This week’s report continues our look into October’s very promising release slate with three more wide releases scheduled for Friday the 12th.

Bad Times at the El Royale

Opening Weekend Range: $11 – 17 million

There’s a lot to be encouraged about considering the strong ensemble cast led by Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Jeff Bridges, plus a screenplay from director Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods helmer, The Martian writer). In the vein of his own new classic Cabin and last year’s Murder on the Orient Express, this could prove to be a leggy, adult-aimed thriller with room to play into November if reception is strong. Our somewhat conservative projections at this time are driven by modest social media growth, although that could pick up once marketing hits full throttle.

First Man

Opening Weekend Range: $15 – 25 million

Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy headline this biopic about Neil Armstrong from acclaimed filmmaker Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash), providing a lot of rising star power in front of and behind the camera to draw early award season speculation. As one of the greatest accomplishments in human history, the true story of Armstrong’s life leading up to the first moon-landing could prove to be universally appealing in a number of ways.

Strong trailers and a planned run in IMAX and PLF theaters add a bit of a boost to current box office prospects, with early comps including the likes of Moneyball, Argo, Captain Phillips, and Sully. If early screening reactions exceed expectations, look for forecasts to increase as release approaches.

Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween

Opening Weekend Range: $12 – 17 million

Although the first film was a solid $80 million domestic hit three autumns ago, the absence of star Jack Black could have some noticeable impact on the sequel’s returns in comparison. Still, this is a kid-friendly, holiday-timed option that may find success in the long run with what should be a more modest budget and only the third weekend of Smallfoot providing direct competition until early November.

8-Week Tracking

Release Date Title 3-Day Wide Opening % Chg from Last Week Domestic Total % Chg from Last Week Estimated Location Count Distributor 8/24/2018 A.X.L. $1,750,000 $4,400,000 n/a Global Road 8/24/2018 The Happytime Murders $14,000,000 -10% $36,600,000 -10% 3,000 STX 8/29/2018 Operation Finale $6,000,000 $19,000,000 2,300 MGM 8/31/2018 Kin $5,000,000 -9% $12,600,000 -9% 1,500 Lionsgate / Summit 8/31/2018 Searching n/a n/a n/a Sony / Screen Gems 8/31/2018 Ya Veremos n/a n/a 350 Pantelion 9/7/2018 God Bless the Broken Road $1,500,000 NEW $3,750,000 NEW Freestyle Releasing 9/7/2018 The Nun $39,000,000 -3% $93,000,000 -3% Warner Bros. / New Line 9/7/2018 Peppermint $12,000,000 $33,500,000 STX Entertainment 9/14/2018 The Predator (2018) $28,000,000 $65,000,000 Fox 9/14/2018 A Simple Favor $14,000,000 $40,000,000 Lionsgate 9/14/2018 Unbroken: Path to Redemption $2,000,000 $4,900,000 Pure Flix 9/14/2018 White Boy Rick $7,500,000 $24,000,000 Sony / Studio 8 9/21/2018 Fahrenheit 11/9 n/a n/a Briarcliff 9/21/2018 The House with a Clock In Its Walls $24,000,000 $79,000,000 Universal 9/21/2018 Life Itself n/a n/a Amazon Studios 9/28/2018 Hell Fest $9,500,000 $22,000,000 Lionsgate / CBS Films 9/28/2018 Little Women (2018) n/a n/a Pure Flix 9/28/2018 Night School (2018) $17,500,000 $55,000,000 Universal 9/28/2018 Smallfoot $23,000,000 $80,000,000 Warner Bros. 10/5/2018 A Star Is Born $30,000,000 $140,000,000 20% Warner Bros. 10/5/2018 Venom (2018) $65,000,000 63% $135,000,000 59% Sony / Columbia 10/12/2018 Bad Times at the El Royale $13,000,000 NEW $40,000,000 NEW Fox 10/12/2018 First Man $20,000,000 NEW $90,000,000 NEW Universal 10/12/2018 Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween $14,000,000 NEW $45,000,000 NEW Sony / Columbia

Contact us for information about subscribing to Boxoffice’s complete suite of forecasting and data services.