The Dog Days of the 2018 Box Office Summer continued to be nonexistent this weekend as Warner’s one-two punch of newcomer Crazy Rich Asians and the second week ofThe Meg helped keep business at the North America box office rolling right along. Fellow new arrivals Mile 22 and Alpha weren’t as lucky as Asians, delivering tepid numbers at best in their respective starts.
Overall, the top ten this weekend soared 44% over last year’s totals at this time. Thanks to the strong business from Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Meg and now Crazy Rich Asians, the August box office has showed some considerable strength, which would be enough to end the 2018 summer movie season on a positive note.
Catering to a demographic all too often ignored by Hollywood, Warner’s acclaimed comedy Crazy Rich Asians romanced a lovely $25.3 million this weekend from 3,384 screens. Factoring in the film’s midweek business – it opened this past Wednesday- the opening for Asians is even more impressive at an impressive $34 million. The strong opening for Crazy Rich Asians is the first romantic comedy in over three years to open with more than $20 million in ticket sales.
The $30 million production is the first Hollywood feature in 25 years –Seriously, Tinseltown? – to feature a predominately Asian/American cast. The adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel was directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding.
Both the press and public embraced the romantic comedy, which should help it to become the summer’s next $100 million hit after The Meg. Asians scored a lovely 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74/100 on Metacritic. Ticket buyers showed their love by grading it with an “A” on CinemaScore.
Following its big opening one week ago, Warner’s The Meg found itself swimming a little bit slower in its sophomore session. The Jason Statham hit dipped 53% but still managed to capture a bloody good $21.1 million from 4,118 screens. That haul pushed The Meg’s ten-day total up to an impressive $84 million. With the $100 million mark ready to be crossed by next weekend, The Meg should swim into the domestic box office sunset with roughly $120-125 million. Overseas, The Meg has devoured $230 million so far.
STX’s Mile 22 found itself shooting blanks in its third place debut. The best the latest collaboration from Mark Whalberg and director Peter Berg -following Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day- could come up with was an estimated $13.6 million from 3,520 screens. Mile 22 was instantly dismissed by critics, scoring a dismal 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 40/100 on Metacritic. Ticket buyers didn’t care much for the film either. They gave Mile 22 a dim “B-“ on CinemaScore.
Based on estimates, two films – Alpha and Mission: Impossible – Fallout– tied for fourth place and could change places once the actual numbers are released on Monday afternoon. For the time being, however, Alpha is claiming fourth place. Despite strong reviews, the best the $60 million Sony prehistoric drama could muster was $10.5 million from 2,719 screens. Directed by Albert Hughes (Menace II Society), Alpha scored an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 62/100 on Metacritic. Alpha also scored a “B+” on CinemaScore.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout, also reporting an estimated $10.5 million in ticket sales from 3,482 screens, rounded out the top five. Down 46%, Ethan Hunt and his team closed out the first month of their box office mission with a great $181 million. Fallout should pass the $195 million domestic total of 2015’s Rogue Nation within the next week. Internationally, Fallout has earned $320 million so far. The film opens in China on August 31st.
- Disney’s Christopher Robin (Disney) $8.9 million (-32%); $67 million
- BlacKkKlansman (Focus) $7 million (-35%); $23 million
- Slender Man (Sony) $4.9 million (-56%); $21 million
- Hotel Transylvania 3 (Sony) $3.6 million (-29%) $154 million
- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Universal) $3.4 million (-42%); $111 million
Next weekend sees the arrival of A.X.L. and The Happytime Murders. Neither film will pose much of a threat to Crazy Rich Asians for the number one spot.
