Finding Dory Holds On at the Top
Walt Disney Studios’ Finding Dory maintained its box office lead with $72.95 million in its second weekend, down just 46.0 percent that is a positive indication for the film’s holding power throughout the rest of summer. The animated family film from Pixar had one of the best second-weekend holds among animated films of the past decade, with a smaller second-weekend drop than the 46.2 percent for 2010’s Toy Story 3, 47.4 percent for 2013’s Despicable Me 2, 56.4 percent for 2007’s Shrek the Third or 57.4 percent for last year’s Minions. That gives Finding Dory the eighth-highest second weekend of all time — or 19th-highest when adjusted for inflation — a notable improvement from the previous weekend when it had the 19th-highest opening weekend ever — or 27th-highest adjusted for inflation. With a very possible third straight weekend atop the box office coming next weekend, it could possibly become the highest-grossing movie of the year.
Its second-weekend drop was higher than predecessor Finding Nemo’s 33.7 percent second-weekend drop in 2003, although the sequel clearly had more pre-release anticipation than the original, thus was more front-loaded and no big surprise. Finding Dory has grossed $286.27 million through 10 days, 98.7 percent ahead of Finding Nemo’s $144.04 million 10-day start. It is also 26.2 percent above the $226.88 million 10-day start of Toy Story 3.
Twentieth Century Fox’s Independence Day: Resurgence came in second with $41.03 million. The alien invasion-themed science fiction sequel starring Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Liam Hemsworth opened behind the $50.22 million start of the original Independence Day in 1996.The sequel’s poor reviews and lack of original star Will Smith likely hurt it. The film could experience a mild decline next weekend on the Independence Day holiday itself. Earlier this year, Mother’s Day saw a substantial percentage increase over the Mother’s Day holiday weekend, although that would probably be too much to expect out of a summer blockbuster like Resurgence.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Central Intelligence came in third with $18.24 million, a 48.7 percent decline. With $69.17 million through 10 days, it is running 20.9 percent ahead of the $57.21 million 10-day start of one of Kevin Hart’s previous buddy comedies Get Hard.
Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures’ The Shallows practically recouped its budget in its opening weekend with $16.80 million and a fourth-place start. With an effective marketing campaign and a summer release timed to scare beachgoing audiences like Jaws did some four decades ago, the shark attack thriller starring Blake Lively did better than many expected. Lively was known more for her television acting on the show Gossip Girl than her film roles, although the film almost earning its $17 million budget in its opening weekend alone should indicate her box office potential. It started 27.3 percent above the $13.20 million opening weekend of Lively’s The Age of Adeline last year.
Warner Bros.’ horror The Conjuring 2 dropped 48.3 percent to sixth-place with $7.70 million. It has now earned $86.90 million through 17 days, which is 19.5 percent behind the $107.95 million 17-day start of 2013’s original The Conjuring and 17.3 percent above the $74.08 million 17-day take of 2014’s spinoff Annabelle.
STX Entertainment’s Free State of Jones opened with a disappointing $7.57 million and sixth place, a low opening even for a drama aimed at adults. The Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey is based on a true story. It is arguably McConaughey’s first film in several years to neither become a box office success nor earn great reviews following hits like Interstellar and The Wolf of Wall Street, and critical hits like Dallas Buyers Club and Mud.
Lionsgate’s Now You See Me 2 dipped 40.3 percent to seventh-place with $5.59 million. Its $52.00 million 17-day take is 35.6 percent behind the $80.70 million 17-day start of its 2013 predecessor Now You See Me.
Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse fell 53.1 percent to an eighth-place $2.49 million take. Its $151.14 million 31-day earnings are running 30.3 percent behind the $216.74 million 31-day take of 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past and 9.0 percent ahead of the $138.66 million 31-day gross of 2011’s X-Men: First Class.
Paramount Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows dropped 53.1 percent to $2.46 million and ninth place. Its $77.18 million 24-day gross is 52.5 percent behind the $162.57 million 24-day take of 2014’s predecessor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Rounding out the top 10, Universal Pictures’ Warcraft fell 68.9 percent to $2.25 million. It has earned $44.00 million in 31 days.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
1 | 1 | Finding Dory | $72.96M | $286.28M | 2 |
2 | N/A | Independence Day: Resurgence | $41.04M | $41.04M | 1 |
3 | 2 | Central Intelligence | $18.24M | $69.17M | 2 |
4 | N/A | The Shallows | $16.80M | $16.80M | 1 |
5 | 3 | The Conjuring 2 | $7.70M | $86.90M | 3 |
6 | N/A | Free State of Jones | $7.57M | $7.57M | 1 |
7 | 4 | Now You See Me 2 | $5.59M | $52.00M | 3 |
8 | 6 | X-Men: Apocalypse | $2.49M | $151.14M | 5 |
9 | 7 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows | $2.46M | $77.18M | 4 |
10 | 5 | Warcraft | $2.25M | $44.00M | 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.