Rogue Nation , Vacation Debut on Top

Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation delivered last weekend (July 31-Aug. 2) with a first place debut of $55.52 million. The fifth installment of the Tom Cruise led action franchise opened toward the higher end of expectations. Without adjusting for inflation, Rogue Nation claimed the second largest opening weekend take of the Mission: Impossible franchise; behind only the $57.85 million opening weekend of 2000’s Mission: Impossible II. Rogue Nation opened 16 percent ahead of the $47.74 million debut of 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, though it should be noted that the opening weekend of Mission: Impossible III adjusts to $61.15 million when taking into account inflation. Pre-release tracking had been soft for Rogue Nation, but the film was ultimately able to get off to a good start thanks in part to its very strong reviews and to the rest of the marketplace being fairly empty for this time of year. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is likely to hold up relatively well going forward, although the film will face significant competition over the next two weeks from 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four, Universal Pictures’ Straight Outta Compton and Warner Bros. Studios’ The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. (Photo: Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures)

Warner Bros.’ Vacation debuted a distant second place with $14.68 million. The comedy franchise re-launch starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate grossed $21.00 million in five days since opening on Wednesday. That is below scaled back expectations for the film. Poor reviews didn’t help and the film’s R rating appears to have limited some of its potential with younger moviegoers as 64 percent of the film’s audience was 25 years and older. Vacation may be aided by the relative lack of new comedies arriving in the marketplace throughout the rest of August.

It was a close race for third place between Ant-Man and Minions. Disney’s Ant-Man finished on top with $12.80 million. The Paul Rudd led 3D superhero film from Marvel was down 49 percent from the previous weekend, as it took a direct hit from the arrival of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Ant-Man has grossed $132.33 million through 17 days.

Minions placed in fourth with $12.39 million. The 3D computer animated prequel from Universal and Illumination Entertainment trailed Ant-Man by just $415,269 for the weekend. Minions was down a significant 46 percent from the previous weekend, as the film continues to feel the effect of mixed word of mouth, especially among adults. Minions has grossed $287.58 million in 24 days. That places the film 3 percent behind the $295.26 million 24-day take of 2013’s Despicable Me 2.

Sony Pictures’ Pixels rounded out the weekend’s top five with $10.50 million. The Adam Sandler led 3D action comedy fell a sharp 56 percent from the previous weekend. The film’s percentage hold was lackluster, especially on the heels of it’s much softer than expected debut. Pixels has grossed $ $45.71 million in 10 days.

Trainwreck followed in sixth with $9.61 million. The critically acclaimed Amy Schumer led comedy from director Judd Apatow was down 44 percent. Trainwreck is displaying more front-loading than is usual for a film from Apatow; likely because Schumer’s fanbase rushed out to see the film. Trainwreck has grossed $79.61 million in 17 days.

The Weinstein Company’s Southpaw landed in seventh place with $7.62 million. The Jake Gyllenhaal led sports drama was down 54 percent, which does take a bit of the luster off of the previous weekend’s stronger than expected debut. Even with last weekend’s decline, Southpaw is still off to a solid 10-day start of $31.68 million.

Mark Heckathorn

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.