Long Range Tracking: ‘The Happytime Murders’ & ‘Slender Man’; ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp,’ ‘Equalizer 2,’ & ‘Skyscraper’ Updates

This week’s report takes a first look at several releases scheduled for August 24, along with updates on key July titles. Ant-Man and the WaspOpening Weekend Range: $70 – 90 million (up from $65-85M) Social media and general tracking footprints continue to pace slightly behind Doctor Strange and Thor: The Dark World, but remain consistent in terms of the film’s overall positive outlook now that early critics’ reviews suggest another crowd-pleaser. SkyscraperOpening Weekend Range: $30 – 50 million (down from $40-60M) A myriad of factors could still develop to help this reach the optimistic end of expectations, but the slew of male-targeted films in mid-to-late July skews models across the board. Dwayne Johnson’s latest effects-driven actioner is thus far trending more closely to Rampage than San Andreas. Given the lack of any built-in fan base...

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Thursday Night Report: ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ ($2.0M) & ‘Uncle Drew’ ($1.1M) Post Encouraging Early Results

Friday Report: Sony’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado took in a strong $2.0 million from Thursday night’s opening shows, coming in on the high end of expectations. Direct comparisons are few and far between, but that comes in notably higher than Den of Thieves‘ $950,000 start earlier this year. With summer business and the sequel factor in play, projections from the Thursday figure tend to vary, but a weekend in the mid-to-high teen millions looks very doable at this point. Uncle Drew made a splash in his own right with $1.1 million last night, setting up for a healthy weekend ahead. That figure topped the $860,000 of Boo! A Madea Halloween, although the latter film opened in fall. Again, Thursday business isn’t entirely indicative of where this film is heading, but it too could land on the high end of pre-release forecasts. More updates to follow...

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Atom Tickets Launches Independent Exhibitors Program

PRESS RELEASE _________________________________________________________ Santa Monica, CA, June 28, 2018 – Today Atom Tickets, the social movie ticketing platform, announced the launch of its Independent Exhibitors Program. The move brings independent exhibitors BG Cinema Inc, Ruby Cinemas, 8k Cinemas, Aksarben Cinema (Main Street Theatres), Midwest Movies Inc., Nexus Cinema Dining, Taylor Theatres, and Empire Cinemas to Atom’s growing network. With more than 20,000 screens and a rapidly growing list of partners, Atom is the partner of choice for exhibitors of all sizes. In order to unlock a seamless path for independent exhibitors, Atom has integrated with Veezi, the cloud-based cinema management solution for independent cinemas. Veezi is engineered by Vista Entertainment Solutions, the world leader in cinema management software solutions. “Independent cinemas...

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AMC Theatres’ Monthly Subscription Service Goes Live

PRESS RELEASE _______________________________________________________________ LEAWOOD, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– After an overwhelmingly positive response to the announcement last week, AMC Theatres® (NYSE:AMC) is excited to announce that movie-lovers can now join AMC Stubs A-List and see up to three movies per week, along with all of the benefits of AMC Stubs Premiere, for just $19.95 (plus tax). On top of those incredible benefits, through AMC Stubs A-List, members can enjoy all available showtimes*, at all AMC locations in the United States, and in all formats — including IMAX at AMC, Dolby Cinema at AMC, RealD 3D, Prime at AMC and BigD. AMC Stubs A-List members can watch movies at AMC at the spur of the moment or can plan ahead days or weeks in advance, as securing tickets is made easy via the reservations capabilities on the AMCTheatres.com web site, or on...

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They Got Game: Interview with ‘Uncle Drew’ Director Charles Stone III

It was an ingenious idea, executed perfectly. NBA star Kyrie Irving, donning hair and makeup that disguised him as a 70-year-old man, walked onto public basketball courts around the country and joined street ball games against unwitting opponents. This was the central conceit of the Uncle Drew web clips produced in 2012 to promote Pepsi Max, PepsiCo’s low-calorie and sugar-free soda, under the slogan, “A zero-calorie cola in disguise.” The clips went viral and ultimately led to the production of this summer’s Uncle Drew. The feature film uses the original web clips as a launching pad to tell the story of Dax (Lil Relationship Howery), who spends his life savings to enter a team in Harlem’s Rucker Classic street ball tournament. When his rival, Mookie (Nick Kroll), steals his squad, Dax draws upon the legendary Uncle Drew (Kyrie Irving) to assemble a team of not-quite-over-the-hill...

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Studio Weekend Estimates: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Roars to $150M; ‘Incredibles’ Soars to $80.9M in Weekend 2

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom took a T-Rex-sized bite out of the domestic box office this weekend. The sequel to 2015’s Jurassic World took in an estimated $150 million in North America over the three-day period (including Thursday night previews), bringing it in at the high end of expectations. While that’s a far cry from the $208.8 million brought in by the previous installment on its opening weekend, no one expected the follow-up to reach those same heights. By every other measure, this is a fantastic debut; among 2018 releases, it’s the fourth-biggest opening weekend of the year so far, behind only Avengers: Infinity War ($257.6 million), Black Panther ($202 million), and last weekend’s Incredibles 2 ($182.6 million). If estimates hold, it will also rank as the 20th highest debut of all time, just ahead of Furious 7 ($147.1 million) and just behind Spider-Man...

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Long Range Tracking: ‘Alpha,’ ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ & ‘Mile 22’

This week’s report focuses on early tracking for a trio of mid-August releases. There are no major updates for upcoming releases. AlphaOpening Weekend Range: $7 – 12 million Multiple release date changes and a notable shift in the film’s tone with its most recent trailer are contributing to modest activity here. Crazy Rich AsiansOpening Weekend Range: $10 – 15 million (3-day FSS) Early tracking and social trends are conservative for now, but it’s nature as the first Hollywood film in a quarter century to star an all-Asian cast could generate stronger momentum heading into August. This may be a sleeper to watch for if the novel’s fans respond well to the adaptation. Mile 22Opening Weekend Range: $12 – 17 million Mark Wahlberg should help drive his latest collaboration with director Peter Berg. Lingering competition for action fans from July’s releases and/or end-of-summer...

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Weekend Report: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Chews Up $15.3M Thursday Night Domestic Debut

Friday Report: Universal confirms this morning that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom bowed to $15.3 million from Thursday night’s first domestic showings beginning at 7pm in 3,600 theaters. That lines up with pre-release expectations as the film had been tracking for anywhere between $115 million and $140 million in its domestic opening weekend, a range that holds up with last night’s early results as the film is expected to generate more walk-up business than fan-heavy franchises reliant on massive pre-sales. Here’s how Fallen Kingdom compares to other films for the usual comparisons’ sake: 8.5 percent ahead of Solo: A Star Wars Story ($14.1 million) 18 percent behind Deadpool 2 ($18.6 million) 10 percent behind Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ($17 million) 17 percent behind Jurassic World ($18.5 million) Follow...

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AMC Launches In-House Subscription Service, AMC Stubs A-List

AMC has officially launched its own subscription service. The program, AMC Stubs A-List, will serve as an additional premium tier of the circuit’s popular Stubs loyalty program and will offer 3 admissions per week for a monthly fee of $19.95. All 3 admissions can be used within the same day, as long as the showtimes are separated by a 2-hour period, and no unused admissions will be carried over to following weeks. AMC Stubs A-List can be used at all AMC locations nationwide, including at premium format screenings like IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, Prime and BigD. Members can also book tickets online in advance, including at theaters with reserve seating capabilities, meaning audiences can reserve a seat for the opening night of a highly anticipated new film. The service will include all of the benefits from lower tiers of the Stubs loyalty program, including waived online...

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Cinemark to Build Eight-Screen, State-of-the-Art Theater in Kirkland, Washington

PRESS RELEASE ____________________________________________________________________ PLANO, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), a leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, announced its plans to build a state-of-the-art, eight-screen theatre at The Village at Totem Lake in Kirkland, Washington. The multiplex will include an XD auditorium with an immersive wall-to-wall screen and enhanced sound system. All eight auditoriums will have reserved seating and feature Cinemark’s Luxury Loungers, which are plush, oversize, electric recliner seats. The theatre will boast a café serving specialty coffee and ice cream options. Cinemark has signed a lease with the development group and has started initial phases of construction. “Bringing new entertainment options to the neighborhood helps us offer a more vibrant Village where people can shop, live, work...

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European Exhibition: Interview with Laura Houlgatte-Abbott, CEO, UNIC

Could you sum up 2017 for UNIC territories, not only in terms of box office but also legislative issues? Despite what many were predicting, 2017 has been another year of growth for the European cinema industry, with more than 1.34 billion cinema visits (+2.5% from 2016) and €8.6 billion at the box office (+1.8% from 2016). Most impressively, Russia was the biggest UNIC territory in terms of admissions for the first time, with over 212 million cinemagoers in 2017, just ahead of France and the UK. The above figures are of course very encouraging, and it’s crucial that the success of the industry is reflected in suitable legislative proposals. The commission continues to push for cross-border access to content, although the industry’s efforts in combating measures that would undermine the exclusivity of the theatrical window have been very successful in terms of the regulation...

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CJ 4DPLEX and Reel Cinemas to Bring First ScreenX to the UAE through New Partnership

PRESS RELEASE — Barcelona, Spain and Los Angeles, CA, June 14, 2018: At CineEurope this week, CJ 4DPLEX announced a new partnership with Reel Cinemas, the ultimate destination for movie-lovers in the UAE by Emaar Entertainment, to bring the first ScreenX – the world’s first multi-projection system that provides a 270-degree panoramic film viewing experience within a theatre setting – to the UAE. It will be among the first ScreenX screens ever in the Middle East. The new ScreenX screen will open at the Reel Cinemas in The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest and most visited retail and entertainment destination, which welcomes over 80 million visitors every year. Damien Latham, CEO of Emaar Entertainment, said: “At Reel Cinemas, we are constantly redefining our visitor’s experience by introducing world’s first technologies. ScreenX will be a leading addition...

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Christie marks ten years of collaboration with Shanghai International Film Festival as exclusive cinema projection partner

PRESS RELEASE — SHANGHAI – (June 18, 2018) – Christie®, a leader in creating and delivering the world’s best visual and audio experiences, is marking a decade of collaboration with the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) as the event’s exclusive cinema projection partner. “This is the tenth consecutive year that Christie has partnered with the SIFF, which is one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals in Asia, by serving as its exclusive cinema projection partner,” said Lin Yu, Vice President, Cinema Sales for Asia, Christie. “It is an honor for us be associated with the SIFF, supplying our cinema projectors...

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Studio Weekend Estimates: ‘Incredibles 2’ Smashes Animation Record w/ $180M; ‘Tag’ Opens in 3rd w/ $14.6M

Incredibles 2 more than lived up to its title this weekend, grossing more than any other animated film in history with an estimated $180 million including Thursday night previews. The Disney-Pixar release not only broke the record set by Finding Dory back in 2016, it obliterated it – outgrossing that sequel’s $135 million opening by a whopping 25 percent. If estimates hold, this will also rank as the eighth highest domestic debut of all time – just edging out Captain America: Civil War‘s $179.1 million – and the biggest opening ever for a PG-rated movie, beating Beauty and the Beast‘s $174.7 million debut from last year. Additionally, it ranks as the second-highest June opening of all time, just behind Jurassic World‘s $208.8 million. Expectations for the Disney-Pixar release became more and more optimistic in the lead-up to release, with predications soaring after...

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OVERSEAS: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Roaring to $125.3M Weekend in China, $381M International Total through Sunday

The studio’s official press release: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opened in an additional three markets this weekend, including China, where it has an estimated opening weekend of $125.3 million (RMB 815 million). Including holdovers from 48 markets, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will gross an estimated $184.7 million for the weekend bringing the estimated International total through Sunday to $381 million. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has now opened No. 1 in all 51 territories where it’s released prior to its North American opening. With this weekend’s results, the Jurassic Park franchise will cross $4 billion worldwide and breaks into the top 10 franchises of all time, counting only five films. Some highlights out of China include: Jurassic...

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Long Range Forecast: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ & ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Updates, Early Look at ‘The Meg’

This week’s report focuses on two upcoming tentpoles, plus an early analysis for an August 10 release. Jurassic World: Fallen KingdomOpening Weekend Range: $125 – 145 million Middling reviews from early screenings are a notable factor ahead of next week’s release, although the sequel’s social media footprint remains healthy as it outpaces Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. With over $151 million in the overseas bank so far, the sequel still has a positive global outlook ahead of it despite competition from the World Cup beginning this weekend. Still, we’re slightly lowering our domestic opening range this weekend, previously marked at $130-150 million. Ant-Man and the WaspOpening Weekend Range: $65 – 85 million First appearing on traditional tracking metrics this week, Marvel’s upcoming sequel registered interest levels slightly further behind Thor: The Dark World and Doctor...

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Thursday Night: ‘Incredibles 2’ Doubles Animated Record Launch w/ $18.5M; ‘Tag’ Catches $1.325M

Friday Update: Disney announced this morning that Pixar’s Incredibles 2 blasted off to a massive $18.5 million, more than doubling the previous record Thursday night opening for an animated title — formerly Finding Dory‘s $9.2 million. An anonymous studio confirms that figure includes earnings from Wednesday night’s double features, although those did not contribute a significant amount to the total. All told, this is quite simply unprecedented territory for an animated film. For reference, Incredibles 2 even soared past the Thursday night openings of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ($17 million) and Spider-Man: Homecoming ($15.4 million), while matching Jurassic World ($18.5 million). Weekend projections are highly volatile at this stage as this kind of performance almost certainly indicates that the film is performing...

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Cinionic Named Exclusive Laser Projection Partner for Kinepolis Theaters

PRESS RELEASE ________________________________________________________________ Kortrijk, Belgium – June 13, 2018 – Cinionic, the Barco cinema joint venture, will be the exclusive laser projection partner for Kinepolis, launching the replacement wave by outfitting hundreds of existing and new screens with Barco laser over the next three years across Western Europe and Canada. Laser powers the premium experience in every auditorium Citing the wide breadth of Barco’s laser projector portfolio – more than 18 projectors – Kinepolis will deploy the full complement of Smart Laser models throughout its circuit, which now includes Canadian based Landmark Cinemas acquired last year. Cinionic will provide the perfect match for every screen, from smaller cinemas to complete multiplexes, including future “Laser Ultra” premium large format (PLF) venues. “After fantastic results from...

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Still No Capes!: Pixar launches a sequel to one of its most beloved films with ‘Incredibles 2’

Typical teenager Tony Rydinger has just asked out his classmate Violet Parr and is enjoying a sunny day outside a track and field competition. Suddenly a supervillain bursts out from underground with a gigantic drill hundreds of feet long. Proclaiming himself “The Underminer,” he threatens his device will destroy the entire peaceful city of Municiberg. “I am always beneath you,” he declares, “but nothing is beneath me!” Suddenly, a family of five appears on the scene, dressed in red, black, and yellow superhero outfits. Tony blinks his eyes in disbelief. One of the superheroes, a teenage girl with the power to create force fields using only her bare hands, looks suspiciously like someone he knows … So begins Incredibles 2, in theaters June 15, the newest Disney release from animation powerhouse studio Pixar. This new entry’s story opens mere moments after the conclusion...

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