SATURDAY AM UPDATE: Sony-Marvel’s Morbius grossed $17.2M yesterday, for what is shaping to be $40.8M opening; estimates we first told you about yesterday. Sony is giving a range between $38M-$41.5M. With moviegoing still coming back, that’s a healthy enough result for a studio tentpole right now, not that far from where the Culver City Studio’s Uncharted opened; and realize this movie is cheaper. All of this despite the fact that we had been hearing for weeks that Morbius was bound for a $50M opening on tracking. In the same breath, we had always heard throughout the pandemic (even when theaters were shut down) that Morbius wasn’t at the same quality level as other Sony/Marvel or Disney MCU titles. That said, with awful reviews at 17%, a C+ CinemaScore, and low Comscore PostTrak audience exits of 62% positive/47% recommend; everyone in the business should count their blessings with a $40M+ opening. As of this minute, rival estimates aren’t expecting Morbius to fall apart.
Jared Leto in ‘Morbius’ Sony Pictures If you’re questioning why, this is the beginning of a healthy April with several studio blockbusters, leading into Disney/Marvel’s summer starter Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In other words, a lot of popcorn is going to be sold. Even though all titles are expected to make $83.7M this weekend, +2% from last weekend, we’re expected to get some depth at the domestic box office in the coming weekends as the major studios release more than one wide entry, appealing to two different demos. Next weekend, there’s a one-two-punch respectively from Paramount and Universal with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 aimed at families, and Ambulance targeting guys.
The CDC reported last week that cases fell 3% to 25,7K daily, hospitalizations falling close to 16% and deaths down 14.4% to 627 per day. 217.7M Americans are fully vaccinated with two shots, repping 77% of the U.S. population. In addition, 97.8 million have received their booster, which reps close to 45% of those who are fully vaxed.
Morbius leaned toward men at 61%, with 57% over 25, and 60% between the core moviegoing demographic of 18-34. Diversity demos were 37% Caucasian, 28% Latino and Hispanic, 19% Black and 14% Asian/other. The Daniel Espinosa directed Sony movie made money on the coasts and in the South where all top ten of its theaters are coming from. To date, Imax and PLF are driving 36% of the Morbius‘ business.
EntTelligence shows that Morbius has clocked 1.3M admissions to date, with attendance strong in the evening hours and over 36% of the audience coming after 8PM. The average available seat has been priced at $12.77 compared to Spider-Man: No Way Home at $12.89 and The Batman at $12.88 during the same period.
Paramount’s The Lost City is seeing a second weekend, -52%, with $14.6M after a second Friday of $4.28M. Pic’s ten day total will stand at $54.3M. Again, that’s the best we’ve seen for a female targeted title during the pandemic.
Warner Bros.’ The Batman continues to chug on its way to a final $400M+ endgame stateside. Three other Warner Bros. movies, all DC titles, have clicked past $400M: Dark Knight ($534.9M), Dark Knight Rises ($448.1M) and Wonder Woman ($412.8M).
Michelle Yeoh (center) in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ A24 Busting into the top 10, just as we told you, is A24/AGBO’s Everything Everywhere All at Once which did $354,9K in its second Friday at 38 locations, for what is shaping up to be a $1.04M second weekend, +108%, with a ten-day $1.8M total. A24’s horror movie X is taking 10th place with a $1M third weekend, -52% at 1,799 venues, and a running total of $10.4M by EOD tomorrow.
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1.) Morbius (Sony) 4,268 theaters, Fri $17.2M, 3-day $40.8M/Wk 1
2.) The Lost City (Par) 4,253 theater Fri. $4.28M (-63%), 3-day $14.6M (-52%)/Total $54.3M/ Wk 2
3.) The Batman(WB) 3,732 (-235) theaters Fri $3.1M (-44%), 3-day: $11.2M (-45%) Total $349.4M/Wk 5
4.) Uncharted (Sony) 3,064 (-352) theaters, Fri $1M (-23%), 3-day $3.7M (-26%)/Total $139M/Wk 7
5.) Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (Crunchy) 2,070 (-401) theaters, Fri $564K (-57%), 3-day $1.96M (-57%) /Total $31.2M/ Wk 3
6.) RRR (Sarigama Cinemas) 1,200 theaters, Fri $442K (-92%), 3-day $1.5M (-84%)/Total $12.4M/Wk 2
7) Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony) 1,705 (-298) theaters, Fri $370K (-27%), 3-day $1.38M (-31%)/Total $802.7M/Wk 16
8.) Dog (UAR) 2,053 (-786) theaters, Fri $360K (-38%), 3-day $1.33M (-37%)/Total $60.1M/Wk 7
9.) Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) 38 (+28) theaters, Fri $354,9K (+74%), 3-day $1.04M (+108%), Total $1.8M/Wk 2
10.) X (A24) 1,799 (-1,121) theaters, Fri $331,55K (-54%) 3-day $1M (-52%)/Total $10.4M/ Wk 3
11.) Sing 2 (Uni/Ill) 2,095 (-528) theaters, Fri $180K (-37%),3-day $640K (-54%)/Total: $161.55M/Wk 15
12.) The Contractor (Par) 489 locations, Fri $195K, 3-day: $530K/Wk 1
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FRIDAY AM: Sony’s deep Marvel universe title, Morbius, rang up $5.7M last night from previews that began at 4PM at 3,583 theaters including Imax and PLF auditoriums.
That figure for the PG-13 movie is just under the $5.9M that Shazam made back on April 5, 2019; that movie opening to $53.5M.
While Sony is expecting $33M from the Daniel Espinosa directed, Jared Leto starring movie, industry estimates are higher between $40M-$50M. Working against the $75M genre production, arguably the first Marvel horror title since New Line’s Blade movies, are the disastrous reviews on Rotten Tomatoes at 15% Rotten. We’ll see if those reviews impact projections, however, Sony kept this Marvel movie cheap enough. Morbius in a fan screening Wednesday night at the Playa Vista Cinemark, which saw an appearance by Leto, played through the roof to a packed crowd.
However, Sony has been able to launch franchise films in the face of sour critics before: Marvel’s Venom to a once October record debut to $80.2M off 30% Rotten reviews, and Uncharted to $44M off 40% Rotten reviews, that latter movie now at $135.3M through its sixth release. Translation: People are still craving to go to the movies after being sidelined from activities during the pandemic, duh.
Paramount, which brought female moviegoers back last weekend with the Sandra Bullock-Channing Tatum romantic adventure comedy, The Lost City, is ending its first week with $39.7M. The movie should ease about 40% in weekend 2 with around $18M.
Warner Bros.’ DC title The Batman saw $1.3M yesterday (-8% from Wednesday) to Lost City‘s $1.8M (-10% from Wednesday), ending its fourth week with $338.19M. Sony’s Uncharted was 4th yesterday with $408K, -1% from Wednesday. Crunchyroll’s Jujutsu Kaisen 0 did $381K in its (technically) third Thursday, -10% from Wednesday, for a running total just under $11M. Saraigama Cinemas’ RRR ended its first week with $10.97M.
Expanding this week after setting specialty cinemas ablaze last week with a hearty opening in NY, LA and San Francisco is A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once going from ten locations to 38; the Daniels’ directed martial arts fantasy will land in the top ten in weekend 2. The movie ends its first week with an estimated $755K which includes Wednesday night special Imax screenings of $75K.
