Box Office: Zootopia Passes $400-M Mark

$DIS, $LGF, $SNE, $VIA

Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘The Brothers Grimsby’ DOA, ‘The Young Messiah’ and ‘The Perfect Match’ fall flat.

‘Zootopia’ earns $50-M in its 2nd frame to past the $400-M mark at the box office worldwide.

Disney Animation Studios’ (NYSE:DIS) Zootopia continued to rule, and the JJ Abrams-produced 10 Cloverfield Lane opened to a pleasing $25.2-M in North America.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy The Brothers Grimsby debuted with $3.2-M, the worst opening of all time for the British comedian, and The Young Messiah and The Perfect Match opened weak too.

Lionsgate’s (NYSE:LGF) The Divergent Series: Allegiant began rolling out a week ahead of its NA box office debut, grossing $26.7-M from 45 markets.

10 Cloverfield Lane, playing in 3,391 theaters, is a win for Paramount, a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ:VIA) and Abrams.

10 Cloverfield Lane, costing a modest $13-M to make, earned a B- CinemaScore and stars John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr.

Brothers Grimsby, coming in #8, was hammered by many critics and received a B+ CinemaScore. Sony (NYSE:SNE) took over distribution duties from Paramount in Y 2014 and planned to unfurl the pic in July 2015. But following the hack and a change in leadership, the film’s release was pushed back several times, eventually opening on 11 March.

The R-rated comedy, cost $60-M to make before rebates, will lose money for Sony and co-financing partners LStar Capital and Village Roadshow Pictures.

 

The Young Messiah and new romantic comedy The Perfect Match both beat Brothers Grimsby. Perfect Match fared the best among the 3 new opens.

Perfect Match debuted to $4.2-M, placing #6. Queen Latifah executive produced the pic.

The Young Messiah, based on Anne Rice’s book about Jesus as a boy, opened at # 7 with $3.4-M from 1,761 theaters. The film, distributed by Focus Features, garnered an A- CinemaScore.

Deadpool continued strong, coming in # 3 with $10.8-M for a domestic box office total of $328.1-M.

London Has Fallen followed with $10.7-M in its 2nd weekend for a $38.9-M box office take.

Tina Fey’s comedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot came in #5, making up ground after a disappointing start last weekend. The war dramedy fell 38% to $4.6-M for a domestic box office take of $14.6-M.

At the specialty box office

Gavin Hood’s Eye in the Sky, debuted in 5 theaters to $117,050 for a location average of $23,410, a solid number. Helen Mirren, and Alan Rickman star in the British film.

Sally Field’s Hello, My Name Is Doris debuted in 4 theaters, earning $85,240 for a location average of $21,301. The well-reviewed film marks Ms. Field’s 1st starring role in a feature film in 10 years,  and tells the story of a 60+ woman who falls for a much younger co-worker.

Have some fun, see a movie this week.

HeffX-LTN

Paul Ebeling

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