Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials raced to the top at the box office with $30.3 million from 3,791 locations, while Johnny Depp’s Black Mass earned $23.4 million for a second place finish across 3,188 locations.
Twentieth Century Fox’s Maze Runner sequel – starring Dylan O’Brien as a teenager struggling to survive in a scorched wasteland – had an ethnically diverse crowd, with moviegoers who were 53 percent female and 63 percent under the age of 25. The opening is slightly less than the original Maze Runner’s debut, which fell on the same weekend last year and took in $32.5 million and finished with a total of $102.4 million.
The $61 million action film earned a B plus CinemaScore from audience members and a 49 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics.
“Some people expected more out of the newcomers, but it was still a healthy weekend by September standards,” said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. “There was a lot of diversity, but that can cut both ways. It builds everything up, but sometimes competition happens and there’s a little cannibalization.”
Warner Bros.’ Black Mass, about a Boston gangster Whitey Bulger (played by Depp) and his unholy alliance with the FBI, followed in second place with positive reviews. It earned a B CinemaScore from moviegoers and a strong 76 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Alongside Depp, the $53 million film also stars Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kevin Bacon.
“Johnny Depp always swings for the fences, and sometimes he strikes out, but this was a grand slam,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. distribution executive vice president. “He’s the face of evil.”
Another weekend newcomer was Universal’s Everest with $7.6 million across 545 theaters, for a fifth place finish. The $55 million adventure film stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Keira Knightley and Jake Gyllenhaal. Moviegoers were very fond of the film, giving it an A Cinemascore, with critics giving it a 73 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The good news is they like it,” said Nick Carpou, Universal’s domestic distribution chief. “It’s a human interest story, but the enhanced formats highlight another important character and that’s the mountain and nature in all its horrible glory.”
Paramount’s newcomer for the weekend was its faith-based drama Captive, starring David Oyelowo and Kate Mara. Captive earned $1.4 million across 806 theaters, falling in eleventh place on the charts.
The $2 million film is based on the true story of Ashley Smith and Brian Nichols, who took Smith hostage in her own apartment. During the ordeal, Smith turned to Rick Warren’s inspirational book, The Purpose Driven Life, for guidance to startling results for both herself and Nichols. Ashley later wrote a book, Unlikely Angel.
To round out the top five at the box office, Universal’s horror film The Visit finished in third place with $11.3 million in its second weekend, while Sony’s thriller The Perfect Guy took in $9.7 million in fourth position. The films have made $42.3 million and $41.4 million, respectively.
Top 10 Films at Weekend Box Office: September 18-20
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials — $30.3 million
- Black Mass — $23.4 million
- The Visit — $11.3 million
- The Perfect Guy — $9.7 million
- Everest — $7.6 million
- War Room— $6.3 million
- A Walk In The Woods — $2.7 million
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation — $2.25 million
- Straight Outta Compton — $2.0 million
- Grandma — $1.5 million
