Top 5 Breakdown

1. Dunkirk – £2,634,839 – £44,794,468

Down 43.1% becoming the first film this year and the first since Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to hold the top spot for four weeks has become the second biggest film of the year before the weekend began.

Dunkirk has already overtaken Christopher Nolan’s 2010’s Inception £35.26m and will shortly 2008’s The Dark Knight £48.68m and likely to also overtake 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises £56.24m;

But of course, these films were released over 5 years ago their admissions tell a different story with when Dunkirk does overtake The Dark Knight Rises would have done it with 7,391,590 admissions 21% less than The Dark Knight 9,362,532 and 16% less than The Dark Knight Rises 8,830,070. As Dunkirk admissions are calculated using UK Cinema Association/BFI claimed average for the year rather than the real average of £10.50 if this was used Inception would have taken £62.32m, The Dark Knight Rises £92.71m, and The Dark Knight £98.3m.

This highlights the issues facing the industry which they have been in denial about since 2002. In the US, the chickens are coming home to roost as the summer box office will have the lowest admissions for 25 years using their NATO $8.95 average but again as for most, it costs over $15 they are the lowest for many more decades.

Since 2002 the growth at UK and US has been due to ticket inflation, 3D and PLF surcharges but as 3D sales have dropped dramatically in recent years those 30% surcharges are becoming far more noticeable while exhibitors have expanded their PLF screens in recent years they won’t fill the shortfall. So, exhibitors will do as they have done since the 1950s when admissions drop they raise ticket prices which are a false economy as this always means fewer people will go and less of their highly profitable popcorn will be sold.

The saddest thing about it is that it didn’t need to be this way as most of the damage was exhibitor/studio made as remember Screen International January 1994 after the massive success of Jurassic Park analysts were predicting 200m by 2000 admissions continued to grow but not to 200m. But do believe had prices not increased as they had done admissions in the UK would be getting close to 300m by now and be well over 2bn in US.

Exhibitors took their eyes off the game with digital conversion and have been since too busy rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic worrying about unnecessary things like extending food sold, reclining seats rather than improving customer service and film presentation (both they talk about much at Cinema-Con and Cine-Europe but nothing seems to happen except for Odeon bringing in their blockbuster tax in 2014 and then doubling it a year later) to see the industry is sinking. Since the 50s whenever admissions drop exhibitors increase ticket prices which are ignoring basic economics when something goes up in price people will buy less of it not more. Netflix has been the enemy as Rotten Tomatoes the reason why so many films flopped this summer but both are scapegoats. In 2002 Netflix had 857k subscribers US BO was highest ever and admissions since 1980 but in years since box office might have increased but admissions have not increased while Netflix US subscribers have increased by +5933%.

I guess it’s like climate change deniers and Brexit supporters they won’t admit they are wrong even though they know it to be true and all the information and experts say the same but they must put on the fake smile and say everything is awesome. I have been in denial of many things in my life so do realize that if you keep pretending it’s not true you start to believe in the lie you’re telling yourself. The problem industry has now is cinemagoers now know there is an alternative to the cinema for less than the price of one cinema ticket they can get a month of Netflix. It is interesting to see in recent weeks all exhibitors share prices have dropped apart from one Cineworld do wonder if it’s their Unlimited subscription cinema which is the reason.

Saving Private Ryan took £1,367,408 in its fourth weekend in October 1998 taking £12,170,437 going on to take £18,740,016; can’t make direct comparisons with Dunkirk as benefited from opening during summer holidays and average ticket prices almost three times what they were in 1998 (£4.07) along with the 40 IMAX screens. By comparing admissions Saving Private Ryan would have taken £22.75m on its way to £35.04m if using the claimed £7.61 average from UK Cinema Association and BFI. But as average for Dunkirk with IMAX surcharges is nearer £12.50 would be £37.37m going on to take £57,55m which will be close to the final box office for Dunkirk.

Thanks to being a “British film” Dunkirk has the same boost which is seen with James Bond films in recent years Skyfall and Spectre and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them along with critics heralding it as a masterpiece Dunkirk is favourite to win Best Film/Best British Film at the BAFTAs on February 18^th, 2018 along with many technical awards but unlikely to be as successful at the Oscars even though many are expecting it to win.

Warner Bros has had mixed success in the UK up to now for 2017 Live By Night flopped was originally due for release October 2017 Warner Bros brought it forward a year as saw it as a potential Oscar film after Ben Affleck’s previous Argo won in 2012. But Live By Night opened in a crowded marketplace receiving mixed reviews and disappointed at the box office and is probably the reason why Ben Affleck was dropped as director of The Batman which is expected to film next year for 2019 release.

The Lego Batman Movie had a great marketing campaign receiving great reviews but opening two weeks after Sing had to share its box office with Sing taking £27m almost a third less than The Lego Movie in 2014 £34.27m which had lesser competition Mr. Peabody and Sherman and TinkerBell and the Pirate Fairy.

John Wick: Chapter 2 performed well far better than the first film but Fist Fight, Chips, Unforgettable all did poorly while Going in Style had the lowest second-weekend drop of a major release this year was still disappointing. Kong Skull: Island took £15.61m which was similar to 2014’s Godzilla and after being delayed almost a year King Arthur was always expected to flop, But then came Wonder Woman after massive hype strong buzz and great reviews had a disappointing opening of £6.17m hurt by many non-film events while held strongly over following weekends £22.1m must be seen as very disappointing especially after taking over $400m in the US and inferior comic-book movies Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming taking far more.

But then came Dunkirk after strong buzz and great reviews the film played to audiences young and old opening as the third adult demographic film after Spider-Man: Homecoming and War for the Planet of the Apes some thought an original could get squeezed but close to last year when Star Trek: Beyond, Jason Bourne and Suicide Squad opened over three weeks it was the final film that performed the best. This will be repeated next summer with Han Solo, Deadpool and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opening over three weekends.

Remaining films for Warner Bros including young adult Everything, Everything which often gets much social media coverage but the audiences failed to show up. It after the teaser trailer scared up over 197m in the first 24 hours and trailer in July similar amount should perform strongly in the UK. Ninjago is their second Lego film of the year opening for half term while Geostorm looks totally nuts if it’s as enjoyable as the trailers it could find an audience and Warner end the year with Justice League which has received much media coverage in recent weeks after Wonder Woman disappointed with good reviews will but Suicide Squad, Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel took a third more with bad reviews which will Warner Bros prefer. It opens three weeks after Thor: Ragnarok but probably has more to fear from a bear called Paddington with Paddington 2 opening the weekend before. Paddington was a film Warner Bros developed for year with Harry Potter producer David Heyman but put the film in turnaround and Studiocanal acquired it

2. Annabelle: Creation £1,960,203 – NE

After taking £796,000 on its opening day Annabelle: Creation opened close to the first Annabelle taking 31.93m in October 2014 went on to take £7.4m.

Annabelle: Creation is the fourth film of The Conjuring franchise which has taken almost £30m at the box office. The first film The Conjuring opened four years ago with its sequel opening last June with a third film currently in development but before will come to a prequel The Nun which is due for release next July.

Horrors are normally very front-loaded but The Conjuring films have all held strongly opening for The Conjuring 2 was extended but still only dropped 42% in its second weekend while Annabelle only dropped 26%. While The Dark Tower opens this weekend it might be a horrific experience to watch but it’s not a horror so unlikely Annabelle: Creation will be as much affected as Atomic Blonde.

To promote Annabelle: Creation Warner Bros created an immersive horror experience for two days in July which featured props from the film; studios regular create these events or videos hoping they will go viral to help promote the film last year Warner Bros Brazil did one for The Conjuring 2 which was very successful

Paramount also created a similar viral video for The Ring in January 8.5m watched the YouTube clip but the film flopped in cinemas.

With screenings of Annabelle: Creation at Odeon Cinemas it included a 4-minute clip of Stephen King’s It.

3. Atomic Blonde – £1,686,430 – NE

Atomic Blonde was hyped as a female John Wick and it took more in its opening five days as John Wick took in its entire run but as its release opened six months after its US release and a week after Furious 7 never had a chance to find its audience in the UK.

Atomic Blonde opened close to John Wick: Chapter Two opening with £2.23m including £248,415 from previews (taking £555,569 from previews) going on to take £5.76m.

Atomic Blonde faces direct competition this weekend with The Dark Tower and The Hitman’s Bodyguard and then next weekend with Logan Lucky and American Made (new Tom Cruise film which surprisingly opens in the UK a month before US).

Charlize Theron has starred in over 40 films to date in the early years as so many actresses limited to the girlfriend role until 2003’s Italian Job remake Patty Jenkin’s Monster followed winning Best Actress Oscar. But as so many followed Oscar win with several flops including her first leading role Aeon Flux in 2005 opened with £512,426 taking only £961,020. 2008’s Hancock has seen potentially a comeback but also disappointed instead 2011’s Young Adult while not being a box office hit really didn’t like Young Adult as her character was so dislikeable but made the film memorable. Then 2012’s Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman but Mad Max: Fury Road gave her the chance to follow up with her own female leading action film as Scarlett Johansson did in 2014 with Lucy. But the problem was Atomic Blonde is more style over substance unlike Lucy was.

The two female titled films probably cannibalized each other with both doing slightly less than expected which allowed Dunkirk’s to stay top for a fourth weekend.

4. The Emoji Movie – £1,189,438 – £6,115,971

Down only 55.6% in its second weekend how is The Emoji Movie holiday stronger than Captain Underpants and already overtaken its £5.58m box office?

The Emoji Movie is ahead of The Angry Birds Movie after two weeks but hard to compare the two as that opened at the start of May and was limited to weekend matinees The Emoji Movie opened during school holidays. After 2 weeks, The Angry Birds Movie had taken £4.55m on its way to take £10m which is now likely to be sadly beaten by The Emoji Movie.

It is sad to see The Emoji Movie after all the negativity surrounding it parents are still seemingly happy taken their children to see it but the same could be said for Despicable Me 3 and Cars 3 both have become tiresome but showing that children don’t care as it’s something they were known and despite Captain Underpants receiving very positive reviews these reviews have no impact on children’s films.

5. Despicable Me 3 – £751,380 – £41,630,395

Down 36.92% in its sixth weekend as it killed off Cars 3 and Captain Underpants it did the same to The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature which opened to almost half what the first film took in 2014.

After six weeks on release in 2014 Despicable Me 2 took £1,289,450 9 but as it took £4.86m from previews was technically in its seventh weekend) and £38.45m (82.07%) having much tougher competition from Monsters University going on to take £46.85m. While Minions in 2015 took £1.01m in its sixth weekend taking £40.04m (85.02%) on its way to £47.09m.

If Despicable Me 3 holds similar it will end with £49m. In previous years the summer children’s box office was shared between two films last year The BFG and Finding Dory but this year Despicable Me 3 has taken most of the box office leaving the rest including Cars 3 and the vastly superior Captain Underpants picking up the scraps.

Showing how important opening first for a children film is why probably Disney choose to delay Coco release from a couple weeks after Paddington 2 to mid-January to give it a head start for half-term.

Next July The Incredibles 2 will have the advantage over Hotel Transylvania 3 opening a week before and Toy Story 4 will again have an advantage over The Secret Life of Pets 2 opening a week before in June 2019.

Part of the problem for both Cars 3 and Captain Underpants was they opened to close together what was surprising was Captain Underpants didn’t open a week before the US for half-term holidays but probably new Dreamworks Animation didn’t want it opening before Despicable Me 3.

Are four animated films due to be released before the end of the year none are likely to get close to Despicable Me 3, Lego Ninjago opens in October for half term holidays along with My Little Pony targeting younger girls and The Star and Ferdinand are released for Christmas which is crowded for teen films but Ferdinand based on the classic if not well-known children book should entertain younger children during the holidays.

Also released

A Ghost Story – £133,899 from 89 screens

Overdrive – £60,043 from 143 screens

Step – £5,039 from 16 screenss

UK box office in detail

This weekend’s top 10 box office took £10,664,265 down 27.3% from last weekend £14,684,539

The weekend admissions 1,401,349 down 27.3% from last weekend 1,929,637 (now into the second half of 2017 average price predicted increase by UK Cinema Association/BFI for 2017).

12 films opened at weekend taking £4,417,311 Annabelle: Creation took 44.37% (£1,960,203); Atomic Blonde 38.1% (£1,686,430) ; The Nut Job 2 8.02% (£354,276) with the remaining 9 films sharing £416,402 (9.42%)

Weekend was down 21.9% from last year (£13,670,811): Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates £1,063,462, Pete’s Dragon £840,671, Nerve £799,032 and The Shallows £796,548

Down 5.3% from 2015: (£11,265,417): Pixels £2,660,772, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. £1,448,298, Trainwreck £931,981, Absolutely Anything £487,147, Mistress America £164,691 opened.

Next weekend in 2016: (£13,012,003) David Brent: Life on the Road £1,460,290, Lights Out £1,126,543, Swallows, and Amazons £676,175, Nine Lives £636,804

UK Box Office Top 10

US Box Office Top 10

US Box office

Exhibitors Relations reported admissions for summer 2017 are expected to be the lowest in 25 years. 2017 US summer box office will drop over -12% versus 2016 for only the 2nd time in over 30 years.

Four years ago, directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg warned the film industry that reliance on blockbusters– tent pole movies that failed would cause an implosion. Spielberg said “That’s a big danger, and there’s eventually going to be an implosion — or a big meltdown. There’s going to be an implosion where three or four or maybe even a half-dozen mega budget movies are going to go crashing into the ground, and that’s going to change the paradigm.”

Since 2002 admissions in the US and UK haven’t increased box office has only increased due to ticket inflation and 3D and PLF surcharges in recent years 3D box office has imploded and earlier in the summer IMAX announced they will be showing more films in 2D IMAX. So, the big drop in admissions could be affected mostly by a massive drop in 3D sales but studios aren’t forthcoming with 3D box office information as they used to. 2017 started so strong with Hidden Figures, Split, Beauty and the Beast and Get Out but then all the summer films except for Wonder Woman performed close to expectations Spider-Man: Homecoming and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 both took $300m+ but that was the minimum expected for the 15^th and 16^th Marvel Cinematic Universe films while many say as Spider-Man: Homecoming its lower box office is acceptable but not as it’s a continuation of the story set up by last year’s Captain America: Civil War had its sequel taken what Spider-Man took it would be seen as a disappointment. But 2017 is still expected to beat last year’s total of the year $11.4bn just with about $11.6bn but is far from what was expected earlier this year as many believed admissions would increase for the first time since 2002.

Most of the flops were predictable King Arthur, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Transformers: The Last Knight, Cars 3, Baywatch as they were either ill-conceived targeting wrong audiences, trying to set up franchise rather than just being a film and pointless unnecessary sequels cinemagoers had little interest in seeing the next part.

One of the biggest failing for studios this summer was they packed out May- July but then left August as a ghost town after Suicide Squad, Straight Outta Compton. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Guardians of the Galaxy previously performed well in August it was strange studios brought films forward from August but then left it as a wasteland.

As after another disappointing weekend exhibitor’s shares crashed again on Monday and are unlikely to improve for the next three weeks until It opens. What makes this August such a surprise is next August has The Predator, Barbie, Meg, Scarface and Captive State all far bigger films. While 2019 has The SpongeBob Movie and three untitled event films from Warner Bros, Disney, and Universal.

Was surprising after Sony brought baby Driver forward nothing replaced it in August.

American Made is strangely opening international early the film starring Tom Cruise about an America DEA officer has a similar plot to Kill the Messenger opens internationally earlier due to production company who also made Rush and Legend those made sense as were about British people. So as it was opening internationally early why not open it in the US to avoid Kingsman: The Golden Circle opening the weekend before which is generating strong buzz and after the first film was a huge success the sequel should be too

Warner Bros – Annabelle: Creation – opens with $35.006m; after premiering at the LA Film Festival on June 19, 2017, receiving positive reviews hold in 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for several weeks this dropped to 69% and being part of a popular franchise and being the only horror on release should have put it in a strong position; received B CinemaScore close to first film and but less than A- received by the two Conjuring films.

Has been a mixed opinion over Annabelle: Creation opening with $35.04m was a strong opening as it might have been far better than openers The Emoji Movie $24.53m and The Dark Tower $19.15m over the last two weeks but still had the lowest opening of the four film The Conjuring franchise to date. But can you compare their disappointing openings against Annabelle: Creation as were both seen as launch vehicles to potential franchises which will now not happen they also had budgets of over $50m while Annabelle: Creation budget was only $15m.

The three previous films have taken over $320m in the US and almost $900m globally Annabelle: Creation will see the series take over $1 billion. As the budgets for The Conjuring films are only a fraction of the mega-movies the series has been very profitable for Warner Bros. Annabelle: Creation will join Get Out, Split and Girls Trip as one of the most profitable films of the year. All studios apart from Disney are still making these lower budget films as if they do click with audiences they could become a potential film series but are also more importantly far more profitable but for every Get Out and Split there are Keanu and Fist Fight.

Annabelle Creation took $35m from international the first film took $84.27m in the US and $172.6m internationally taking $256.87m.

Up to June 1st, Warner Bros were having an average year starting the year with two Christmas flops Collateral Beauty and Live By Night. The Lego Batman Movie arrived with strong buzz and great reviews but Warner Bros must have been disappointed as didn’t match the heights of The Lego Movie taking $175m instead of $257m. Fist Fight did ok but then Kong: Skull Island took less than 2014’s Godzilla it was seen to be the second part of the franchise with two more films to come Godzilla sequel and then Godzilla Vs Kong.

Chips and Unforgettable were both that and after being delayed almost a year King Arthur was always likely to flop the biggest problem was Warner Bros did close to Universal Pictures with The Mummy were far too busy setting up the franchise they took their foot off the first film. Going in Style was Warner Bros only positive from spring taking $45m but the marketplace is very hard for films like that get squeezed by exhibitors pulling screens far too quickly. Everything, Everything performed like most young adult film received much social media coverage but teens happier to tweet about rather than see it.

But then came Wonder Woman in the months to the release there was much pressure on it after the previous DC Extended Universe films while being box office successes weren’t received well either by critics or fans. Was added pressure on Wonder Woman being directed by a woman and was many misogynistic comments about how a woman who has only directed one low budget indie movie was then directing a big budget comic-book movie these people seemly forgetting the many indie male directors who have done similar going from indie to mega movie.

Wonder Woman opened with $103.2m after receiving rave reviews and thanks to strong word of mouth held very strongly over the following weeks having one of the smallest second-weekend drops for a comic-book movie. Wonder Woman has since become CD Extended Universe biggest film to date and taken over $401m becoming the #26 biggest film in the US and overtook Frozen and could become the 20th biggest film overtaking Spider-Man, The Hunger Games, Captain American: Civil War and Iron Man 3.

Dunkirk followed opening with $50m and rave reviews and will likely take $200m+ and now Annabelle: Creation opened which has been received strong buzz for weeks now ever since premiering in June and had a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for several weeks it has now dropped to 68% which is still very good for a horror sequel.

It is the starter course to the main course of It opening next month the teaser trailer terrified many when it was released in March becoming the most watched trailer ever seen by 197 million in its first 24 hours. The second trailer released in July was equally as terrifying and is expected to open with $50m+.

Remaining films include Lego Ninjago trailers have been very funny as all Lego Movie trailers and likely to do slightly less than The Lego Batman Movie. Blade Runner 2049 has massive hype and expectation but 35 years after the first film was released which flopped who is the audience for the sequel those teenagers who are now in their 60s or the today’s teenagers?

Geostorm has been delayed almost as long as Monsters Trucks but the trailers have been fantastic while it probably going to be terrible if the trailers are anything to go by its going to be fun to watch and then there is Justice League after Wonder Woman DC have some goodwill back from critics and fans Warner Bros are hoping this will continue but there have been some scary rumours flying around about the first cut being unwatchable and Joss Wheldon reshooting many scenes including the ending.

These stories are a regular occurrence with these mega-movies was seen with Rogue One last year and it came out ok and same rumours were also around with the first cut of Wonder Woman but they might have just been spread by the misogynistic whatever the result Warner Bros is giving Wonder Woman a far bigger role in her summer success and being the best thing about Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Disney is currently the biggest studio in the US taking $1.39bn and 19.9% share but as they don’t release a film until Thor: Ragnarok in November Warner Bros as Universal Pictures has a chance to overtake them for a few weeks with It, Ninjago, Blade Runner 2049, Geostorm and Justice League Warner Bros are best positioned to do so. But of course, Disney release Thor: Ragnarok, Coco and Star Wars: The Last Jedi which will then push Warner Bros back into the second position as they were last year.

While Disney continues their small slate of mega-movies Warner Bros continue their mix slate of genres and budgets for 2018 with comedy Game Night opening next to Tomb Raider with Alicia Vikander replacing Angelina Jolie in the reboot and Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One trailer excited many at Comic-Con last month.

After being on the beach and in the jungle Dwayne Johnson is back doing what he does best in Rampage first of two films in 2018 other Skyscraper for Universal with Melissa McCarthy comedy Life of the Party who also has two films in 2018 other The Happytime Murders for STX Entertainment.

Opening same weekend 11 years after Ocean’s Thirteen and the same weekend as Wonder Woman this year Ocean’s 8 is a female cast spin-off. Other films for 2018 include comedy Tag, the fifth film of The Conjuring franchise The Nun, Shark Vs Statham movie Meg, animated Smallfoot, Jungle Book: Origins delayed from 2016 to separate it from Disney’s family version and A Star is Born remake starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, the remake has been long in development for year was rumoured to star Beyoncé and directed by Clint Eastwood. Ending the year with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Part 2 and Aquaman.

Warner Bros- Dunkirk dropped 36.5% $10.88m taking $153.19m;

Comparing with previous Christopher Nolan film 2014’s Interstellar took $15.74m in its third weekend and $147.03m (78.2% of the final box office of $188.02m) while 2010’s Inception took $18.5m and $227.63m. (77.8% of final box office of $292.57m)

If Dunkirk continues to perform close to Interstellar it will take just short of $200m but will last longer than Interstellar (6 weeks) in the top 10 but similar to Inception (11 weeks) which will likely see it overtake the $216.5m of Saving Private Ryan

While Saving Private Ryan took slightly more $13.15m dropping only 24.4% taking $126.03m; but of course, was released 19 years ago when average ticket price was $4.69 compared to $8.95 and was no IMAX surcharges; Saving Private Ryan admissions 22.11m (2017 box office would be 91% more $197.88m) Vs Dunkirk 14.92m (1998 box office would be 48% less $69.98m).

Dunkirk took $14.5m internationally $210m total with global box office of $363.6m; currently the fourteenth biggest film of the year and will overtake Fifty Shades Dark and The Mummy in the next week; Dunkirk is #294 biggest film in the world and will shortly overtake The Fugitive, Gone Girl, Edge of Tomorrow, Batman Begins and Mad Max: Fury Road.

In 2014 Interstellar took $675.12m and in 2010 Inception took $825.53m globally while Saving Private Ryan took $481.84m globally which would be about $919.5m total.

Open Road – The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature opens with $8.34m; opening with less than half of the first film released in 2014 was a surprise success opening with $19.43m despite Frozen still performing strongly in its ninth weekend and went on to take $64.2m (was Open Road Films biggest hit).

The Nut Job 2 had the worst opening for a film playing in over 4,000 screens by almost $16 million; The Emoji Movie was previous lowest with $24.5 million before was The Mummy with $31.7 million; The Nut Job 2 received a B+ CinemaScore.

Despite both The Emoji Movie and Despicable Me 3 near the end of their theatrical releases The Nut Job still had a disappointing opening for Open Road. The opening was expected as it was one of many films that might have had success the first time but audiences aren’t so eager to watch them again preferring to watch the original at home which has been similar for many sequels this year and likely for both A Bad Moms Christmas and Daddy’s Home 2 in November.

Sony Pictures – The Dark Tower drops 58.2% in its second weekend $7.82m taking $34.25m; after poor reviews and word of mouth would have probably expected it to drop heavier but held better probably more due to lack of competition than the film. With both Logan Lucky and The Hitman’s Bodyguard opening this weekend targeting similar audience will likely drop heavier this weekend.

The Dark Tower was a potential new franchise for Sony which would have also included a spin-off TV series which is highly unlikely now. When the first trailer was released in May received positive reviews but the cowboy in modern times did remind me of a similar Sony Picture planned tentpole release which opened the week after Jurassic Park in 1993 Last Action Hero. 24 years later the Dark Tower opened very similar and will take a similar $60m box office.

It always surprises me that Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures seem to have much more trouble launching new franchises in recent years Sony Pictures problem is they are over produced with too many cooks being involved. Was reportedly the case with The Dark Tower with Sony Pictures and Media Rights Capital fighting over many decisions of the films production and marketing with the director Nikolaj Arcel stuck in the middle.

Took $7.9m internationally with $193m total and global total of $53.6m;

Universal Pictures – Girls Trip dropped 43.3% in its fourth weekend taking $6.46m and $97.13m; Bad Moms took a similar $7.94m in its fourth weekend and $85.67m total.

Lionsgate – The Glass Castle – opens $4.67m; after received mixed reviews opened slightly better than expected received A- CinemaScore to a string female audience the film opened on less than half of the screens other films in the top 10 were playing on.

Annapurna – Detroit – drops 59.5% in its third weekend taking $2.88m and $13,4m; much was expected from Detroit directed by Kathryn Bigelow and being the first film released by Annapurna but its positive reviews were overshadowed by controversy over the lack of black women in the film and directed by a white woman.

Before John Boyega’s last two films The Circle and Detroit he had $468,843,200 average film box office average but this is now almost halved to $242,901,427. The average will increase in December when Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens and Pacific Rim Uprising opening in March will also perform strongly.

On limited release

Paramount Pictures – An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power – despite adding 376 screens its box office dropped by 15.1% taking $ 815,947 and $2.311m total; this compares to An Inconvenient Truth expanding in to only 77 screens but taking $1,504,701 after three weeks taking $3,983,071.

Neon – Ingrid Goes West – opens $135,301 from 3 screens; after receiving positive reviews being described as Instagram the movie about social media obsession which was also seen recently in the Black Mirror episode Nosedive and last year’s film Nerve.

Neon films was launched earlier this year by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema owner Tim League also releasing one of the most original unique films of the year Colossal.

Opened August 18^th

Opening UK

• The Dark Tower – Sony Pictures

Science fiction western based on a series of books by Stephen King starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey and directed by Nikolaj Arcel.

The film was originally due for release February 17th, 2017 but while all other studios were releasing trailers for their spring films in the autumn the lack of a teaser trailer for what was expected to be one of Sony Pictures big franchises for 2017 was notably absent.

A trailer was leaked online in October and then Sony announced due to needing more time to complete the complex special effects the film would be delayed until July 2017 pushing back Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle to Christmas. It’s never a good sign as are few films have been a success after being delayed most famously 20 years ago Titanic was delayed from July to December 1997.

It is the tale of two Stephen King films this year as a month after The Dark Tower It opens the teaser trailer released in March was seen by over 197 million in first 24 hours the second trailer released last week again generated huge media coverage. The lengths of the two films tell a lot as both are based on big Stephen King novels but The Dark Tower is only 95 mins while IT is 135mins long.

As with The Emoji Movie Sony Pictures UK had originally planned to open day and date with the US but decided in their wisdom to open The Emoji Movie a week after the US but sadly must admit that did work opening better than Captain Underpants but children’s films are very different as the target audience don’t read the reviews. The Dark Tower has been surrounded with negativity for months which built up to its release and despite all the poor buzz many hoped it could still be but instead it was a shell of the film it could have been had there not been the infighting between Sony Pictures and Media Rights Capital with director Nikolaj Arcel stuck in the middle.

But while Patty Jenkins was criticised having only made a low budget film before directing Wonder Woman was no similar outcry for the many independent novice directors who get signed to make a big budget film studio probably feel they can control a novice director possibly why Lucasfilm fired Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from Han Solo as dared make the Star Wars film they wanted to make instead of what the producers wanted.

Studios never seem to learn as keep hiring independent directors to direct their tentpole releases Colin Trevorrow went from directing Safety Not Guaranteed to Jurassic World but then made The Book of Henry received very poor reviews and flopped at the box office but is still signed up to direct Star Wars IX. Colin Trevorrow said, “There’s an assumption — and it’s partially cynical, and it’s also partially based in reality — that the studio is making the movie,” Trevorrow said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth with ‘Jurassic World’. I didn’t have a studio giving me notes on the set. I answered to Steven, and he had notes. His presence was a great shield that allowed me to make the film like I was in the ’70s or ’80s when filmmakers were given that level of control.”

While Josh Trank directed Chronicle and then directed 2015’s Fantastic Four was signed up to direct a Star Wars film afterward but after Fantastic Four flopped he was fired. Gareth Edwards went from 2010’s Monsters to directing 2014’s Godzilla and 2016’s Star Wars: Rogue One (but of course with reshoots how much of the final film was his vision of the film). Marc Webb went from 2009’s 500 Days of Summer to 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man. Jordan Vogt-Roberts from 2013’s Kings of Summer to Kong: Skull Island, Sam Taylor-Johnson from 2009’s Nowhere Boy to 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey and Jon Watts directed Spider-Man: Homecoming having only directed Cop Car with an $800,000 budget.

• An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power – Paramount Pictures

Documentary sequel to An Inconvenient Truth directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk continuing former the United States Vice President Al Gore’s mission to battle climate change; had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival receiving positive reviews.

The film had its UK premiere on August 10^th as the opening film to Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House introduced by Al Gore who also did many media interviews generating many conversations and media coverage centered on Donald Trump’s plans to pull out of 2016’s Paris Agreement after which filmmakers re-edited the film to expand Trumps role in the ending.

An Inconvenient Truth opened September 15^th with £63,742 from 18 screens expanding to 64 screens in its second weekend taking £121,340 going on to take £ £572,095 the sequel will probably open wider in about 100 screens opening with £150,000+.

• The Hitman’s Bodyguard – Lionsgate

Action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek and directed by Patrick Hughes.

After starring in Deadpool last year Ryan Reynolds has starred in Criminal and Life both which disappointed at the box office he is currently filming Deadpool which will be released next June.

The marketing for the film has made it look like The Bodyguard with a spoof poster of the film with Ryan Reynolds carrying Samuel L. Jackson. But reviews have been mixed playing out more like those late summer action films Crank, The Transporter and Hitman but Variety was more positive saying the chemistry of Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds makes for a delightfully ridiculous screwball action comedy.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard and The Dark Tower will probably cannibalize each other as Annabelle: Creation and Atomic Blonde this weekend could possibly see Dunkirk hold top for a fifth weekend.

• Everything, Everything – Warner Bros

Romantic drama starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson directed by Stella Meghie based on the 2015 young-adult novel by Nicola Yoon. Opened in the US in May with mixed reviews opening third behind Alien: Covenant and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 with $117m and taking $34.1m.

Films based on young adult novels often generate strong social media but this doesn’t cross over into box office as seen two years ago with Paper Towns and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl but then, of course, are successes Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, The Hunger Games, The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and of course Harry Potter.

With limited choices for teenage girls this summer Everything, Everything could generate some interest but as with all of these films apart from Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, they have a short playing window in cinemas.

Opening in the US

An interesting battle Bond Vs Deadpool but strange to open the films against each other as they will be targeting similar audiences.

• The Hitman’s Bodyguard – Lionsgate

Action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson had a strong marketing campaign but away from Deadpool Ryan Reynolds has had mixed success at the box office with his most two recent films Criminal opening with $5.76m and Life $12.5m must go back to 2012 with Safe House for an opening not in the teens $40.17m but then he co-stars with Denzel Washington far more successful than Samuel L. Jackson at the box office in recent years. Hard to compare Samuel L. Jackson recent films Kong: Skull Island, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, The Legend of Tarzan, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as they were small roles, many have compared The Hitman’s Bodyguard to the B-Movie Snakes on a Plane which opened same weekend in August 2006 with 413.8m taking $34.1m but then became a cult classic on DVD.

Hard to compare Samuel L. Jackson recent films Kong: Skull Island, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, The Legend of Tarzan, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as they were small roles, many have compared The Hitman’s Bodyguard to the B-Movie Snakes on a Plane which opened same weekend in August 2006 with 413.8m taking $34.1m but then became a cult classic on DVD.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard was made by Millennium Films most famous for The Expendables trilogy, Drive Angry, Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen and most recently Mechanic: Resurrection opened last August with $7.45m taking $21.21m.

If it wasn’t for Logan Lucky opening against it The Hitman’s Bodyguard could have had a decent launch and then found success on home entertainment but probably in a three way fight for #1 against Annabelle: Creation likely to drop similar to first film 55%+ which would see it take $15m+ and The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Logan Lucky could open similarly.

• Logan Lucky – Bleecker Street

Heist comedy starring ensemble cast consisting of Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, Riley Keough, Daniel Craig, Seth MacFarlane, Katie Holmes, Hilary Swank, Katherine Waterston and Sebastian Stan and directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Rebecca Blunt?

In 2012 Steven Soderbergh announced Side Effects would be his final ever film he directs and Behind the Candelabra was made for HBO screened at Cannes Film Festival in 2013 having an international theatrical release.

During his film making hiatus, he did help director Spike Jonze editing Her and produced several TV shows. In February 2016 announced his retirement had ended and would direct Logan Lucky he financed himself through overseas sales and sold non-theatrical rights to Amazon to pay for the marketing with a fixed distribution fee rather than a percentage of box office which would normally happen with films distributed by studios. Steven Soderbergh also shot the film Unsane using iPhones.

Three weeks ago, Eon announced Bond 25 release date November 2019 since then been many rumours Daniel Craig has signed up for two more films but during Logan Lucky promo tour he said he hasn’t yet signed will now overshadow the rest of promo tour.

Logan Lucky has received positive reviews with many describing it as Oceans 14; Soderbergh is currently producing Oceans 8 starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, and Sarah Paulson which will be released June 8^th same weekend as Wonder Woman opened this year.

• Patti Cake$ – Fox Searchlight

Drama film directed by Geremy Jasper; was screened at Sundance Film Festival receiving positive reviews and was acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures.