me films and by a very high-profile marketing campaign that was seemingly everywhere. Potential sequel fatigue for the film may have also been turned into a non-factor in this case thanks in part to the film’s nature as a spin-off.
Going forward the film should also be helped out by the lack of high-profile animated films on the remainder of this summer’s schedule. Minions marks yet another blockbuster level performer for Universal in 2015, as it joins the likes of Jurassic World, Furious 7, Pitch Perfect 2 and Fifty Shades of Grey.
Universal also claimed second place last weekend as Jurassic World took in $18.15 million. The 3D sci-fi adventure blockbuster sequel was down a 38 percent from its previous weekend performance, which had been deflated a bit by Independence Day falling on Saturday. Without adjusting for inflation, Jurassic World registered the seventh largest fifth weekend performance of all-time. Jurassic World has grossed $590.69 million through 31 days of release, which leaves it just $9.31 million away from becoming the fourth film ever to reach the $600 million domestic milestone.
Inside Out followed closely behind in third with $17.67 million. The 3D computer animated blockbuster from Disney and Pixar was down 41 percent from the previous weekend. That represented a solid hold, especially when considering the new direct competition it faced from Minions last weekend. Inside Out continues to outpace expectations with a 24-day take of $284.20 million. That leaves the film just $15.80 million away from reaching the $300 million domestic milestone. Inside Out is running 19.5 percent ahead of the $237.77 million 24-day gross of 2013’s Monsters University and 16 percent behind the $339.24 million 24-day take of 2010’s Toy Story 3.
Paramount Pictures’ Terminator Genisys placed in fourth with $13.83 million. The pricey Arnold Schwarzenegger led 3D sci-fi action sequel fell 49 percent from the previous weekend. Terminator Genisys has grossed $68.85 million in 12 days. The film continues to perform below scaled back expectations and is running 26 percent behind the $92.66 million 12-day gross of 2009’s Terminator Salvation. At this rate Terminator Genisys is likely to fall short of reaching the $100 million domestic mark; especially with Disney’s Ant-Man, Sony Pictures’ Pixels and fellow Paramount release Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation all entering the marketplace throughout the rest of July.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Gallows opened in fifth place with $9.81 million. The low-budget horror film from New Line and Blumhouse Productions opened on the lower end of modest expectations. The Gallows had generated high levels of online activity in the days leading up to its release, but that ultimately didn’t help at the box office last weekend.
Fellow Warner Bros. release Magic Mike XXL held up well with a sixth place take of $9.58 million. That was down just 25.5 percent from the previous weekend’s holiday deflated performance. The modestly budgeted Channing Tatum led sequel has displayed strong holding power over the past week, but in the bigger picture the film is still performing significantly below expectations with a 12-day take of $48.30 million. Magic Mike XXL is currently running a lackluster 38 percent behind the $77.86 million 12-day gross of 2012’s Magic Mike.
Meanwhile, Self/Less debuted in eighth place with $5.40 million. The Ryan Reynolds led sci-fi film from Focus and Gramercy opened to disappointing results and had been widely expected to do so heading into the weekend.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
1 | N/A | Minions | $115.72M | $115.72M | 1 |
2 | 2 | Jurassic World | $18.15M | $590.69M | 5 |
3 | 1 | Inside Out | $17.67M | $285.20M | 4 |
4 | 3 | Terminator Genisys | $13.83M | $68.85M | 2 |
5 | N/A | The Gallows | $9.81M | $9.81M | 1 |
6 | 4 | Magic Mike XXL | $9.58M | $48.30M | 2 |
7 | 5 | Ted 2 | $5.66M | $71.68M | 3 |
8 | N/A | Self/Less | $5.40M | $5.40M | 1 |
9 | 6 | Max | $3.54M | $33.83M | 3 |
10 | N/A | Baahubali: The Beginning | $3.07M | $4.40M | 1 |
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.