John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum opened in Thursday previews last night and shot its way to a franchise-best in its preview numbers.
Chapter 3 grossed $5.9 million in Thursday night previews and blew away the preview numbers for the previous two films. The first John Wick Thursday previews earned $950,000 while John Wick 2 made $2.2 million, which repped 20% of its $10.95 million Friday. John Wick 3‘s Thursday is even higher than the previews for Sony/MGM’s last James Bond movie Spectre which made $5.25 million (which went on to earn a $27.4 million Friday), and even 2012’s Skyfall ($4.6 million Thursday, $30.5 million Friday), though both of those films were PG-13 while John Wick is rated R.
I suggested an opening of $35-40 million yesterday but these preview numbers could indicate an opening of $50 million or more which just shows how much the franchise has grown since its launch in 2014. This is a franchise that has grown with age thanks in large part to its play in the home ancillary market. The first John Wick on October 24, 2014, opened to $14.4 million and John Wick 2 opened to $30.4 million.
