October 26, 2019

Joker wasnât gone from top spot for long, as it earned first place on Friday with $5.46 million, putting it on pace for close to $19 million over the weekend. This is very close to our prediction, but it is ranking better, due to marginally-weaker-than-expected competition. It also reportedly became the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time, at least worldwide. It is not going to catch up to The Passion of the Christ domestically.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil was right behind with $4.83 million on Friday. It should take top spot on Saturday, but that wonât be enough to earn first place over the full weekend. It should be close with just over $18 million, which is close enough to our prediction that I would consider it a victory.

Zombieland: Double Tap fell faster than I would have liked, down 68% from its opening Friday to earn $3.38 million. This puts it on pace for close to $12 million over the weekend. Like the previous film, this is a little lower than anticipated, but close enough that Iâm satisfied.

Countdown earned fourth place over Black and Blue $3.14 million to $3.06 million. On the one hand, Black and Blue should have longer legs thanks it its better reviews and its target demographic. However, it also had the better previews, and still ended behind Countdown on Friday, so that suggests weaker legs over the rest of the weekend.

The Addams Family was knocked out of the top five with $2.77 million, but, as a family film, it should bounce back the most on Saturday and finish the weekend with over $11 million. This puts it at worse a rounding error away from expectations.

The Current War: Directorâs Cut is really struggling with just $950,000 on Friday. Additionally, its reviews have slipped below the overall positive level, so its word-of-mouth likely wonât be able to save it at this point. It wonât open below the Mendoza Line, but it will be closer than I would have liked.

- Friday Box Office Chart



C.S.Strowbridge