Downton Abbeyhad the upper hand over Brad Pitt and Sylvester Stallone star vehicles last night as the Focus Features Michael Engler-directed period film raked in$ 2.1Mfrom previews at 2, 800 theaters. That figure doesn’t include the $ 2.2M whichDownton Abbeygrossed last Thursday from its first preview; in total the Carnival Film & Television co-production counts$ 4.3Mstateside.
Fox / New Regency’sAd Astracame in ahead of Millennium / Lionsgate’sRambo: Last Blood,$ 1.5Mto$ 1.3M) off 7PM showtimes.Ad Astraplayed in around 3, 100 locations whileRambowas booked at 2, 900 locations.
Ad Astra‘s start is a bit of surprise given how many are expecting this $ 80 M production (we’ve heard as high as $ 100 M before P&A) to be off to a sluggish start in the mid-to-high teens despite great reviews out of the Venice Film Festival with 81% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.Ad Astra‘s box office is underThe Martian‘ s $ 2.5M, but higher thanFirst Man‘s $ 1.1M last October which posted a $ 5.7M opening day and $ 16 M 3-day off an 87% RT fresh score.
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Will The ‘Downton Abbey’ Gang Take Out ‘Rambo’? – Weekend Box Office Preview
Rambo‘s preview cash is just under the Thursday night take of Millennium / Lionsgate’s most recent action picAngel Has Fallen($ 1.5M preview, $ 7. 95 M Friday, $ 21 .3M opening).
Comscore / Screen Engine exits show that the Thursday night male-driven crowd enjoyedRamboa bit more thanAd Astra,3 1/2 to 3 stars, and a (% to) % definite recommend.Downton Abbey,counting 73% females over 25 (who loved it the most at 91%) and 19% men over 25, had the best audience response at 4 1/2 stars and a 72% definite recommend.Ad Astra‘s demo breakdown was 46% males over 25, 30% females over 25, 15% males under 25 and 9% females under 25. Older females enjoyed the pic slightly more than older males, 75% to 72%.Rambopulled in (% M) , (*********************************************************% F 25 , (% M) – and 9% F 25 -.
Heading into the weekend, B.O. forecasters say it’s a coin toss between Focus Features’Downton AbbeyandRambo Vwinning the weekend with$ 23 M a piece, this despite the fact that the former pic has been ringing up a ton of presales ahead of such adult fare asOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mamma Mia: Here We Go AgainandThe Great Gatsby.We ‘ll see just how front-loadedRamboandAd Astraare.Rambojumps to 3, 618 theaters. Anything over $ 20 .M forRambothis weekend reps a record opening in the five-pic franchise. The sequel, which is a finale, was slaughtered by critics at 34% Rotten.
We’re seeing high presales onDownton Abbeygiven how older female moviegoers plan their visits to the theater. The Focus Features release also has critics on its side with an 85% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
STX’sHustlersfor the fourth time this week beatIt Chapter 2yesterday,$ 2. (Mto$ 1.7M. First week’s total forHustlersis $ 45 5m. Running two week total forIt Chapter 2is $ 161 .9m.Hustlersis expected to be ahead ofIt Chapter 2,$ 18 M to $ 17 M.
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