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 "The Maze Runner: Scorch Trails," a sequel to last year's
post-apocalyptic young adult hit, fared best. It got off to a
solid start by topping charts with $30.3 million. Filmed for $61
million and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the picture bowed
in 3,791 locations, receiving intense competition from "Black
Mass," which likely contributed to it failing to match or exceed
the $32.5 million debut of its predecessor.
"Black Mass," a look Boston gangster Whitey Bulger and his
unholy alliance with the FBI, has been hailed as a return to
form for Johnny Depp, who had squandered critical and audience
goodwill with too many "Mortdecai's" and "Lone Rangers."
Bolstered by a cast of respected character actors and veterans
such as Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Kevin Bacon
cost $53 million to make. Strong reviews helped push the Warner
Bros. film to a respectable second place finish with $23.4
million across 3,188 locations. That puts it in line with other
Beantown crime dramas such as "The Departed," which started with
$26 million in 2006 and "The Town," which kicked off to $23.8
million in 2010.
Then there was Universal's "Everest," which opted to give a wide
berth to gangster rats and futuristic teens by opening in a
special, Imax and premium format run. The film aped an approach
used by "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" in 2011, which
debuted to $13.3 million before having its wide release.
"Everest" bowed to a sterling $7.6 million across 545 screens,
for a per-screen average of $13,867 and a fifth place finish.
The $55 million adventure film stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin,
and Jake Gyllenhaal. Its reception is good news for "The Walk,"
the Sony film about tightrope walker Philippe Petit, which is
employing a similar Imax and premium format debut as a way to
generate buzz.
The top five was rounded out by Universal's "The Visit," which
picked up $11.3 million in its second weekend and third place,
and Sony's "The Perfect Guy," which finished with $9.7 million
in fourth position. The films have made $42.3 million and $41.4
million, respectively.
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That left "Captive," Paramount's attempt to wrangle the faith-based
crowds that lifted "War Room" to box office heights, with roughly
$1.4 million after bowing on 806 locations. It's a mediocre showing,
but given the film's $2 million budget, it doesn't carry a lot of
risk. "Captive" is a true story about a woman (Kate Mara) who gains
strength from celebrity pastor Rick Warren's inspirational books
while being held hostage by an ex-convict (David Oyelowo).
In the indie world, Bleecker Street debuted "Pawn Sacrifice," a look
a troubled chess great Bobby Fischer, to $206,879 for a per-screen
average of $6,269, while Lionsgate got drug war thriller "Sicario"
off to a sizzling start of $146,494 from just six engagements. That
translates to a sterling $65,000 per-screen average, the highest
this year. "Sicario" expands to approximately 50 theaters next
weekend and goes wide on Oct. 2.
""We want to be sure that we establish ourselves and build a long
runway," said David Spitz, executive vice president of distribution
at Lionsgate, adding, "When these kinds of films reach an audience
and word of mouth starts to spread, they become events."
He predicted "Sicario," which stars Emily Blunt as a steely FBI
agent, would play well to both genders.
In milestone news, Sony Pictures/Affirm's "War Room" became the
fifth highest-grossing faith-based film, earning $49.2 million to
date, while "Mr. Holmes" with Ian McKellen now ranks as the second
highest-grossing film in Roadside Attractions' history with $17.5
million, behind only "Mud" with $21.6 million.
Overall ticket sales rose 9% over the year-ago period when the first
"Maze Runner" and Liam Neeson's "A Walk Among the Tombstones" topped
the box office.
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