Guardians and Turtles Trade Top Places
Guardians of the Galaxy claimed first place last weekend (Aug. 22-24) with $17.20 million. The blockbuster sci-fi superhero adaptation from Marvel returned to first place after finishing in second each of the past previous two weekends. Guardians of the Galaxy held up extremely well last weekend, as it was down just 32 percent from the previous weekend. Guardians of the Galaxy surpassed the $250 million mark last weekend and has grossed $251.46 million in 24 days. The film currently ranks as the third highest grossing release of 2014 thus far domestically, behind only Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Lego Movie. Guardians of the Galaxy is set to move into first place for the year within the next week.
After leading the box office each of the previous two weekends, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fell to second with $16.73 million. Paramount Pictures’ successful franchise re-launch was down a solid 41 percent from the previous weekend. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continues to exceed expectations in a big way with $145.54 million through 17 days of release. The film will pass the $150 million domestic mark within the next week and should continue to further stabilize next weekend with help from the Labor Day holiday.
Warner Bros. Studios’ If I Stay debuted in third with $15.68 million. The low-budget drama starring Chloë Grace Moretz opened on the low end of pre-release expectations and performed fairly well with its cost in mind. If I Stay opened slightly below the $16.10 million debut of last year’s Carrie, which also starred Moretz. Due in part to its different genre and in part to the limited amount of new wide releases over the next few weeks, If I Stay hopes to hold up better going forward than Carrie did.
Let’s Be Cops followed in fourth with $10.81 million. 20th Century Fox’s low-budget action-comedy held up well in its second weekend, as it was down 39 percent from its opening weekend. Let’s Be Cops has grossed $45.06 million in 12 days, in line with the lower end of expectations. Let’s Be Cops will likely continue to hold up well going forward thanks in part to no new comedies entering the marketplace the next few weeks.
Sony Pictures’ When the Game Stands Tall rounded out the weekend’s top five with $8.38 million. The low-budget drama from TriStar and Affirm Films opened just below pre-release expectations.
Meanwhile, fellow new release Sin City: A Dame to Kill For stumbled out the gate last weekend with a disappointing eighth place start of $6.32 million. The graphic novel adaptation sequel from The Weinstein Co. opened well below all expectations and a massive 78 percent below the $29.12 million start of 2005’s Sin City, which didn’t the advantage of higher priced 3D admissions. Unlike 300: Rise of an Empire earlier this year, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was unable to overcome the long gap in time between it and its predecessor.
The Expendables 3 and The Giver claimed sixth and seventh place with respective weekend takes of $6.49 million and $6.43 million. The two films were separated by just $51,145 for the period. The Expendables 3 fell a sharp 59 percent from last weekend, while Weinstein’s The Giver was down a reasonable 48 percent. Respective 10-day totals stand at a very disappointing $27.40 million for The Expendables 3 and at a solid $23.80 million for The Giver.
This Week | Last Week | Movie | Weekend Gross | Cumulative Gross | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Guardians of the Galaxy | $17.20M | $251.46M | 4 |
2 | 1 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | $16.73M | $145.54M | 3 |
3 | N/A | If I Stay | $15.68M | $15.68M | 1 |
4 | 3 | Let’s Be Cops | $10.81M | $45.06M | 2 |
5 | N/A | When the Game Stands Tall | $8.38M | $8.38M | 1 |
6 | 4 | The Expendables 3 | $6.49M | $27.40M | 2 |
7 | 5 | The Giver | $6.43M | $23.80M | 2 |
8 | N/A | Sin City: A Dame to Kill For | $6.32M | $6.32M | 1 |
9 | 7 | The Hundred-Foot Journey | $5.34M | $32.53M | 3 |
10 | 6 | Into the Storm | $3.83M | $38.30M | 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.