Winning the box office for the second weekend in a row is David Ayer’s Suicide Squad with $43.8 million from 4,255 theaters for an overall total of $222.9 million.
As predicted, the supervillain film took a steep fall – roughly 67 percent – ranking as one of the biggest declines for a studio superhero film (behind Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s 69 percent decline). Regardless of its sharp decline in ticket sales, Squad should still be considered a success with it’s global total of $465.4 million, says comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “It may not be an emotional hit with critics and some of the fans, but it’s certainly a box office hit.”
Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst for Exhibitor Relations, concurred, adding, “What Warner Bros. and DC did was give audiences something that obviously they really wanted to see. This is a band of outsiders rolling up one of the top 20 debuts of all time. This is a big thing still, no matter how it breaks down.”
The biggest box office surprise goes to Sony’s raunchy comedy Sausage Party, which exceeded analysts’ predictions to score the best opening for an R-rated comedy with $33.6 million from 3,103 theaters. The film – falling in second place – earned an 82 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a B CinemaScore from moviegoers.
“It shows that if you are really original and take risks, it can pay off really well in today’s marketplace. The humor was smart and elevated,” said Sony worldwide president of distribution and marketing Josh Greenstein.
In third place is Disney’s family remake Pete’s Dragon, starring Bryce Dallas Howard as a forest ranger who takes in a boy (Oakes Fegley) whose best friend is a giant dragon, with $21.5 million debut. The film raked in an 86 percent “fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score and an A CinemaScore.
Bryce Dallas Howard: ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Remake is Different From 1977 Original
“I know we are usually in more of the home-run tentpole business, but this is a solid single, maybe a double, pending the 75 percent of overseas business to come. If anything, this result gives us a business case to consider other library titles that warrant the singles/doubles treatment,” said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis.
Rounding out the top five are holdovers Jason Bourne and Bad Moms, with $13.6 million and $11.5 million, respectively. The Matt Damon action movie has a domestic total of $126.8 million, while Mila Kunis’ comedy flick gathered $71.5 million overall.
The final weekend new release was Florence Foster Jenkins with $6.6 million for an eighth place finish. The film, based on a true story about a NYC socialite (Meryl Streep) who dreams of being an opera singer, received an 87 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A-minus CinemaScore.
Simon Helberg Talks Working with Meryl Streep in ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’
Top 10 Films at Weekend Box Office: August 12-14
- Suicide Squad — $43.8 million
- Sausage Party — $33.6 million
- Pete’s Dragon — $21.5 million
- Jason Bourne — $13.6 million
- Bad Moms — $11.5 million
- The Secret Life Of Pets — $8.8 million
- Star Trek Beyond — $6.8 million
- Florence Foster Jenkins — $6.6 million
- Nine Lives — $3.5 million
- Lights Out — $3.2 million
