- Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania – £8,834,435 – NE
£3.7m (41.9%) Friday; £3.07m (34.7%) Saturday; £2.06m (23.3%) Sunday
Friday was 201% more than Ant-Man and the Wasp and 183% more than Ant-Man
120th biggest opening The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and Sex and the City (close to Monsters, Inc, Die Another Day, Transformers and War of the Worlds) and the 202nd biggest opening inflated between Star Trek and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (close to The Sixth Sense, Mission: Impossible, Godzilla (1998) and Goldeneye).
20th biggest MCU opening between Doctor Strange and Thor: The Dark World (close to Thor: Love and Thunder, Spider-Man Homecoming, Iron Man 2 and Blade Widow).
34th biggest comic-book opening between The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 2 (close to Spider-Man (2002), Doctor Strange, Spider-Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World) and 45th biggest comic-book inflated opening between Venom and X-Men (close to Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Justice League and Superman Returns).
Opened 120% more than 2015’s Ant-Man (£4,011,345) and 77% more than Ant-Man and the Wasp (£4,988,747) but it can’t be compared with either as they were both very different films. While the majority of the MCU films are about rich arrogant males who have a fetish for spandex in Ant-Man Scott Lang is doing it to try to have a relationship with his daughter making the films different similar to the 80s and 90s family action films like Inner Space and Honey I Shrunk the Kids.
While Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania is very much an MCU film and is tonally much darker with less humour, this is probably the reason why it had some of the worst reviews of a Disney MCU and why it will be much more front-loaded, this was seen by its box office dropping off on Saturday from Friday as normally Saturday increases as Black Panther 2 did last November.
That said as Friday was half-term that could have pushed many who would see it over the weekend to Friday, but what was surprising given that it was half-term that the film didn’t open in the UK on Wednesday as it did in several other territories as it surely could have taken about £5m Weds/Thurs that would have seen it opening similar to Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain America: Civil War and Iron Man 3. It will be interesting to see how it holds next weekend as would expect a drop of up to 60% despite as always the weekend after MCU opens no major new releases opening until Creed III in two weeks.
As it’s the first film from Phase 5 introducing Kang the Conqueror who will be the supervillain in Phase 5 leading into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2025, before Avengers: Secret Wars starts Phase 6 in 2026.
The footage was first screened at Comic-Con in July 2022, with further footage shown during D23 in September, the first teaser trailer was released in October and attached to Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The tone was darker than the previous two Ant-Man films which felt more like family adventure films made in the 80s and 90s.
Ant-Man 3 opened in many international territories on Wednesday, as this week is half-term and Puss in Boots 2 was the only film aimed at under 16s on release was surprising didn’t open on Wednesday in the UK. 20 MCU films have had previews recently including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse and Thor: Love and Thunder but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Immediate premiere reaction was predicably very positive as it is always for MCU films as the audience has been hyped up to see it, so always have to take them with a pinch of salt. The embargo ended on Tuesday hours before the first international screenings on Wednesday receiving the worst reviews of Disney MCU, while currently, Rotten Tomatoes’ score of 54% is higher than Eternals it will likely drop further over the weeks to come.
The first two Ant-Man films were palette cleansers to the other MCU films as they included far more humour, fun and heart than the others. The ending of Ant-Man and the Wasp teased the change of the character as he became a key Avenger in future films.
The 30 MCUs have taken over £1bn at the UK BO since 2008 (£1.2bn inflated) but after steady growth solo films have plateaued since Captain America: Civil War in 2018, while Ant-Man films have been the lowest grossing of the MCU with 2015’s Ant-Man opening £4,011,345 taking £16,309,117 and 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp opened £4,988,747 taking £17,599,289.
Disney’s first 8 MCU films’ average opening was £10.9m and the average of the last 8 MCU films (not including Avengers films) average was £11.4m.
Last week Marvel delayed The Marvels from July 28th the week after Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer to November 10th opening between Dune: Part Two and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
- 2. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – £3,170,746 – £17,156,100
Up 3.4% in the third weekend
Took £497k Friday (15.7%); £1.45m Saturday (47.7%); £1.22m Sunday (38.5%)
Took £7,967,599 over the last 7 days (half-term) taking 60.2% £4,796,853 Mon-Thurs and 39.8% £3,170,746 Fri-Sun compared to £6,516,567 over the same 7 days last year for Sing 2 £3,155,692 48.4% Fri-Sun and £3,360,8754 51.6% Mon-Thurs but Uncharted also took £7,457,830 over 7 days.
90th biggest 3rd weekend (97th to take £3m+ in 3rd weekend since 1993’s Jurassic Park) between Iron Man 3 and Star Wars: Phantom Menace (close to The Lego Movie, Sing 2, Uncharted and Gladiator) and 153rd biggest inflated 3rd weekend between The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Thor: Ragnarok (close to The Simpsons, Beauty and the Beast (1992), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Fugitive).
4th biggest Dreamworks Animation third weekend between Shrek 2 (£3,445,177) and Shrek the Third (£2,803,076) and the 19th biggest Dreamworks Animation film between How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda 2 having taken £2,885,573 more than 2011’s Puss in Boots £14,270,527.
Third weekends
2011’s Puss in Boots dropped 31% £899,231 #4 from 507 screens taking £6,636,972 of £14,270,527; with competition from Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked #3 £1,133,827 and Arthur Christmas #1 £2,047,463
2010’s Shrek Forever After dropped 9% £4,198,874 #2 and £24,397,433 of £31,106,087
2007’s Shrek The Third dropped 45% £2,803,076 #2 and £30,680,054 of £38,079,462 (£60,927,139 inflated)
2004’s Shrek 2 dropped 51% £3,445,177 #2 and £34,995,827 of £48,104,138 (£86,566,021 inflated)
2001’s Shrek dropped 14% £2,796,124 taking £13,875,519 of £29,004,582 (£56,607,976 inflated)
The four Shrek films were hugely popular in the UK taking over £150m+ (£250m+ inflated)
The 40+ Dreamwork Animation films have taken almost £700m since 1998 and £900m+ inflation inflated.
71st biggest animated film between How to Train Your Dragon and The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists (close to The Lego Movie: The Second Part, Ralph Breaks The Internet, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Aladdin (1992) and 100th biggest inflated between The Jungle Book (1993 re-issue) and The Polar Express (close to Puss in Boots, Flushed Away, The Lion King 3D and The Jungle Book (re-release)
353rd biggest film between Pitch Perfect 2 and Iron Man (close to The Mummy (1999), The Mask, The Silence of the Lambs and The Bodyguard) and 655th biggest inflated between Charlotte’s Web and Star Trek Generations (close to Platoon, In the Line of Fire, The Firm and Wayne’s World 2).
After last year had only a couple of major animated films this year has several targetting different demographics Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, Strays, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Wish and Migration.
- 3. Magic Mike’s Last Dance – £888,435 – £3,842,057
Down 41.9% in the second weekend
Took Friday £326k 46.5% drop (36.7%); £354k Saturday 33% drop (40%); Sunday £208k 46.8% drop (23.3%)
1,147th biggest second weekend between Scream 3 and Judge Dredd (close to The Little Mermaid, Three Men and A Baby, Magic Mike and Eyes Wide Shut) and 1,710th biggest inflated opening between The Parent Trap and Snake Eyes (close to Scent of a Woman, Coyote Ugly, Galaxy Quest and LA Story).
2012’s Magic Mike dropped 67% (46% not including previews) £885,330 #4 from 453 screens and £5,250,974 taking £8,111,970; #1 The Dark Knight Rises £14,362,443
2015’s Magic Mike XXL dropped 39% (37% not including previews) £954,766 #5 from 485 screens and £3,998,010 taking £6,697,739
First film was financed by Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum with Warner Bros acquiring US rights and Lionsgate UK, but the sequels were made by Warner Bros and released globally by the studio.
Channing Tatum also starred in 2012’s 21 Jump Street £10.1m; 2014’s 22 Jump Street £18.6m; 2006’s Step Up £4.4m; 2008’s Step Up 2 The Streets £10.6m.
The film was originally announced in 2021 as a film to be released on HBO Max, but it was always likely to have a UK cinema release as An American Pickle and Superintelligence both had cinema releases after premiering on HBO Max.
- 4. Avatar: The Way of Water – £531,213 – £75,746,774
Down 36.1% in tenth weekend; took £145k Friday down 1% (27.3%); £231k Saturday down 38.7% (43.5%); Sunday £155k down 50% (29.2%)
After an outgrossing week on week Avatar has slowed down over the last few weeks and has now taken £9,008,407 less (£74,257,077 Vs £83,265,484) as Avatar 2 hasn’t had the legs of the original film despite having far less competition and much higher ticket prices.
16th biggest 10th weekend between Casino Royale (£597,983) and American Beauty (£526,403) (close to LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crocodile Dundee and Babe) took £1,729,106 less than Avatar (£2,260,319) and the 48th biggest inflated 10th weekend between The Mask (£536,722) and Despicable Me 3 (£529,093) close to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Basic Instinct, Independence Day, Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Fatal Attraction; Titanic is the biggest inflated £4,241,991 with Avatar third (£3,195,194) after The Full Monty (£3,240,292)
12th biggest film in the UK (16th to take £60m+ since Titanic in 1998) between The Lion King and Toy Story 3 (close to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Titanic, Toy Story 3 and Avengers: Infinity War) and 49th biggest inflated between Moonraker and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (close to Flash Gordon, The Dark Knight, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Live and Let Die ).
However, the industry tries to spin it Avatar 2 came short of expectations in the UK as most would have expected it to take upwards of £100m and be one of the biggest international territories after China as the UK with $148m was Avatar’s 4th biggest after Japan, France and Germany with $157m. But similar to Black Panther Wakanda Forever in November and many other films released last year it took about a third less than expected. Part of the reason for Avatar 2 coming short is likely due to the drop in 3D sales, for Avatar was 85%+ 3D with about 7%+ for both IMAX and 2D, while Deadline figures for Europe were 70% for IMAX/3D but UK opening weekend was 57% from IMAX/3D with 43% 2D.
In 2009 Avatar took 85%+ from 3D with IMAX (9 screens) and 2D (300) taking about 7% each but 2D has taken far more of the BO for Avatar 2 (41%) with 47% 3D and 12% IMAX.
In 2010 Avatar dropped 15% in its 10th weekend taking £2,817,009 #1 (391 screens £7,205 average) and £83,265,484; The Princess And The Frog #2 £1,725,519; The Lovely Bones #3 £1,637,579; Valentine’s Day #4 £1,583,142; Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief #5 £1,487,446
Avatar returned to #1 for two weeks and then Alice in Wonderland opened with £10,555,220 taking 3D screens.
- 5. Epic Tails £332,566 – £1,150,587
Up 28.1% in the second weekend
Took Friday £128k (38.5%); Saturday £117k (35.2%); Sunday £87k (26.2%)
The previously directed 2017’s The Jungle Bunch opened in September with £374,982 #6 from 507 screens taking £1,201,913. This is the English version of the animated family adventure film Argonauts with voices including Rob Beckett, Giovanna Fletcher and Josh Widdicombe.
Also opened.
• The Son – Black Bear
Opened with £48,251 from 193 screens.
Based on Florian Zeller’s 2018 stage play and plays alongside 2021’s The Father starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, Zen McGrath, Hugh Quarshie, and Anthony Hopkins and directed by Florian Zeller.
It had a world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and received negative reviews (27% Rotten Tomatoes) while The Father received critical acclaim. Hugh Jackman was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.
2021’s The Father opened £397,418 #6 from 626 screens taking £2,120,292
Hugh Jackman came to the UK ahead of the BAFTAs promoting the film with several interviews including Graham Norton and BBC Radio 5 Live. Their reaction was far more positive to the film.
It looks like the film will be out of cinemas on Friday, as with many similar films it’s not one that people will rush out to see over opening weekend, but the problem is when they do seek it out it won’t be playing in cinemas.
Exhibitors might demand 90-day windows for films, but the problem is if they don’t immediately find an audience in their first weekend they will lose shows and screens in week 2, eOne and Universal extended opening weekends for The Fabelmens and Women Talking by having the opening week as previews, 20 years ago these films would have platform openings.
UK box office in detail
This weekend’s top 10 box office took £14,821,149 up 77.4% from last weekend’s £8,352,776: 1,927,328 admissions up 77.4% from 1,086,187.
229th biggest top 10 of the last 21 years (out of 1,090) between 18 July 2008 #1 Mamma Mia! £4,561,109 (30.7% of top 10) and 19 December 2014 #1 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies £5,409,312 (36.5% of top 10) and 502nd biggest inflation inflated between 11 May 2018 #1 Avengers: Infinity War £5,706,170 (43% of top 10) and 12 August 2016 #1 Suicide Squad £4,241,508 (31.2% of top 10).
The top 3 took £12,893,616 87% of the top 10; Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania 59.6% (£8,834,435); Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 21.4% (£3,170,746); Magic Mike’s Last Dance 6% (£888,435);
59.6% of the top 10 it’s the 146th highest percentage #1 between 08 February 2002 Monsters, Inc. 59.6% and 13 May 2022 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness 59.3%
211th biggest admissions #1 (1,148,821) between 27 May 2005 Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (1,152,249) and 27 July 2012 The Dark Knight Rises (1,142,160).
Up 27.1% from 2022 (£11,663,829); Dog (£822,123); #1 Uncharted £3,775,360 2nd week (32.4% of top 10)
2021; Lockdown
Down 10.4% from 2020 (£16,539,141); Sonic The Hedgehog (£4,733,768); Emma (£1,635,797); Ghost (30th Anniversary) (£78,805); The Lost Boys (Re: 2020) (£61,613); #1 Sonic The Hedgehog £4,733,768 1st week 619 screens (28.6% of the top 10)
Up 33.3% from 2019; (£11,116,499); Instant Family (£2,469,853); Happy Death Day 2U (£735,454); The Kid Who Would be King (£666,749); A Private War (£223,438); Notting Hill (20th Anniversary) (£1,125); #1 The LEGO Movie 2 £2,472,489 2nd week 652 screens 38% drop (22.2% of top 10)
Down 49.1% from 2018: (£29,122,391); Black Panther (£17,700,000); The Shape of Water (£2,466,217); Father Figures (£250,465); Lady Bird (limited) (£184,254); #1 Black Panther £17,700,000 1st week 585 screens (60.8% of top 10)
Down 18% from 2017: (£18,070,709); John Wick: Chapter Two (£2,232,055); The Great Wall (£1,646,516); Hidden Figures (£1,448,214); Moonlight (£621,836); Fences (expansion) (£378,351); Moulin Rouge! (Secret Cinema 2017) (£376,900); The Founder (£231,716); Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical (£107,496); #1 The LEGO Batman Movie £4,435,521 2nd week 618 screens 44% drop (24.5% of top 10)
Down 8.6% from 2016; (£16,221,692); How To Be Single (£1,876,539); Triple 9 (£812,619); The Finest Hours (£247,643); #1 Deadpool £5,694,280 2nd week 571 screens 59% drop (35.1% of top 10)
Down 32.8% from 2015 (£22,051,391); Fifty Shades of Grey (£13,550,290); Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots (£687,417); Love is Strange (£99,755); Grease Sing-along (Re: 2015) (£10,694); #1 Fifty Shades of Grey £13,550,290 1st week 586 screens (61.4% of top 10)
Down 16% from 2014: (£17,643,201); The Lego Movie (£8,051,140); The Monuments Men (£1,616,625); Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy (£966,920); Cuban Fury (£966,276); Endless Love (£744,867); Her (£449,307); The Book Thief (limited) (£16,795); Sleepless in Seattle (Re: 2014) (£19,492); #1 The Lego Movie £8,051,140 1st week 547 screens (45.6% of top 10)
Down 1.8% from 2013 (£15,084,507); A Good Day to Die Hard (£4,551,116); This is 40 (£1,229,352); Beautiful Creatures (£1,109,167); Sammy’s Great Escape (£519,049); #1 A Good Day to Die Hard £4,551,116 1st week 484 screens (30.2% of top 10)
Up 8.8% from 2012 (£13,615,154); Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (£1,340,000); Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (£372,205); #1 The Woman in Black £3,501,601 2nd week 433 screens 11% up (25% of top 10)
Down 15.3% from 2011 (£17,491,609); Paul (£5,517,121); Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (£1,433,778); Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (£820,592); Inside Job (£70,375); #1 Paul £5,517,121 1st week 429 screens (31.5% of top 10)
Up 20.1% from 2010: (£12,339,641); The Lovely Bones (£1,637,579); Solomon Kane (£611,886); Crazy Heart (£102,917); #1 Avatar £2,817,009 10th week (9 weeks #1 with week gap) 391 screens (22.8% of top 10)
Up 17.5% from 2009; (£12,615,837); Confessions of a Shopaholic (£2,846,622); Push (£625,300); Gran Torino (£332,877); Che: Part Two (£92,320); Cadillac Records (£16,093); #1 Bolt £3,006,050 2nd week 494 screens 45% drop (23.8% of top 10)
Up 51% from 2008; (£9,817,133); Jumper (£3,068,803); The Bucket List (£602,248); There Will Be Blood – expansion (£540,472); All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (£103,084); #1 Jumper £3,068,803 1st week 406 screens (32.2% of top 10)
Down 13.4% from 2007: (£13,071,799); Hot Fuzz (£5,918,149); Because I Said So (£400,987); The Science of Sleep (£130,139); Casablanca (re:06) (£29,446); #1 Hot Fuzz £5,918,149 1st week 427 screens (45.3% of top 10)
Up 69.6% from 2006; (£8,740,291); Casanova (£550,775); Aeon Flux (£512,426); Good Night, and Good Luck (£405,200); #1 Chicken Little £2,184,760 2nd week 515 screens 31% drop (25% of top 10)
Up 48.5% from 2005 (£9,981,514); Shall We Dance? (£1,080,140); Are We There Yet? (£887,814); In Good Company (£594,316); #1 Meet the Fockers £1,893,131 4th week 454 screens 36 drops (18.9% of top 10)
Up 59% from 2004 (£9,322,973); Cheaper by the Dozen (£1,817,148); The Haunted Mansion (£1,677,927); Looney Tunes: Back in Action (£926,447); Tooth (£209,049); #1 Cheaper by the Dozen £1,817,148 1st week 364 screens (19.5% of top 10)
Up 41.1% from 2003 (£10,500,986); Daredevil (£1,953,136); Treasure Planet (£888,084); The Hours (£616,573); Undercover Brother (£235,527); #1 Two Weeks’ Notice £2,189,331 2nd week 416 screens 17% drop (20.8% of top 10)
Down 0.8% from 2002 (£14,947,751); Ocean’s Eleven (£5,095,062); Ali (limited) (£125,573); #1 Monsters, Inc. £5,757,712 2nd week 504 screens 37% drop (38.5% of top 10)
Next weekend 2022 (£10,074,422); The Duke (£992,659); Cyrano (£398,650); The Godfather: 50th Anniversary (£267,096); Studio 666 (£135,385); #1 Uncharted £3,084,102 3rd week 631 screens 18% drop (30.6% of top 10)
US Box Office
- Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania – Disney
Opened with $106.1m; received mixed reviews (47% Rotten Tomatoes) and B CinemaScore.
Opened in 3,500+ cinemas having over 50k screenings over the weekend.
17th biggest MCU between Spider-Man: Homecoming and Iron Man (close to Iron Man 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Captain America: Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1
62nd biggest opening between Minions: The Rise of Gru and The Secret Life of Pets (close to Man of Steel, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman and X-Men: The Last Stand).
Deadline claimed critics were being cruel about the film, but critical and audience responses were far better for the first two films Ant-Man received 83% Rotten Tomatoes/ A CinemaScore and Ant-Man and the Wasp 87% A- CinemaScore
Took $17.5m from Thursday previews 52% more than Ant-Man and the Wasp’s $11.5m and 170% more than Ant-Man’s $6.4m; Avatar: The Way of Water took $17M opening $134m; Jurassic World: Dominion ($18m with $145m) and Top Gun: Maverick ($19m and $127m).
2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 $17m; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness $36m; Thor: Love & Thunder $29m; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever $28m.
Opened bigger than the previous two Ant-Man films.
2015’s Ant-Man is $57.22m (expected to open with $65m) (42% from 3D, 10.6% ($6.1m) from 361 IMAX screens and 9.5% ($5.5m) from PLF) taking $180.2m and $519.31m worldwide.
2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp $75.81m Phase 5 starting up the plot that will lead into the next Avengers film in 2025. The opening was 33% more than 2015’s Ant-Man was similar to the increase between 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World (31%) and 2008’s Iron Man and 2010’s Iron Man 2 (30%) but much less than between 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and 2014’s Captain America: Winter Soldier (46%).
The popularity of the MCU dramatically increased after the release of Avengers in 2012 which was the reason for the big increase from Captain America: The First Avenger to Captain America: Winter Soldier. It also included some of the Avengers characters expanding the storyline as most Marvel films have done since. But that could have been due to Captain America: Civil War.
Ahead of the opening was expected to open with $90m in the US and $110m over the President’s weekend and $280m worldwide. It used to be MCU films would open about $20m overestimates but now they open very close to estimates as the audience for one MCU is now very similar to the next, as the third Ant-Man film has become similar to all other MCU films it’s no surprise that it opened similar to the last one.
Had the third biggest February opening after 2018’s Black Panther ($202m) and 2016’s Deadpool ($132.4m).
Ant-Man had a Heineken promo advert in the Super Bowl and received 87.9m views in 24 hours similar to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Flash and Fast-X.
2015’s Ant-Man opened with $56m from 37 territories
2015’s Ant-Man had much more humour and was family-based as Scott Lang is doing it for his daughter rather than being rich and arrogant and doing it for their egos as most of the other Avengers. This made the film feel much more like a Disney family film Honey I Shrunk the Kids rather than a Marvel film the film was sold as a Marvel film with the generic trailers, but the Japanese trailer highlighted the family aspect.
2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp opened with $76m internationally from 41 territories and $161m worldwide (it didn’t open the same day in all territories opening a month later in the UK due to Incredibles 2 being delayed due to the World Cup.
Opened with $121.3m from 50 territories; China $19.2m; UK $10.9m; Mexico $8.7m; Korea $7.2m; Australia $5.3m; Indonesia $5.1m; Germany $4.5m; France $4.5m; Brazil $3.9m; India $3.9m; $225.3m worldwide.
Took $24m globally from IMAX 28% more than the combined worldwide openings of Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp taking $11.8m internationally.
Disney has now taken $1.282bn in 2023; $383m US and $899m internationally this was always expected having Avatar 2 and Ant-Man 2.
- Magic Mike’s Last Dance – Warner Bros
Dropped 35% in the second weekend $5.43m and $18.02m.
Added 1,538 screens doubling its screens to 3,034.
Second weekends
2012’s Magic Mike dropped 60% by $15.64m and $72.82m of $113.78m and $167.28m worldwide
2015’s Magic Mike XXL dropped 25.5% by $9.58m and $48.3m of $66.01m and $117.81m worldwide
Magic Mike’s Last Dance was originally meant to be released on HBO Max
Channing Tatum has had several films opening in February including 2012’s The Vow $41.2m; 2010’s Dear John $30m and 2022’s Dog $14.9m.
Took $4.6m from 41 territories and $19.6m and $37.7m worldwide.
- Avatar: The Way of Water – Disney
Down 9% in its 10th weekend taking $6.55m and $657.5m.
20th biggest 10th weekend between Forrest Gump ($6.76m) and Star Wars: A New Hope ($6.23m)
The 9th biggest film between Titanic and Jurassic World; the 22nd biggest inflated between The Dark Knight and Grease; the 3rd biggest sci-fi between Avatar and Jurassic World.
In 2010 Avatar dropped 31.2% in the 10th weekend $16.24m #3 and $687.96m 88.2% of $749.76m; #1 Shutter Island $41.06m; #2 Valentine’s Day $16.6m.
Took $10.7m (45% drop) from 52 territories $1.585bn total and $2.243bn worldwide; China $243.8m; France $148m; Germany $138m; Korea $107.5m; UK $91.6m.
Europe (72% 3D/PLF); Asia-Pacific (75% 3D/PLF); Latin America (54% 3D/PLF).
3rd biggest worldwide between Avengers: Endgame and Titanic; 2nd biggest sci-fi worldwide between Avatar and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Much made about Avatar 2 overtaking Titanic to become the third biggest film worldwide but impossible to compare the two films as Titanic has released 25 years ago with tickets about half the price they are now, while Titanic did it without IMAX, PLF and 3D (until the 2012 3D release) Titanic’s inflated BO would be $5bn+ now.
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Universal Pictures
Down 5% in the ninth weekend $5.33m and $166.15m
The 53rd biggest 9th weekend between Zootopia and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (close to Jumanji: The Next Level, Crocodile Dundee, Jurassic Park and Toy Story 2).
66th biggest animated film between Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Kung Fu Panda 2; 330th biggest film between Fifty Shades of Grey and 2012; 697th biggest inflated between The Break-Up and Rio; 42nd biggest Universal Pictures film between Fifty Shades of Grey and Sing 2.
2011’s Puss In Boots took $149.26m and $554.98m worldwide. The five Shrek extended universe films took $1.5bn in the US and $3.65bn worldwide and the 41 Dreamworks Animation films have taken $6.03bn in the US and $16.24bn worldwide since 1998’s Antz.
2001’s Shrek took $268.16m and $488.35m WW
2004’s Shrek 2 took $441.22m and $928.76m WW
2007’s Shrek the Third took $322.71m and $813.36m WW
2010’s Shrek Forever After took $238.73m and $752.6m WW
Took $9.9m (down 33%) from 80 territories and $256.7m total and $422.83m worldwide; Mexico $24.8m; UK $20.7m; France $20.1m; Germany $16.1m; Brazil $14.8m; Australia $14m.
66th biggest animated worldwide between Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Sing 2; 309th biggest worldwide between Dances with Wolves and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; 35th biggest Universal Pictures between The Mummy Returns and The Mummy.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania will hold #1 for a second weekend as no major releases open often the case the weekend after MCU opens.
2015’s Ant-Man dropped 37.2% in second weekend £2,520,129 and £9,619,553 59% of £16,309,117 and 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp dropped 54.3% £2,282,343 and £10,493,740 60% of £17,599,289,
Ant-Man 3 will likely drop slightly taking upwards of 60% taking £3.m-£4m similar to Shang-Chi, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1, Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish will drop 30%-40% in its fourth weekend taking £1.9m-£2.4m as it will see a big drop from Friday to Friday but then hold well Sat-Sun. It will have topped £20m by Sunday making it the 15th biggest Dreamworks Animation film similar to Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Monsters vs. Aliens, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon 3.
British rom-com What’s Love Got To Do With It? Will be the biggest new release, it received positive reviews since the Toronto Film Festival premiere last September. Was originally due to open ahead of Valentine’s Day as 2013 am I Give It A Year (opened £1,450,023 taking £6,195,388) but was likely delayed due to Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Titanic 25th Anniversary.
Bollywood meets British rom com immediately look to films like 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham opened £2,001,795 from 384 screens (£3,906,885 inflated) taking £10,914,247 (£21,301,236 inflated); 2004’s Bride and Prejudice £1,667,616 from 376 screens (£3,000,966 inflated) taking £4,993,561 (£8,986,185 inflated) and 1999’s East Is East £435,009 from 79 screens (£834,887 inflated) taking £10,373,945 24x opening (£19,910,089 inflated).
While Emma Thompson recently starred in 2019’s Last Christmas £2,654,354 taking £17,758,583 and Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical recently opened with £4,135,418 taking £27,587,332 and the recent rom-com Ticket To Paradise opened £2,805,615 taking £9,486,303 and 2019’s Yesterday £2,212,380 taking £13,813,168.
Rom-coms used to be hugely popular in the 80s and 90s and British rom-coms especially so with many of them made by Working Title including 1994’s Four Weddings and a Funeral £1,419,835; 1999’s Notting Hill £4,323,678; 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary £5,720,292; 2002’s About A Boy £3,747,966; 2003’s Love Actually £6,657,479, but over the last decade have struggled to find similarly sized audiences while finding success on Netflix.
Will open similarly to 2013’s I Give It A Year £1m-£1.5m hoping that the trailers played with Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Titanic 25th Anniversary will bring a similar audience to it.
Cocaine Bear is much harder to predict it has had one of the best trailers in recent years, but will audiences come out to see it. The film received strong social media coverage but does that bring audiences into cinemas? As with Everything Everywhere All At Once being trailered before Doctor Strange in May likely helped boost the audience Cocaine Bear trailered with Ant-Man 3 could do similar.
Hard to find comparisons but possibly in the 2000’s Lake Placid opened £931,472 (£1,710,521 inflated) taking £3,203,300 (£5,882,424 inflated)
2016’s The Shallows opened £800,963 taking £1,723,386
2006’s Snakes on a Plane £1,069,608 (£1,963,694 inflated) taking £3,692,064 (£6,125,642 inflated)
2004’s Open Water £1,970,176 taking £4,818,915
2002’s Eight Legged Freaks £1,031,494 taking £3,305,089 (£6,450,512 inflated)
1999’s Deep Blue Sea £1,946,454 (£2,859,616 inflated) taking £7,943,717 (£15,245,899 inflated)
1993’s Alive opened £443,875 (£1,117,293 inflated) taking £2,704,459 (£6,807,486 inflated)
1991’s Arachnophobia £838,792 (£2,236,779 inflated) taking £5,515,513 (£14,708,035 inflated)
Opening in two weeks
- Scream VI – Paramount Pictures
Horror sequel to 2022’s Scream and the sixth instalment of the Scream film series starring The film stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, Dermot Mulroney and Samara Weaving and directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
The first film not to star Neve Campbell as she felt the offer, she received undervalued her and the offer would have been very different had she been a man, showing that despite Michelle Williams speaking out about the gender pay gap in 2019 little has changed. Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott character was central to the previous films and the script for Scream VI makes references to her.
Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers is the only character to feature in all of the six films, but as the Scream reboot continues with new characters, she could become the “surprise” death as the film series will likely continue onwards after this film.
The Scream series has taken over £35m to date and £60m inflation inflated
1997’s Scream £1,070,532 (£2,125,282 inflated) taking £8,247,094 (£16,372,609 inflated)
1998’s Scream 2 £2,493,950 (£4,951,134 inflated) taking £8,280,725 (£16,439,375 inflated)
2000’s Scream 3 £2,449,937 (£4,498,975 inflated) taking £5,585,267 (£10,256,581 inflated)
2011’s Scream 4 £2,061,885 (£2,749,180 inflated) taking £5,581,902 (£7,442,536 inflated)
2022’s Scream £2,468,510 taking £7,438,313
- 65 – Sony Pictures
Sci-fi thriller starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, and Chloe Coleman and written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
- Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey – Altitude
The British horror film starring Craig David Dowsett as Winnie-the-Pooh and Chris Cordell as Piglet and written, and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield; the budget was $100,000; received poor reviews (6% Rotten Tomatoes)
It’s a horror retelling of A. A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books after adult Christopher Robin returns to the Hundred Acre Wood after leaving for college telling a very story to Disney 2018’s Christopher Robin.
Despite Disney owning rights to the depiction of Winnie the Pooh characters, rights for the first book went into the public domain in January 2022. Frake-Waterfield has plans for a sequel set for release next year.
- Champions – Universal Pictures
Sports comedy starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson and Cheech Marin and directed by Bobby Farrelly; English-language remake of the 2018 Spanish film.
The Farrelly Brothers previously produced the gross-out comedy 2005’s The Ringer about the Special Olympics which was poorly received both critically (40% Rotten Tomatoes) and at the BO.
Being a film about baseball it’s unlikely to find an audience in the UK as few have found audiences.
