The lucrative holiday box office season has come to an end. From December 20-January 1 moviegoers had many options and most films delivered, while a couple stalled right out of the gate. The one constant was that Star Wars: The Last Jedi dominated the holiday box office but Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle also surprised by surging significantly during the holiday frame
According to estimates, Star Wars: The Last Jedi ruled the New Years Day holiday frame with $68.3 million. The three day total came in at $52.4 million which was a 27% dip from the previous three-day portion of the weekend. Now, naysayers will call the dips a sign that the movie is divisive among moviegoers. I actually believe the film is indeed divisive but we are splitting hairs here about its current box office take. With the four day estimate, the film has a domestic total of $533 million and it’s likely to gross over $100 million more by the time it exits theaters. This is a great take, even if some were disappointed with the film. Yes, it’s running behind the Force Awakens but that film was an event. It brought back the franchise and had old favorites returning as well. The Last Jedi was never really going to replicate that box office success in the same way but it takes is by no means a disappointment. The film also topped Beauty & the Beast as the highest grossing film of 2017 by end of day Sunday and that makes it the third year in a row a Star Wars film has claimed that title. Perhaps Han Solo: A Star Wars Story should’ve stuck with the December good luck instead of releasing in May of this year.
Coming in close behind Star Wars is Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle which grossed an estimated $66.5 million over the four day weekend. The three day gross of $50.3 million was actually a 38.3% increased over the previous weekend which proves that the film was solid alternative entertainment for families against Star Wars. The domestic total is now at $185.7 million and it will see $200 million next weekend. The $90 million really exceeded expectations and suddenly a new franchise could be born.
Landing in third is Pitch Perfect 3 which grossed an estimated $22.7 million over the four day weekend. The three-day gross comes in at $17.7 million which was a slight decrease over the previous weekend. The running total is now at $69.2 million. The gross will be picked apart, much like the Star Wars earnings, because it’s running behind Pitch Perfect 2. The current domestic take is what the sequel opened to but Universal wasn’t expecting the third film to match that success in the same way. A summer release, when the target audience is out of school for a longer period of time, is going to play differently from a winter release when 2 weeks is really the sweet spot to make most of its money. At this point, the third film is looking at a final take between $85-90 million and also some solid international earnings since each installment has done relatively well overseas. The budget is at $45 million for this one and it will end up being a win in the end.
I mentioned that we would have to see how The Greatest Showman would do this weekend to see if its slower start on December 20 really would hurt it in the end. Much like Jumanji, The Greatest Showman allowed its positive word of mouth to have it increase over its previous weekend in a significant way. The four-day estimate is at $20.7 million while the three day comes in at $15.6 million. The three-day gross represents a 76.6% increase from the previous weekend and its domestic tally is now at $54.2 million. Suddenly the film doesn’t look as bad off as it once did and we will need to see if that positive word of mouth can continue. The budget is a reported $84 million which means it still has some work to do but it’s showing it’s hanging in there despite the slow start.
In other box office news, the four-day weekend was also a robust one for awards contenders, with A24’s Lady Bird hitting $31.9 million, Fox Searchlight’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri earning $24.4 million, and Focus Features’ The Darkest Hour clearing $20 million.
The losers of the holiday season were Downsizing, Father Figures and so far, All The Money In The World. Downsizing grossed an estimated $6.1 million over four days and brings its total to a disappointing $18.5 million. The $68 million film will likely not make it to $30 million which makes it a true failure. Father Figures also got lost in the shuffle with $5 million over the four day weekend and a running total of just $14.1 million. All The Money In The World, despite good reviews, is getting lost in the mix as well. The film grossed an estimated $7.5 million over four days and brings its take to $14.7 million since opening Christmas day. There is still a chance it could still play well to the older crowd but I think the subject matter was just a bit too dark for the holiday season which is why it couldn’t truly break out.
Hope everyone had a solid New Year! Check back next Monday to see how all the films are holding up after the end of the holiday season!
