SUNDAY AM: Forget about any of the new films at the Labor Day weekend box office. They didn’t really dazzle. All that matters is whether or not we ring in a record summer, beating 2013’s $4.756 billion.
According to Rentrak, the 3-day domestic marketplace of $88M gets us to $4.732 billion by end of today, still the second best summer ever. From the chart below, Rentrak is forecasting a photo-finish. If the 4-day marketplace in North America rings up between $114.1M-$115.9M, then 2026 has claimed a new all-time record for summer between $4.758B and $4.759B.
Note this past August hit an all-time record stateside with $1.276 billion per Rentrak, unseating August 2016 which previously grossed $1.02B, that month led by Warner Bros/DC’s David Ayer directed Suicide Squad (which finaled at $325M domestic). It was the third time that August cracked $1 billion at the domestic B.O., the previous time being 2014 ($1.016B).
Below is how the 4-day and notables are shaping up:
1.) Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Sony) 3,520 (-158) theaters, Fri $3.86M (-30% from previous Friday), Sat $6.96M, Sun $7.1M, Mon $5.3M 3-day $18M (-20%), 4-day $23.3M, Total $923M/Wk 6
2.) The Odyssey (Uni) 2,312 (-305) theaters, Fri $3M (-19%) Sat $4.7M Sun $5.1M 3-day $13M (-9%), Mon $4.2M 4-day $17.2M, Total $588.9M/Wk 8
3.) Coyote vs. Acme (Ketch) 3,727 (+152) theaters, Fri $2.6M (-51%) Sat $4.46M Sun $4.2M Mon $3.1M 3-day $11.3M (-29%), 4-day $14.5M, total $37M/Wk 2
4.) By Any Means (Par) 2,903 theaters, Fri $2.67M, Sat $2.4M Sun $2.3M Mon $1.7M 3-day $7.4M, 4-day $9.1M/Wk 1
Better than expected ($6M-$7M over 4-days was the expectation), but still it just goes to show the difficulty in lower budget non-genre films breaking through in a record summer.
5.) Insidious: Out of the Further (Sony) 2,897 (-406) theaters, Fri $1.63M (-45%), Sat $2.4M, Sun $2.45M Mon $1.6M 3-day $6.5M (-36%), 4-day $8.1M, Total $55.7M/Wk 3
6.) Cars 20th Anniversary (Dis) 2,900 theaters Fri $2.2M, Sat $2M Sun $1.9M Mon $1.5M, 3-day $6.1M 4-day $7.6M, Lifetime total $251.6M /Wk 1 or re-release
7.) Buddy (RSA/Saban) 1,771 (+513) theaters, Fri $1.52M (-31%), Sat $2.08M Sun $2.1M, Mon $1.45M, 3-day $5.7M (+6%), 4-day $7.2M, Total $15.7M/Wk 2
8.) Paw Patrol: Dino Movie (Par) 2,613 (-497) theaters, Fri $700K (-38%) Sat $1.3M Sun $1.3M Mon $1.1M 3-day $3.3M (-34%), 4-day $4.45M, Total $49.6M/Wk 4
9.) Dog Stars (20th) Fri $700K (-77%) Sat $1M Sun $1M Mon $700K 3-day $2.7M (-65%) 4-day $3.4M /total $13.7M/Wk 2
10.) Akira (Sony/Crunchy) 787 theaters, Fri $1.2M, Sat $725K Sun $725K Mon $565K 3-day $2.67M, 4-day $3.23M/Wk 1 of re-release
Notables:
Fall 2: Deadpoint (LG Grind) 1,704 theaters, Fri $625K, Sat $850K Sun $825K Mon $570K 3-day $2.3M 4-day $2.87M/Total $3.44M/Wk 1
Onslaught (A24) 1,918 theaters, Fri $782K, 3-day $2M 4-day $2.3M/Wk 1
SATURDAY AM: Rentrak reports that we’re $112.2 million away from having a record summer at the domestic box office, the previous high being 2013 with $4.756 billion. Per sources this morning, it looks like we’re going to get there with the Friday-Monday Labor Day frame ringing up over $118M.
For the period of May 1-Sept 3, Rentrak had the domestic marketplace at $4.643 billion and if we hit the forecast that studios are seeing for the weekend, we’ll be at $4.76B. Rentrak had a footnote on its summer note yesterday saying that there’s a chance that summer 2026 could finish $8 million–$23 million below the 2013 record of $4.756B. Remember, this summer was longer than 2013’s record: 130 days versus 123 days.
It’s not often that Labor Day becomes this nail-biting at the box office. Studios often use the frame as a dumping ground, rarely attempting to lure moviegoers out. The only time really they appealed to the masses was 2021 when Disney booked Destin Daniel Cretton’s Marvel title Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in an effort to get moviegoers back into cinemas post Covid, that title still owning the best opening for the holiday at $94.6M.
With an eye at $22M (and maybe $23M) over 4-days, Sony/Marvel Studio’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the best holdovers for the holiday frame after The Sixth Sense ($29.2M), Crazy Rich Asians ($28.5M), and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy ($22.9M). As we’ve already written, the movie is chasing history, and ultimately in the next few weeks, or even days, will step on 2015’s Star Wars: Force Awakens ($936.6M) to become the highest grossing movie of all-time at the domestic B.O.
Also, let’s not ignore the holdover power of Universal’s The Odyssey which by the end of this weekend after its eighth sesh of $16.4M over 4-days, will stand at $588.1M, Universal’s second-highest grossing movie at the domestic box office after Jurassic World ($653.4M) and ahead of Super Mario Bros Movie ($574.1M).
The rest of the newcomers are quite light, though Paramount’s Mark Wahlberg-Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Civil rights action thriller By Any Means is coming in higher than the $6M spotted with $8.5M over 4-days and a B+ CinemaScore. Lionsgate Grindstone’s Fall 2: Deadpoint is looking at $2.7M over 4-days in 12th place with a B- while A24’s Onslaught isn’t igniting hipsters with $2.3M over 4-days and a C CinemaScore.
Toro
Busting into the top 10 is Sony Pictures/Crunchyroll’s re-release of the 1988 Akira which made $1.215 million on Friday from 787 locations for what’s looking $3.5M over 4-days, $2.8M over 3-days.
For all the pom-poms about the comeback of theatrical, smaller films have a very hard time, bad reviews or good reviews. To have something akin to A24’s specialty win, The Invite, ($25.6M, 96% critical Rotten Tomatoes score, 89% audience), a distributor needs to invest and push. However, the reality of the situation for many who aren’t opting for an awards season or even a genre audience pull is that they’re often using theatrical as a means of marketing to get a film into the next home window. It’s the primary financial model for many distributors, even the big studios.
From left: Delaney Quinn, Tristan Borders (behind Quinn), Madison Skyy Polan and Cristin Milioti,in ‘Buddy’
Roadside Attractions/Everett Collection
That said, one of the exceptions is Roadside Attractions and Saban’s Buddy which is having an exceptional hold and speaking to its under 25 audience (at a huge 44% per PostTrak). Buddy could wind up as the distributor’s second or third highest grossing movie ever behind I Can Only Imagine ($83.4M domestic) and ahead of either Judy ($24.3M) or Peanut Butter Falcon ($20.4M). This is all with a P&A spend under $5M for the Sundance acquisition. The 3-day on Buddy is $5.9M (+9%) while the 4-day is looking like $7.4M in 7th for a running total by EOD Monday of $15.98M at 1,771 theaters. The 18-34 crowd here alone is driving 73% of business. Pic is drawing mostly men at 52% and it has a 55% definite recommend. Best definite recommends of 66% and 67% are respectively coming from the 25-34 and 45-54 age brackets.
Fun stunt: Buddy gets kicked out of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights…
1.) Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Sony) 3,520 (-158) theaters, Fri $3.86M (-30% from previous Friday), 3-day $17.25M (-23%), 4-day $22M, Total $922M/Wk 6
2.) The Odyssey (Uni) 2,312 (-305) theaters, Fri $3M (-19%), 3-day $12.4M (-13%), 4-day $16.4M, Total $588.1M/Wk 8
3.) Coyote vs. Acme (Ketch) 3,727 (+152) theaters, Fri $2.6M (-51%), 3-day $11.5M (-23%), 4-day $14.5M, total $37M/Wk 2
4.) By Any Means (Par) 2,903 theaters, Fri $2.67M, 3-day $7M, 4-day $8.55M/Wk 1
69% male leaning, 25-34 and the over 55 bunch tied for the best demos at 23%. A pretty good 64% definite recommend from the audience. Diversity demos are 38% Caucasian, 27% Black, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 10% Asian American and 4% Native American and other. Handful of PLFs repping 5% of ticket sales. Best areas of play are South, South Central and West with the AMC Burbank the highest grossing location at $12,4k. Again, this movie was financed by Hammerstone for $29M. Paramount is in it for a domestic distribution deal, so it’s gravy for them.
5.) Insidious: Out of the Further (Sony) 2,897 (-406) theaters, Fri $1.63M (-45%), 3-day $6M (-41%), 4-day $7.5M, Total $55M/Wk 3
6.) Buddy (RSA/Saban) 1,771 (+513) theaters, Fri $1.52M (-31%), 3-day $5.9M (+9%), 4-day $7.46M, Total $15.98M/Wk 2
7.) Cars 20th Anniversary (Dis) 2,900 theaters Fri $2.9M, 3-day $5.8M 4-day $7.2M, Lifetime total $251.2M /Wk 1 or re-release
8.) Paw Patrol: Dino Movie (Par) 2,613 (-497) theaters, Fri $700K (-38%), 3-day $3.46M (-31%), 4-day $4.68M, Total $49.8M/Wk 4
9.) Akira (Sony/Crunchy) 787 theaters, Fri $1.2M, 3-day $2.8M, 4-day $3.5M/Wk 1 of re-release
9.) Dog Stars (20th) Fri $700K (-77%) 3-day $2.8M (-64%) 4-day $3.5M /total $13.8M/Wk 2
Last year’s Labor Day auteur driven movie with burgeoning star Austin Butler, Caught Stealing, launched over Labor Day weekend, so by the time it got to the end of its second weekend, the pic’s running cume stood at $14.8M. Dog Stars at a cost of $70M is looking very similar to Caught Stealing, if not less, that pic ending its run at $19M stateside.
Notables:
Fall 2: Deadpoint (LG Grind) 1,704 theaters, Fri $720K, 3-day $2M 4-day $2.7M/Wk 1
Poor 34% definite recommend from the audience with women the dominant at 55% and the best demo being 25-34 at 43%. Diversity demos are 33% Latino and Hispanic, 29% Caucasian, 19% Asian American, 13% Black and 5% Native American/other. Pretty even sales across the nation with AMC’s Topanga 12 the top grossing location with close to $4K through Friday.
Onslaught (A24) 1,918 theaters, Fri $782K, 3-day $2M 4-day $2.3M/Wk 1
Nobody liked this at a 33% definite recommend on PostTrak and the biggest turnout by the 25-34 demo at 35%. Very light business in East and West with the AMC Americana in Glendale, CA putting up the best grosses through yesterday with a near $6k. 72% guys. 61% Caucasian, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 13% Black, 2% Asian American and 3% Native American showed up. The consensus is that the campaign never started a fire on this $15M Adam Wingard directed genre title.
FRIDAY PM: With a four-day weekend estimated to be around $21 million, Sony/Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be less than $16M away by EOD of Monday of overtaking Star Wars: Force Awakens ($936.6M) as the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic box office. The pic’s running cume by the end of Labor Day is looking like $921M.
With grosses like this, you don’t get there without audiences seeing a movie at least two to three times. Today, we told you that the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed movie is the fastest to cross $900M at 36 days and the second ever to fly past that point after Force Awakens 10 years ago. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is booked at 3,520 theaters and is looking at $3.7M today, and a sixth 3-day of $16.7M, -26%. Spidey still has PLF screens.
A bit of box office trivia: Daniel Cretton stills own the record for the best opening ever over Labor Day with Disney/Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at $94.6M in 2021.
Second place will go to Universal’s eighth weekend of The Odyssey at 2,312 theaters with a Friday of $2.8M, 3-day of $11.5M, -20%, a 4-day of $15.2M for a running cume of $586.98M. With a global cume currently at $1.59 billion, the question is whether it topples Jurassic World‘s global haul of $1.67 billion to become the highest-grossing movie ever for Universal; Nolan’s all-time highest is roughly $80M away from hitting that record. On a worldwide basis it seems feasible, while beating Jurassic World‘s domestic record of $653.4M (Uni’s best ever stateside) might be a stretch.
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Ketchup Entertainment’s saved Warner Bros animation title, Coyote vs. Acme will hold quite well at 3,727 theaters for a second Friday of $2.2M, 3-day of $9.9M, -38%, and a 4-day of $12M-$13M for a running cume on the high end by EOD Monday of $35.5M.
Disney/Pixar’s 20th anniversary rerelease of Cars is seeing around $2.3M today (that includes $600,000 in previews last night) for a 3-day of $6.5M and a 4-day of $8M. Pic’s domestic cume before rerelease is $244M.
L-R: Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Paramount Pictures’ ‘By Any Means’
Paramount
Paramount’s 1960s civil rights-meets-mobster movie By Any Means may puncture Cars‘ tires for fourth place, also with an eye at $8M over 4-days at 2,903 theaters after a 3-day of $6.5M and a Friday of $2.45M (that includes Thursday’s $725K).
Sony/Screen Gems/Blumhouse Atomic Monster/Stage 6’s Insidious: Out of the Further is booked at 2,897 theaters with an eye on a third Friday of $1.5M, third 3-day of $6M, -41%, 4-day of $7M in 6th place and running cume of $54.5M.
Adria Arjona in ‘Onslaught’
Richard Foreman Jr. / A24 / Everett Collection
Outside the top 6 is A24’s Onslaught at 1,918 sites with around $800K today (including $275K yesterday) for a $1.6M-$2.2M 3-day and 4-day between $2M-$2.7M. Rotten Tomatoes audience score is at 67% to 54% Rotten critics.
Lionsgate Grindstone’s Fall 2: Deadpoint is booked at 1,704 locations and is looking at $500K today, around $1.7M 3-day, and a 4-day estimated around $2.6M. Critics are 60% fresh. The original 2022 movie was directed by Scott Mann and grossed $7.2M after a $2.5M opening and a $3M production cost. The sequel is helmed by Michael and Peter Spierig.
Pic’s blurb: Grieving her sister Shiloh’s death, Jax Hunter (this time played by Harriet Slater) bonds with Shiloh’s bold friend Luce. Together they tackle dangerous Mount Kwan in Thailand. When a rockslide traps them on a narrow plank 4,000 feet up, Jax must face her fears to survive.
