The latest estimates are coming in for how this weekend shaped up and it’s going to be one with some unrealistic elements to it as this time last year saw the debut of Black Panther. That film did a whopping $202 million over its three day, so when you see this weekend as one of the weakest President’s Day weekends, it’s both true and a little skewed. It’s actually the worst one in 15 years according to Box Office Mojo but it couldn’t do anything compared to what last year did to begin with.
Alita: Battle Angel kicked off with midnight showings on Wednesday for its Thursday debut and it did $27.8 million this weekend for it to hit $36 million. With Monday set to add more, it’s expected that the five-day will be well over the $41 million estimate that it had so it’s doing well in that regard, but with a $170 million budget, well, it needs to pull in $500 million to break even worldwide. It is doing well overseas so far it expanded from 11 to 86 markets and has brought in $94 million there so far. It opens next weekend in China and Japan and has the potential to go quite big there, but it’s uncertain just how much it’ll really do.
Isn’t It Romantic debuted this week and landed in third with a $14 million take for the weekend and a combined $20.4 million take with its Valentine’s Day opening. It’s not expected to last long with a “B” CinemaScore but it was likely produced pretty affordably and will do well in its own financials.
Also out this weekend was Happy Death Day 2U which also opened a day early, resulting in $9.8 million weekend and a $13.5 million take so far. Again, all of these will add a bit more as a five-day weekend due to holidays and the like, so it’s all just a bit skewed. This film was expected to open higher based on past performance but with a $9 million budget it has some room to find its audience still.
With regards to other films, LEGO 2 dropped 37% in its second weekend for a $21 million take but it’s likely going to do well where schools are on winter break and parents look for something to take them to – of which there are limited offerings. Glass broke the $100 million market domestically finally and Aquaman hit $331 million domestic, which moves past Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with only Wonder Woman ahead of it – which it won’t catch up to as it’s at $412 million.
Next week hs a couple of offerings with Universal bringing How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World out in 4,000 locations while MGM brings Fighting With My Family to 2,500 screens. Vertical releases the Prosecuting Evil documentary and Roadside Attractions has Run the Race. FIP is bringing out Total Dhamaal in 185 screens. Mostly, we’re just now in a holding pattern until Captain Marvel comes out.
