It is the around the world wrap-up that is of interest, X-Men about to become biggest movie of the year, over Captain America.
Weekend Report: 'Man' Defeats 'Boys,' Falls Short of Predecessor
by Ray Subers --- June 22, 2014
Think Like a Man Too narrowly defeated fellow Sony comedy 22 Jump Street to take first place at the box office this weekend. Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys got off to a quiet start.
Overall, it was a slow weekend at the box office, with the Top 12 earning an estimated $142.6 million. That's down a whopping 39 percent from the same weekend last year, when Monsters University, World War Z and Man of Steel combined for $190 million.
Playing at 2,225 locations, Think Like a Man Too opened to an estimated $30 million this weekend. That's a bit lower than the original Think Like a Man's $33.6 million, and about even with November's The Best Man Holiday ($30.1 million). It is at least an improvement over February's About Last Night, which also starred Kevin Hart and opened to $25.6 million.
A $30 million opening for a modestly-budgeted relationship comedy is undeniably good. Still, with Hart's increased popularity and with a fun new setting (Las Vegas), there was an expectation that the sequel could open higher than its well-liked predecessor. One possible reason for the decline: opening in mid-June, Think Like a Man Too faced far more competition than its predecessor. Most notably, fellow Sony comedy 22 Jump Street continued to attract moviegoers this weekend, which likely cut in to Think Like a Man's business a bit.
The movie's audience was 63 percent female—identical to the first outing—and 59 percent over the age of 30. They awarded it an "A-" CinemaScore, which suggests word-of-mouth will be fine. Still, it's unlikely that Think Like a Man Too matches its predecessor's $91.5 million total (something around $80 million is a likely outcome).
If Think Like a Man Too remains in first place when actuals come in on Monday, it will mark the ninth weekend in a row in which a new movies takes the top spot. That trend started with The Other Woman at the end of April, and will continue through the first two months of the Summer (assuming Transformers: Age of Extinction opens on top next weekend).
In second place, 22 Jump Street fell 49 percent to an estimated $29 million. That drop is almost identical to last month's Neighbors, though 22 Jump was coming off a bigger opening weekend. To date, the Jonah Hill/Channing Tatum comedy sequel has grossed $111.5 million, and is on track for at least $170 million total.
After How to Train Your Dragon 2's weak debut last weekend, there was a hope that the well-reviewed movie would perform similar to its predecessor: slow out of the gate, but leggy in the long-run. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case this time around. The animated sequel fell 49 percent to $25.3 million this weekend; in comparison, the first movie eased 34 percent in its second outing. Through 10 days, How to Train Your Dragon 2 has earned $95.2 million, and is on track for a final tally around $170 million.
Playing at 2,905 theaters, Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys opened in fourth place with an estimated $13.5 million. That's lower than Broadway adaptation Rock of Ages, which opened to $14.4 million in June 2012. Still, it is an improvement over recent Eastwood movies J. Edgar ($11.2 million), Hereafter ($12 million) and Invictus ($8.6 million).
Jersey Boys was primarily appealing to older audiences: 71 percent of ticket buyers were over the age of 50. That audience doesn't tend to rush out on opening weekend, which means that Jersey Boys could be in for a solid run. With an "A-" CinemaScore ("A" from those over 25 years of age), the movie might ultimately wind up over $50 million.
Maleficent rounded out the Top Five with an estimated $13 million, which is off just 30 percent from last weekend. The movie has so far earned $186 million, and is on track to close north of $215 million. That will make it one of the biggest hits of the Summer, ahead of movies like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Godzilla.
In sixth place, Edge of Tomorrow eased 37 percent to $10.3 million. The Tom Cruise sci-fi flick has now grossed $74.5 million, and has a very strong chance of crossing $100 million by the end of its run.
After a week in limited release, The Rover expanded to 599 locations and took 16th place with a weak $500,000. That averages out to just $835 per theater.
Around-the-World Roundup
Maleficent took first place at the international box office this weekend with $44.7 million. Nearly half of that came from a solid $20.3 million debut in China. The movie has earned $335.6 million overseas so far, and still has an opening in Japan on the way. On a worldwide basis, it's now star Angelina Jolie's highest-grossing live-action movie ever with $522 million.
With How to Train Your Dragon 2 underperforming at the domestic box office, it's up to international to save the day. In 52 markets, the movie earned $43.2 million this weekend, which brings its early total to $76.3 million. Including previews, it debuted to $8.3 million in Australia, and it opened roughly three times higher than the first Dragon in Mexico ($7.3 million) and Brazil ($6.8 million).
Edge of Tomorrow added $21.5 million for a new total of $218.3 million. With Japan on the way, this could ultimately come close to $300 million.
The Fault in our Stars grossed $20 million this weekend. That includes a strong $5.8 million debut in the U.K. The movie also continues to play well in Brazil, where it's now earned $18.5 million total. To date, Fault has grossed $64.6 million outside of the U.S.
Godzilla added $15 million, most of which came from its second weekend in China. To date, it's earned $68.1 million there. Overall, the monster movie has taken in $282.4 million overseas, and still has Japan on the way in late July.
22 Jump Street earned $14.1 million from 30 markets for a new total of $38.2 million. It opened in first place in Australia with a strong $6.4 million.
X-Men: Days of Future Past crossed $690 million worldwide this weekend. By this time next week, it will be well past $700 million, and it will soon become the highest-grossing movie of 2014 ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($711 million).
