A weekly film and box office newsletter. Howdy, folks! We love a surprise success story. 20th Century's "Predator: Badlands" was tracking for an opening weekend around $25 million, but the well-reviewed sci-fi film overperformed to the tune of $40 million. That has to feel validating for those who argued that director Dan Trachtenberg's 2022 straight-to-Hulu prequel "Prey" should've been in theaters, and the success of "Badlands," which also picked up $40 million internationally for a worldwide opening of $80 million, solidifies the "10 Cloverfield Lane" filmmaker as the steward of this now-firmly-revived franchise. He said he has one more "Predator" idea that's just as unique as his three installments so far, and if "Badlands" doesn't fall off a cliff next weekend, odds would appear to be favorable that we'll see that come to fruition. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sydney Sweeney's well-reviewed boxing biopic "Christy" bombed with just $1.3 million from over 2,000 theaters. It's a reminder that social media/celebrity buzz does not translate to tickets sold, as Sweeney was everywhere these past few weeks promoting Black Bear's first theatrical release. Not quite as bad was Mubi's "Die My Love," which similarly saw stars Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson hitting the press circuit hard (they're hilarious together by the way — somebody put them in a rom-com!) and grossed $2.8 million from just under 2,000 screens. Mubi paid $24 million to pick Lynne Ramsay's postpartum depression marital drama up out of Cannes. Now, imagine in the gulf between the blockbuster spectacle of "Predator" and arthouse drama of "Die My Love" there was a handsomely crafted adaptation of "Frankenstein" from an Oscar-winning director playing on 2,000 screens, in all the major theater chains. Science-fiction? Maybe not for long. Find out how Netflix's theatrical cold shoulder is thawing in our lead story this week. Adam Chitwood 
Box Office: 'Predator: Badlands' Smashes Expectations, Sydney Sweeney's 'Christy' BombsDisney/20th Century’s “Predator: Badlands” is giving theaters a bigger boost after a sluggish October than expected... 
To continue reading, subscribe now with a 2-week free trial. Free for 14 Days – Then Just $4/Week 
Free for 14 days, then $4/week (billed annually at $199). Renews yearly. Cancel at anytime during your 14 day trial window to avoid this charge. |
