Martin Grove’s Post

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 6/16/24: Joy & hope kicked despair to the curb this weekend as INSIDE OUT 2 opened to $155M.   Hollywood handicappers were bullish on the Disney/Pixar PG animated adventure comedy, but "only" expected $85-95M. That number started mushrooming as the weekend began and the guestimate needle quickly soared past $120M on its way to $140M -- and then to an amazing $145M.   It's an opening that, hopefully, silences the doomsayers -- like a certain L.A. newspaper -- who always have it on good authority from anonymous or little known industry sources that the movie business is dead, dying or damaged beyond repair.   Clearly, the studios made a huge error last year by prolonging strikes that shut down the flow of big movies for most of the first half of 2024. We're finally seeing films hit theatres that people will pay to see. The momentum began 5/10 with KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' $58.4M opening. Then BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE arrived 6/7 to $56.5M.   IO2, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, starts a steady stream of big brand movies, including:  DESPICABLE ME 4 (7/3), DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (7/26), BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (9/6), JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX (10/4), WICKED: PART I (11/27), MOANA 2 (11/27), LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (12/13) & MUFASA: THE LION KING (12/20).   Despite a recent newspaper article claiming people would now rather play games on their phones than go see movies, these upcoming A-List titles point to a robust boxoffice for Q3 & Q4 of '24. Of course, new strikes this summer would likely pull the flying carpet out from under exhibitors.   Driven by IO2, the Father's Day Weekend marketplace soared to $213.3M, per Comscore, up 103.3% from the prior weekend and up 28% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $3.09B, down 24% from $4.05B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 26% vs. 2023.   IO2's $155M opening, per Comscore, was at 4,440 theatres ($34,910). It's tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (27 points above norm) and next best with over-25 women (17 points over norm). Critics on Rotten Tomatoes are a sizzling 92% while audiences are applauding at 96%. Internationally it debuted to $140M for a global total of $295M.   IO2 is "the first $100M plus domestic opening weekend of the year thus far," per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, "and the second biggest Pixar (and animation genre) domestic debut of all time!"   Sony/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE was #2 in weekend two with $33M (-42%). It's done $112.2M domestic & $214.6M worldwide.   As for next weekend: Universal's Focus Features label's "THE BIKERIDERS" is opening at about 2,500 theatres. It's tracking below norm for all demos. RT critics are an okay 85%.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #insideout2

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 9/1/24: Hollywood's fear of trying made Labor Day just another throwaway weekend.   At one point, Sony was going to give an 8/30 launch to its R rated Marvel epic KRAVEN THE HUNTER, starring Russell Crowe & Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Originally, KRAVEN was to arrive 1/13/23, but with the post-pandemic movie business still very soft, it was bumped to 10/6/23. Then it was advanced almost a year to 8/30/24 thanks to the SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes the studios let drag on. Finally, Sony turned KRAVEN into a holiday season release for 12/13, where it's competition incudes WB/New Line's animated THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM.   Fortunately for exhibitors, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE is now just around the corner. WB/Plan B Entertainment's PG-13 fantasy horror comedy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, directed by Tim Burton, opens next weekend (9/6) at about 4,000 theatres.   Hollywood buzz-ards are squawking about an $85M or more opening, which should get the fall season off to a sizzling start by today's standards. It's tracking best for first choice with over-25 women (28 points over norm).   As for this weekend, the only wide major studio launch, Sony/Blumhouse Productions' R rated sci-fi horror mystery AFRAID, is the family fantasy AI assistant thriller. It immediately brings to mind Universal/ Blumhouse's much more commercial M3GAN, which cost $12M to produce and did $180.1M worldwide in 2023. A sequel, M3GAN 2.2, is opening next 6/25.   AFRAID kicked off #9 to $3.7M ($4.5M for four days), per Comscore, at 3,003 theatres ($1,232). It reportedly cost $12M to produce. It's tracking for first choice below norm for all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 22% and audiences are very unhappy at 49%.   With nothing new to lure big audiences, this weekend's domestic marketplace totaled $80.8M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 12.7% from the prior weekend and down 12% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $5.74B, down 14% from $6.69B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was also down 14% vs. 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Marvel's R rated DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE stayed #1 in weekend six with $15.2M (-17%) -- and $19.5M for four days -- at 3,630 theatres ($4,183), per Comscore. D&W, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, has now done $599.5M domestic and $1.26B worldwide.   Disney/20th Century Studios' R rated sci-fi thriller ALIEN: ROMULUS was second again in weekend three with $9.3M (-43%) at 3,120 theatres ($2,988) -- for four days. It's grossed $88.8M domestic and $283.5M worldwide.   New indie distrib Showbiz Direct opened its political bio-drama REAGAN in fourth place to an encouraging $7.4M at 2,754 theatres ($2,687) and $9.2M for four days. It's tracking for first choice below norm for all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics despise it at 19%, but audiences are cheering at 98%.   (See more at www.ZAMM.com)   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove  

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 5/5/24: It's a sign of the times that THE FALL GUY fell short of expectations with its $28.5M opening.   Hollywood handicappers had FALL climbing to $30-40M while more exuberant pundits saw $50-60M in their crystal balls.   Despite a strong marketing campaign by Universal, FALL fell victim to the multiplex malaise that set in post-pandemic and deepened after the AMPTP's self-destructive 2023 contract negotiations with SAG-AFTRA & WGA. Had Hollywood handled that better, the Summer Season would have gotten off to a happier start with Disney/Marvel's DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, which was delayed for post-production work until 7/26.   The overall marketplace, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, totaled $73.4M, up 12% from the prior weekend, but down 55% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $2.01B, down 21% from $2.75B in 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/87 North's PG-13 action dramedy THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch (JOHN WICK) and starring Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt, was #1 with $28.5M at 4,002 theatres ($7,121). It reportedly cost $130M after Australia tax credits.   FALL is tracking best for first choice with men under 25 (six points over norm) and next best with men over 25 (five points). Women under 25 don't care (two points under norm). Women over 25 are three points over norm. Rotten Tomatoes critics are happy at 83% and audiences like it at 87%.   Disney/20th Century Studios' 25th anniversary reissue of STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 -- THE PHANTOM MENACE opened #2 to an overperforming $8.1M at 2,700 theatres ($2,993). Saturday projections had it opening third to $7.2M. (For more about MENACE, check out my current FILM FLASHBACK report.)   MGM/Amazon's CHALLENGERS dropped two pegs to third place in weekend two with $7.6M(-49%) at 3,477 theatres ($2,198). Saturday expectations were for second place with $8.7M. It's done $29.5M domestic and reportedly cost $55M to produce.   Sony/Screen Gems' PG-13 horror thriller "TAROT," was #4 with $6.M at 3,104 theatres ($2,094). It's tracking best with women over 25 (one point over norm) and next best with women under 25 (equal to norm). Men don't care. It reportedly cost just $8M to produce. RT critics are burying it with 12% and audiences are ice cold at 59%.   As for next weekend's wide releases: Disney/20th Century Studios' PG-13 sci-fi action adventure KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES should spark a boxoffice heat wave. Media pundits expect $50-60M at about 3,900 theatres.   It's tracking best with men under 25 (14 points over norm) and next best with men over 25 (13 points over norm). Women under 25 don't care (two points under norm). Women over 25 are four points over norm.   Briarcliff/Instinct Productions' R rated comedy NOT ANOTHER CURCH MOVIE, opening at about 3,500 theatres, is tracking below norm with all demos. Some analysts see a $5-10M opening.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove          

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 9/8/24: Exhibitors are smiling over BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE's $110M opening -- except for those who realize the next mega-boxoffice-hit isn't arriving until 10/4 with JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX.   We're living in a tentpole world now and it's feast-or-famine in the Hollywood boxoffice jungle. The studios can thank themselves for today's moviegoer mindset about only paying to see event films. That's the legacy from letting the SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes drag on-and-on until the product pipeline was nearly dry. That failed strategy forced movie fans to find other ways to stay entertained -- like streaming at home small dramas without big stars, rom-coms, comedies & action films without killer effects.     Exhibs can look forward to a smaller boost 9/20 from Paramount/Hasbro's PG rated animated action adventure TRANSFORMERS ONE, which Hollywood buzz-ards see opening to $45-55M. The kids descending on the multiplexes will be buying plenty of popcorn & candy.   This weekend, however, was definitely one to celebrate. WB/Plan B Entertainment's PG-13 fantasy horror comedy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, directed by Tim Burton, debuted to an over-performing $110M at 4,575 theatres ($24,044), per Comscore. BB, which reportedly cost $100M to produce, opened internationally to $35.4M for a worldwide cume of $145.4M.     Hollywood insiders started out looking for an $85M domestic launch and  bumped it up to the high $90M's as the weekend approached. It's tracking best for first choice with over-25 women (28 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 76% and audiences are happier at 82%.   Driven by BB, this weekend's domestic marketplace totaled $149.1M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, up 72.8% from the prior weekend and up 66% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $5.94B, down 13% from $6.84B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 14% vs. 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: The weekend's only other wide release was A24's horror thriller THE FRONT ROOM, which opened #11 to a dismal $1.7M at 2,095 theatres ($794). It's tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (equal to norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 51% and audiences are a grim 39%.   Next weekend should be chilly at the boxoffice: Universal/Blumhouse Productions' R rated horror thriller SPEAK NO EVIL opens at about 3,200 theatres. It's tracking for first choice below norm with all demos.   Lionsgate's R rated action comedy thriller THE KILLER'S GAME, starring Dave Bautista, opens at about 2,500 theatres. It's tracking for first choice below norm with all demos.   (See more at www.ZAMM.com)   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #beetlejuice    

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 2/11/24: A $38M weekend used to be a soft opening, but it now means a dangerously weak movie marketplace.   As always, the Big Game hurt Sunday ticket sales, but so did the games Hollywood played last year with the actors and writers that dried up the product pipeline that brings moviegoers to the multiplexes.   Comscore puts this weekend's overall marketplace at just $37.9M, down 39.5% from the previous weekend and down 30% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $639.43M, down 15% from $756.24M in 2023.   Actually, this isn't the week's most horrible awful dreadful bad news. That dubious honor goes to reports that IATSE, whose deal with the studios expires July 31, is already warning online that if there's no new contract in place by then, "the Negotiating Committee is not interested in extending this agreement."   Considering how the AMPTP used intentional negotiating delays to try to break down SAG-AFTRA and WGA members last year, it's scary that the same negotiators will now be talking to IATSE. Another strike would likely close many cinemas.   Meanwhile, back at the empty multiplexes, Universal/Apple Studios/Marv Films' PG-13 action thriller ARGYLLE was #1 again in weekend two with $6.5M (-62.8%) at 3,605 theatres ($1,803). It's done $28.8 domestic. ARGYLLE reportedly cost Apple $200M to produce, but for Universal it's only a distribution deal.   Second place went to Focus Features' PG-13 horror rom-com LISA FRANKENSTEIN with a deadly $3.8M at 3,144 theatres ($1,209). It reportedly cost just $13M to produce.   Going into this weekend, LISA was tracking well below norm with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes' critics were a hopeless 49%, but audiences were happier at 82%.   Exhibitors are praying for decent boxoffice business when two potential moneymakers arrive Wednesday for Valentine's Day, kicking off a six day holiday period that also includes Presidents' Day.   Sony/Marvel's PG-13 superhero action adventure MADAME WEB, starring Dakota Johnson, is opening at about 3,500 theatres. It's tracking best with women under-25 (five points over norm) and next best with men and women over-25 (each four points over norm). No Rotten Tomatoes scores are available yet.   Paramount/Plan B Entertainment's PG-13 music bio-drama BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as legendary reggae musician Bob Marley, is opening at about 4,000 theatres. It's tracking best with over-25 women (nine points over norm) and next best and equally well with men over 25 & women under-25 (each eight points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes' critics hate it at 35%, but audience scores aren't available yet.   WB/Legendary's DUNE: PART TWO, opening 3/1, is widely expected to be 2024's first major boxoffice success. It's tracking best now with over-25 men (14 points over norm) and next best with over-25 women (seven points over norm). No Rotten Tomatoes yet.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove        

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 6/9/24: BAD put exhibitors in a good mood with a turbo-charged $56M launch that left theatrical naysayers in the dust.   Hollywood handicappers originally buzzed that the R rated Sony/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE would drive off with $40-50M and then upped it to $45-50M -- and mid-weekend went to $53M! Sony lowballed expectations with a $30M estimate.   Driven by BAD, the weekend marketplace totaled $103.5M, per Comscore, up 54% from the prior weekend and down 38% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $2.83B, down 26% from $3.81B in 2023. Last weekend, 2024 was down 24% vs. 2023.   BAD hammers home that people haven't stopped moviegoing. When  there's something playing they want to see, they show up -- despite high ticket costs, oversized concession prices and inflated related costs like transport, babysitters and dinners out.   This bummer summer reflects the retreads, prequels and worn out IP Hollywood tried to get away with. The coming summer weeks should sizzle with Disney/Pixar's INSIDE OUT 2 (6/14), Universal/Illumination Entertainment's DESPICABLE ME 4 (7/3) and Disney/Marvel's DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (7/26).   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: BAD, which reportedly cost $100M to produce, opened to a wildly overperforming $56M at 3,885 theatres ($14,414). Internationally, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, it debuted to "$48.6M for a global opening of $104.6M."   BAD's tracking for first choice is best with men over 25 (16 points over norm) and next best with under-25 men (15 points over norm). Women over 25 are 11 points over norm and women under 25 are five points over norm. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes are a blah 64%, but audiences are cheering at 97%.   WB/NL's PG-13 horror thriller THE WATCHERS opened #4 to $7M at 3,351 theatres ($2,089). It's the feature directorial debut for Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, whose thriller TRAP, starring his daughter Saleka Shyamalan, opens 8/9 via WB. WATCHERS' first choice tracking is below norm for all demos. RT critics hate it at 29% and audiences are a scary 52%. WATCHERS did $4.7M internationally for a global cume of $11.7M.   Sony/Alcon Entertainment's PG animated family appeal THE GARFIELD MOVIE was #2 in weekend three with $10M (-29%) at 3,959 theatres ($2,526). It reportedly cost just $60M and has done $68.6M domestic and $192.7M worldwide.   As for next weekend: Disney/Pixar's PG animated "INSIDE OUT 2" is opening at about 4,200 theatres. Some pundits see an $85-95M debut. It's tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (20 points above norm) and next best with over-25 women (eight points over norm).   Roadside Attractions' R rated historical drama "FIREBRAND" is opening in limited release. RT critics are executing it at 52%.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #badboys    

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 9/22/24: TRANSFORMERS ONE transformed into TRANSFORMERS #2, losing its very close race with BEETLEJUICE.   Between them, the two films did $51M, making exhibitors the weekend's real winner, especially when you include what moviegoers likely spent on snacks.     After an encouraging $3.4M from Wednesday's fan shows & Thursday's previews, Hollywood handicappers saw Paramount/Hasbro Entertainment's PG animated action adventure TRANSFORMERS ONE opening to a sizzling $35-40M. Instead, it did a fizzling $25M with post-mortem explanations that it's a PG family film not a PG-13 fanboy event.   ONE was tracking best for first choice with over-25 men (four points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (just one point over norm). Women over 25 were only equal to norm. And under 25 women didn't care at all (four points under norm). That's not a winning combination of demos! Rotten Tomatoes critics, however, are happy at 89% and audiences love it at 98%, which should mean great word of mouth.   Fortunately for exhibs, WB/Plan B Entertainment's PG-13 fantasy horror comedy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE showed holdover strength in  weekend three to finish #1 with $26M, off just 49%, per Comscore.   This weekend's domestic marketplace totaled $82M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 16.1% from the prior weekend, but up 51% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $6.19B, down 12% from $7.03B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down also 12% vs. 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: B2's $26M was from 4,172 theatres ($6,232), per Comscore. It reportedly cost $100M to produce and has grossed $226.8M domestic and $329.7M worldwide to date.   TRANSFORMERS ONE's $25M was from 3,978 theatres ($6,285), per Comscore. Produced reportedly for just $75M, it's also done $14M in international theatres for a worldwide cume of $39M.    Universal/Blumhouse Productions' R rated horror thriller SPEAK NO EVIL was a solid #3 in weekend two with $5.9M, down only 48%, at 3,375 theatres ($1,748). It reportedly cost just $15M to produce and has grossed $21.5M domestic and $42.4M worldwide.   Next weekend (9/27) should see lots of available multiplex parking thanks to Lionsgate/American Zoetrope's launch of writer/director Francis Ford Coppola R rated sci-fi drama MEGALOPOLIS. Hollywood BUZZ-ards expect it to do just $5M at about 1,550 theatres. It's tracking below norm for first choice with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 51%.   Universal/Dreamworks Animation's PG rated sci-fi adventure THE WILD ROBOT, opening at about 3,700 theatres, is tracking below norm for first choice with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics are cheering wildly at 100%. ROBOT should give TRANSFORMER ONE's not-so-wild robots some animated competition for family audiences.   (See more at www.ZAMM.com)   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #transformers                

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 2/4/24/Part 1: Moviegoers had a choice this weekend between ARGYLLE or nothing -- and they picked nothing.   Their unhappiness with what Hollywood's been putting -- or not putting! -- in theatres lately kept most of them away from the multiplexes. The overall weekend marketplace was just $61.8M, per Comscore, up 4.3 % from the previous weekend when there were no wide studio openings and down 22% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $581.24M, down 13% from $666.58M in 2023.   Universal/Apple Studios/Marv Films' PG-13 action thriller ARGYLLE, from producer-director Matthew Vaughn (KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE), opened #1 to $18M at 3,605 theatres ($4,993). That was marginally better than the $16.5M launch some media pundits were projecting mid-weekend. Other Hollywood handicappers were way overboard with ARGYLLE opening estimates of $25-30M last week. Internationally, per Comscore, it opened to $17.3M for a global cume of $35.3M.   The picture reportedly cost Apple $200M to produce, but it's only a distribution deal for Universal. It's Apple's third $200M ballpark production to fizzle at the boxoffice -- following Martin Scorsese's Oscar contender KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, which opened 10/20/23 ($156.8M worldwide to date) and Ridley Scott's NAPOLEON, which opened 11/22/23 ($219.4M worldwide to date).   While the losses from these costly projects won't make any difference to Apple -- they'll just up the price for the next iPhone model -- the company can't be very happy about how its movie efforts are going.   Going into this weekend, ARGYLLE was tracking best with over-25 women (three points over norm) and next best with over-25 men (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes' critics were a hideous 35% and audiences were unhappy at 70%.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #argylle

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 8/18/24: They may not be able to hear you scream in space, but this weekend you could hear exhibitors screaming for joy as ALIEN: ROMULUS devoured the boxoffice.   Hollywood handicappers expected a $35-40M launch, but over-performing is now the name of the game. The Disney/20th Century Studios' R rated sci-fi thriller hit $41.5M Sunday morning, per Comscore, at 3,885 theatres ($10,682). ROMULUS started out as a streaming movie for Disney's Hulu, but Disney recognized its boxoffice potential and with the wave of a magic wand it went before the cameras as a theatrical release.   It's tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (eight points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics like it at 81% and audiences are thumbs up at 86%.   ROMULUS producer Ridley Scott directed the 1979 classic ALIEN and  director Fede Alvarez made the 2013 thriller EVIL DEAD. ROMULUS, which reportedly cost $80M to produce, blasted off to $66.7M internationally, per Comscore, for a worldwide cume of $108.2M.   Driven by ROMULUS and the holdover hits DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE and IT ENDS WITH US, this weekend's domestic marketplace totaled $135.7M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 14.5% from the prior weekend and up 35% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $5.46B, down 15% from $6.43B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 16% vs. 2023.   Moviegoers have been voting all summer to keep the movie business alive. Now that the pandemic's not raging full blast, labor peace has been (temporarily) achieved and the distribution pipeline's pumping out hits, all Hollywood has to worry about is Hollywood. The formula of consolidating studio ownership and laying off staff to bolster financial statements could cripple the recovery.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Marvel's DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE was #2 in weekend four with $29M (-46%) at 3,960 theatres ($7,323), per Comscore. D&W, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, has done $545.8M domestic and $1.14B worldwide.   Sony's PG-13 romantic drama IT ENDS WITH US, starring Blake Lively (also a producer) & Justin Baldoni (also the director) was #3 in weekend two with $24M (-52%) at 3,739 theatres ($6,419). US, which cost $25M to produce, has done $97.8M domestic and $180M worldwide.   As for next weekend: MGM/Amazon Studios' R rated mystery BLINK TWICE is opening at about 3,000 theatres. Pundits expect $20-25M. Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 80%. It's tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (equal to norm).   Lionsgate's R rated action crime thriller remake THE CROW opens at about 2,600 theatres. Hollywood buzz-ards are looking for $20-25M. It's tracking under norm for first choice with all demos.   (See more at www.ZAMM.com)   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #alienromulus    

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 4/28/24: A few years ago, a $15M opening wouldn't make much of a splash, but it's a hit today in Hollywood's "new normal."   CHALLENGERS, Zendaya's romantic drama from MGM/Amazon, kicked off to $15.01M and will have enhanced value to lure subscribers down the road on Prime Video.   Zendaya fans also showed up to see her again this weekend in WB/Legendary's DUNE 2. D2 was #9 in weekend nine, per Comscore, with $1.99M. That makes Zendaya's combined gross this weekend $17M -- about 26.4% of all ticket sales.   The overall marketplace, per Comscore, totaled $64.48M, down 4.4% from the prior weekend and down 36% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $2.006B, down 21% from $2.586B in 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: MGM/Amazon Studios' CHALLENGERS, directed by Luca Guadagnino (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) and also starring Josh O'Connor & Mike Faist, was #1 with $15.01M at 3,477 theatres ($4,317). It reportedly cost $55M to produce.   Hollywood handicappers were buzzing about a $13.5-15M weekend. CHALLENGERS clearly benefited from MGM's smart move to move it to this spring from last 9/15 when SAG & WGA strikes kept actors from promoting their films.     Looking at CHALLENGERS overseas, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian: "Warner Bros. reports the international running cume now stands at $10.0M and including the domestic debut this weekend, the global running cume is currently $25.0M."   Going into this weekend, CHALLENGERS was tracking great for first choice with women under 25 (six points over norm), but was below norm with all other demos. It's a hit with Rotten Tomatoes critics at 87%, but audiences are just 76%.   Lionsgate's PG faith based family drama "UNSUNG HERO" opened second to $7.8M at 2,832 theatres ($2,737). It reportedly cost just $6M to produce. HERO was tracking below norm for first choice with all demos. RT critics hate it at 60%, but audiences are cheering at 100%.   Roadside Attractions' R rated action thriller "BOY KILLS WORLD" opened #10 to $1.7M at 1,993 theatres ($841). It was tracking below norm for first choice with all demos. BOY's only 60% with RT critics and audiences are a blah 70%.     As for next weekend's wide releases: Universal/87 North's PG-13 action dramedy THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch (JOHN WICK) and starring Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt, is opening at about 3,700 theatres. Some analysts are projecting $50-60M.   It's tracking best and equally well for first place with men & women over 25 (each three points over norm). Men & women under 25 don't care. RT critics are applauding at 89%.   Sony/Screen Gems' PG-13 horror thriller "TAROT" will appear at about 3,000 theatres. It's tracking below norm with all demos. Some crystal ball owners see a $10-12M opening.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove