For the third year in a row, Marvel kicks of the summer movie season with a new superhero sequel. In 2015, Marvel Studios unleashedAvengers: Age of Ultronin the first weekend in May, withCaptain America: Civil Warkicking of thesummer movie box officeseason last year. This year, the studio unveilsGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which had no trouble surpassing its predecessorGuardians of the Galaxy($94.3 million) with an opening weekend haul of $145 million. While the opening weekend is certainly a strong one, it did come slightly under projections.
Back in March, box office analysts predicted a $160 millionbox office opening weekendforGuardians 2, but it came in slightly under those projections. Still, the $145 million estimate, courtesy ofBox Office Mojo, is a solid start to the summer movie season, with the movie earning an impressive $33,368 per-screen average from 4,347 theaters. Still, it falls far belowThe Avengers' $207.4 million debut in 2012,Avengers: Age of Ultron’s $191.2 million mark in 2015 and last year’sCaptain America: Civil Wardebut of $179.1 million. We predicted it would open at $181.7 million, but it fall well short of that mark as well
The 4,347-theater rollout is the 10th largest of all time, with the movie falling just short of recent Marvel hits in terms of per-screen average as well.Captain America: Civil Waropened in 4,226 theaters for a $42,390 per-screen average, while 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultrondebuted in 4,276 theaters for a $44,731 per-screen average. WhileGuardians 2fell short of those recent Marvel blockbusters, it was still a critical hit, earning an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie didn’t face any direct competition this weekend, which is becoming a trend for most Marvel movies.
This year not only marks the third year in a row that Marvel has started the summer movie season, but also the third year that aMarvel moviefaced no competition. BothCaptain America: Civil WarandAvengers: Age of Ultrondidn’t face any competition when they hit theaters in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The originalGuardians of the Galaxymovie, which opened in the first week of August in 2014, debuted with $94.3 million, with only one new release competing against it, Universal’s musical biopicGet On Up, which earned $13.5 million in a distant third place. However, it’s brand new adventures likeDoctor Strange, which opened againstTrollsandHacksaw Ridge, andAnt-Man, which debuted againstTrainwreck, that don’t seem to pose as much of a threat to rival studios.
Set to the backdrop ofAwesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes' aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand. OriginalGuardians of the Galaxystars Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer), Vin Diesel (Baby Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket Raccoon), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Karen Gillan (Nebula) and Sean Gunn (Kraglin) return, alongside franchise newcomersSylvester Stallone(Starhawk), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Elizabeth Debicki (Ayesha) and Kurt Russell (Ego the Living Planet)
Rounding out the top 10 isThe Fate of the Furious($8.5 million),The Boss Baby($6.1 million),How to Be a Latin Lover($5.2 million),Beauty and the Beast($4.9 million),The Circle($4 million),Baahubali: The Conclusion($3.2 million),Gifted($2 million),Going in Style($1.9 million) andSmurfs: The Lost Village($1.8 million). Also opening in limited release are The Weinstein Company’s drama3 Generations, which earned $20,118 from six theaters for a $3,353 per-screen avearge, The Orchard’s thrillerThe Dinner, which earned $755,348 from 505 theaters for a $1,496 per-screen average, A24’s romantic comedyThe Lovers, which earned $70,410 from four theaters for a $17,603 per-screen average, and IFC’sChuck, which earned $40,416 from four theaters for a $10,104 per-screen average. No box office data was given for Argot Pictures' documentarySacredand Well Go USA’s romantic comedyThis Is Not What I Expected. It remains to be seen if any of those projects will expand in the weeks to come.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Warner Bros. will roll out its fantasy adventureKing Arthur: The Legend of the Sword, starring Charlie Hunnam, while 20th Century Fox debuts the Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedySnatchedand Blumhouse Tilt rolls outLowriders, starring Demian Bichir and Theo Rossi. Also opening in limited release is Atlas Distribution’sAbsolutely Anything, Vladar Company’sGeneration Iron 2, Sony Pictures Classics comedyParis Can Wait, First Run’s documentaryStefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe, Roadside Attracions' thrillerThe Walland their romantic comedyThe Wedding Planand Arrow Films’Whiskey Galore. Take a look at the box office estimates for the weekend of May 5.
