Box Office: James Bond & Charlie Brown Energize Moviegoers Worldwide
$SNE, $FOX
Overseas, ‘Spectre’ took in $117.8-M for an early worldwide total of $300-M after opening in the UK 2 weeks ago, ‘Spotlight’ shines at the specialty box office, where ‘Brooklyn’ is also off to a solid start.
James Bond, Charlie Brown & his gang brought out North American moviegoers as Spectre launched to $73-M from 3,972 theaters, the 2nd-biggest opening for any film in the franchise, and 1 of the top showings of the year to date.
Overseas, Spectre dominated, grossing $117.8-M from 76 markets for a global weekend take of $190.8-M and early worldwide total of $300-M so far. It placed #1 everywhere.
The Peanuts Movie opened to $45-M from 3,897 locations, a good start on an old theme in the US, Peanuts launched in a few foreign markets this weekend, including China, where it opened to a poor $2.8-M.
Overall box office revenue at the weekend is expected to come in at $162-M, a record for the 1st full weekend in November. And good news for Hollywood following a string of big DOA’s.
Spectre is James Bond’s 24th trip to theaters did not match the $88.4-M domestic box office debut of Skyfall in November 2012, the series best, but beat the openings of Casino Royale ($40.8-M) and Quantum of Solace ($67.5-M). All 4 films star Daniel Craig as Agent 007.
Sony (NYSE:SNE), MGM and Eon Productions, partners on the film. “It’s a fantastic start,” said Sony worldwide distribution president. “On every continent, including Latin America, Asia and Europe it is breaking Skyfall records. It opened to a massive $20.1-M box office in Germany posting the biggest Saturday of all time. Spectre has yet to open in China, Japan, Australia and France.
And, after making history in the UK with the biggest opening of all time, Spectre fell just 29% in its 2nd frame there to jump the $100-M mark and put it ahead of Skyfall.
The film earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences. Spectre played heavily male (62%) and older, with 75% of ticket buyers over the age of 25.
The film cost at least $250-M to produce after incentives and rebates, so will need to do sizable business at the global box office, or $900-M+ by some estimates. Skyfall grossed $1.1-B all in.
The Peanuts Movie, costing just under $100-M to produce, coincides with the 65th anni of the comic strip and the 50th anni of its classic TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
From Fox Animation (NASDAQ:FOX), and Blue Sky Studios, Peanuts is a family affair, with Schulz’s son, Craig, and grandson, Bryan, co-writing the screenplay with Cornelius Uliano. In agreeing to hand over the film rights the Schulz Family was insistent on retaining a certain amount of creative control.
Peanuts enjoys strong reviews, as well as boasting an A CinemaScore.
Families turned out in force (70%), while the audience skewed female (55%). Peanuts also played to an ethnically diverse audience.
The story follows Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the gang as they embark on an epic quest when Snoopy takes to the skies to pursue the Red Baron.
The holdovers
Fox and Ridley Scott’s The Martian came in # 3 domestically in its 6th frame with $9.3-M for a domestic box office of $197.1-M, Scott’s top showing of all time, not accounting for inflation.
Sony’s family film Goosebumps placed # 4 in its 4th frame with $7-M for a North American box office total of $66.5-M.
Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks, rounded out the Top 5 with $6.1-M for a domestic box office take of $55-M.
Awards season is heating up,and the specialty box office saw the debut of 3 titles in select theaters.
John Crowley’s period drama Brooklyn, starring Saoirse Ronan, Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight , starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams; and Jay Roach’s Trumbo, starring Bryan Cranston.
Have some fun, see a movie this week.
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
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