Compton, Rogue Nation Hang On at Top
Universal Pictures’ Straight Outta Compton easily remained in first place last weekend (Aug. 21-23) with $26.36 million. The modestly budgeted F. Gary Gray directed N.W.A biopic was down 56 percent from its opening weekend, but in the bigger picture continues impress. Straight Outta Compton surpassed the $100 million domestic mark last weekend and has grossed a very strong $111.09 million in 10 days. With not much expected out of this coming weekend’s new wide releases, Straight Outta Compton is highly likely to remain in first place.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation held steady in second place with $11.45 million. The fifth installment of the Tom Cruise led blockbuster franchise from Paramount Pictures held up very well, as it was down just 33 percent. Rogue Nation continues to be aided by its strong word of mouth and strong critical reviews. The 24-day total for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation stands at $157.51 million. The film is currently running 38 percent ahead of the $114.27 million 24-day take of 2006’s Mission: Impossible III.
Focus Features’ Sinister 2 debuted in third place with $10.54 million. While the low-budget horror sequel from Gramercy and Blumhouse Productions was the weekend’s top new release, the film was still off to a softer than expected start. Sinister 2 appears to have been hurt by its poor reviews, the break-out performance of Straight Outta Compton and by the overall marketplace slowing as the summer box office season nears its end.
Twentieth Century Fox’s Hitman: Agent 47 opened in fourth with $8.33 million. The video game based action film opened on the very low end of modest expectations. Like Sinister 2, Hitman: Agent 47 was likely also hurt by poor reviews and by the tough competition from Straight Outta Compton. Hitman: Agent 47 debuted 37 percent below the $13.16 million three-day start of 2007’s Hitman, which opened on a Wednesday.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. rounded out the weekend’s top five with $7.32 million. While the Guy Ritchie directed spy comedy from Warner Bros. Pictures was down 45.5 percent from its previous weekend’s debut, the film is still significantly under-performing with a 10-day start of just $26.53 million.
Lionsgate Entertainment’s American Ultra arrived softly with a sixth place start of $5.45 million. The action comedy starring Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg opened below modest expectations. While American Ultra had an interesting advertising campaign, that ultimately wasn’t effective enough to get moviegoers to see the film last weekend.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
1 | 1 | Straight Outta Compton | $26.36M | $111.09M | 2 |
2 | 2 | Mission: Impossible – Rouge Nation | $11.45M | $157.51M | 4 |
3 | N/A | Sinister 2 | $10.54M | $10.54M | 1 |
4 | N/A | Hitman: Agent 47 | $8.33M | $8.33M | 1 |
5 | 3 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E | $7.32M | $26.53M | 2 |
6 | N/A | American Ultra | $5.45M | $5.45M | 1 |
7 | 5 | The Gift | $4.28M | $31.04M | 3 |
8 | 6 | Ant-Man | $4.06M | $169.49M | 6 |
9 | 8 | Minions | $3.83M | $320.08M | 7 |
10 | 4 | Fantastic Four | $3.73M | $49.71M | 3 |
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.