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 The sequel from Fox is expected to earn $39
million this weekend from 4,003 locations. That's slightly below
where tracking had pegged it (somewhere in the $40 millions),
but above the original "Kingsman" movie, which earned $36.2
million when it opened in 2015.
"Kingsman" is also launching to about $61 million from 64
markets abroad, giving it a $100 million worldwide opening. The
audience was male-dominated (58%) and 60% of viewers were
between 18 and 34 years old. The sequel received mixed reviews
(a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes), and audiences earned it a B+
CinemaScore, which is the same as the original "Kingsman." Imax
screens accounted for $3.5 million of "Kingsman's" domestic
earnings and $9.2 million of its global grosses.
"I think it's really a very strong opening. We're right where we
expected it to be," said Chris Aronson, distribution chief at
Fox. "Anytime you can open a sequel bigger than the first one
you're onto something."
The film franchise is based on the "Kingsman" comic book series,
and features a starry cast. Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, and
Taron Egerton topline the action comedy and are joined by
supporting characters played by Halle Berry, Channing Tatum,
Jeff Bridges, and perhaps most notably, Elton John. The movie
reunites the group of secret agents who use a tailor shop as a
cover. This time around they travel to the United States where
they team with their American counterpart (called Statesman) who
pose as cowboy whiskey distillers.
Meanwhile, "The Lego Ninjago Movie" from Warner Bros. looks like
a miss, as it's tracking for $21.2 million from 4,047 locations.
Earlier projections pegged the opening above $30 million. And
the Lego franchise is seeing diminishing returns. The original
opened to $69.1 million in 2014. Then, "The Lego Batman Movie"
opened earlier this year to $53 million. The latest movie is
connecting with an especially young audience -- 46% of viewers
were under the age of 18. Unlike the first two, which both
scored above 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics were more mixed,
earning "Ninjago" a 53%.
"I was hoping that it would have a more broad audience, and am
still hopeful," said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief at
Warner Bros., who said "Ninjago" is "a more niche story" than
the previous Lego movies. "They're different stories with
different potential," he said.
Billed as an animated action comedy martial arts film, three
directors are at the helm for "Ninjago" -- Charlie Bean, Paul
Fisher, and Bob Logan. The voice cast is comprised of Dave
Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia
Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Pena, Zach Woods, and Jackie
Chan.
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There's also Entertainment Studios' horror entry "Friend Request,"
which is barely registering. The film is tracking for a $2.4 million
opening from 2,573 locations.
That leaves Warner Bros. and New Line's "It" in second for the
weekend ($30 million from 4,007 theaters). Earlier in the week, the
blockbuster passed "The Exorcist" to become the highest-grossing
horror movie of all time.
"To have a movie of this or any genre to drop 50% in its third week
is exceptional," Goldstein said. "It's fun for us."
CBS Films and Lionsgate's "American Assassin" is tracking for the
fourth spot this weekend with $6.2 million from 3,154 locations. And
Open Road's "Home Again," starring Reese Witherspoon, should round
out the top five with $3.3 million from 2,685 spots.
In limited release, "Stronger," from Roadside Attractions and
Lionsgate, is expected to make $1.75 million from 574 locations.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the Boston marathon bombing movie directed
by David Gordon Green. Critics praised the drama, earning it a 95%
on Rotten Tomatoes.
And Fox Searchlight's "Battle of the Sexes" is serving a very strong
$525,000 from 21 theaters. The sports biopic from "Little Miss
Sunshine" directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris stars Emma
Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs. The
distributor plans to add 65 markets to expand to up to 1,200
locations for Sept. 29.
Focus Features' "Victoria and Abdul" is opening to $152,000 from
four spots, including a great showing at the Paris theater in New
York. Next weekend the film will expand to about 75 locations in the
top markets, with plans to go wide on Oct. 6.
"We're very excited about how the film did," said Focus'
distribution chief Lisa Bunnell. "It's a very entertaining film, and
people want to see films that make you feel good."
And from one location in New York, Good Deed Entertainment's "Loving
Vincent" earned $24,304. The film, billed as the first-ever entirely
oil painted feature, will see a gradual expansion throughout October
and November.
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