After breakingbox officerecords in its debut last weekend, most expectedDeadpoolto remain on top in its second frame, facing three new movies opening in wide release. This unconventional superhero movie squared off against Focus Features' biopicRace, Sony’s drama Risen and A24’s critically-acclaimed horror-thrillerThe Witch. But, as expected, the numbers fromBox Office Mojoreveal that none of them came close to dethroning the Merc With the Mouth.Deadpooldominated once again with a second-weekend total of $55 million.
While the opening weekend numbers are obviously of critical importance to any movie’s success, the second weekend often indicates how much longevity a film may have in theaters.Deadpoolis still riding high on plenty of critical buzz (84% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and positive word-of-mouth. The movie dropped 58.5% in its second weekend, despite being shown in 164 more theaters for a theater count of 3,722. A second-weekend drop between 50% and 60% is becoming par for the course for blockbusters likeDeadpool, but it’s still a tad on the high side.Kung Fu Panda 3remained in second place with $12.5 million, followed by Risen in third with $11.8 million,The Witchin fourth place with $8.6 million andHow to Be Singlerounding out the top 5 with $8.2 million. The third newcomer,Race, opened in sixth place with $7.2 million
After receiving a slew ofpositive reviews,Deadpoolshattered the record for highest grossing R-rated opening weekend of $91.7 million, held for 13 years byThe Matrix Reloaded. It also brokeFifty Shades of Grey’s February record of $85.1 million, along with its four-day President’s Day weekend record ($93 million), the record for highest-grossing R-rated comic book adaptation (300, $70.8 million), largest winter opening weekend (American Sniper, $89.2 million) and it became the biggest opening ever for 20th Century Fox, surpassing 2005’sStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithrecord of $108.4 million.
Deadpool’s domestic tally is now $235.3 million, with an additional $256.5 million internationally for a worldwide total of $491.8 million. The movie was produced on just a $58 million budget, which is quite low for your average superhero movie. It’s also worth noting that, last month, early projections predicted the highly-anticipatedBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicewill earn $154 million on its opening weekend, and that’s with a PG-13 rating and two of the most beloved heroes on the planet featured in the same movie. Obviously, those numbers could, and most likely will, change, especially sinceDeadpool’s early projections put it between $55 million and $60 million. Still, forDeadpoolto earn so much with the restrictive R rating, opening higher than all of the otherX-Menmovies, it could provide a wake-up call to studios that may lead to more R-rated fare.
The faith-based drama Risen tells the epic New Testament story of the first forty days after the Resurrection ofJesus Christthrough the eyes of an agnostic Roman Centurion charged by Pontius Pilate to investigate rumors of a risen Jewish Messiah and locate the missing deceased body of Jesus of Nazareth to subdue an imminent uprising in Jerusalem. The film boasts an impressive cast includingTom Felton,Joseph Fiennes,Cliff Curtisand Stephen Greif. Kevin Reynolds writes and directs his first film in a decade, following 2006’sTristan & Isolde.
Raceis based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens (Stephan James), the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy.Raceis an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance, and friendship, and an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to become an Olympic legend.Jason Sudeikis,Jeremy Irons,Carice van Houten,Amanda Crew,William Hurtheadline a stellar cast in this true storybiopic, directed by Stephen Hopkins.
Rounding out the top 10 this weekend areRace($7.2 million),Zoolander 2($5.5 million),Star Wars: The Force Awakens($3.83 million),The Revenant($3.8 million) andHail, Caesar!($2.6 million).The Witchhas an impressive 87% RT score, wowing critics on the festival circuit all last year after debuting at Sundance. Risen has a 59% RT score, withRaceposting a 60% score.The Witchis set in the early 1600s, decades before the Salem Witch Trials, centering on an English farmer who relocates his family to a plot of land on the edge of a forest, where a supernatural presence is said to lurk. NewcomerAnya Taylor-Joystars as the farmer’s teenager daughter Thomasin, who has been accused of being a witch in this shocking thriller from writer-directorRobert Eggers. Also opening in limited release is Embrace of the Serpent, Neerja and Busco Novio Para Mi Mujer.
Looking ahead to next weekend, three new movies will head to theaters, 20th Century Fox’s true story adaptationEddie the Eagle, Lionsgate’s action-thrillerGods of Egyptand Open Road Films' crime thrillerTriple 9. Also opening in limited release isCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, which will also debut simultaneously on Netflix, a re-issue of Akira Kurosawa’s Ran andTere Bin Laden - Dead Or Alive. Take a look at the box office estimates for this weekend, and check back on Tuesday for next week’s predictions.
