After a lackluster 4th of July holiday at thebox office, Universal’s animated comedyThe Secret Life of Petsbreathed new life into the sagging summer season last weekend with a whopping $104.3 million. This surprise hit will face two newcomers this Friday, Sony’sGhostbustersreboot and Broad Green Pictures’The Infiltrator, starringBryan Cranston. If our predictions are accurate, it should be a close call at the box office, withGhostbustersjust barely beating outThe Secret Life of Petswith $64 million.
Animated films don’t normally suffer huge drops like manysummer blockbusters, so we’re predicting thatSecret Life of Petswill drop 40%, which would would put its second weekend total at $62.5 million. Of course, with the top two so close together, it could very well turn out the other way around, withThe Secret Life of Petsrepeating atop the box office, so we’ll have to wait and see.Box Office Mojoreports thatGhostbusterswill debut in more than 3,700 theaters, whileThe Infiltratordoesn’t have a theater count estimate. Both movies are faring well with critics, though, withGhostbustersearning a 77% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, withThe Infiltratorscoring a 69% “Fresh” rating on the site.
Universal and Illumination Entertainment’sSecret Life of Petswas also a hit with critics this weekend, earning a solid 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The opening weekend rollout of 4,370 theaters was the fifth widest of all time, behindHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2(4,375),Iron Man 2(4,380),The Dark Knight Rises(4,404) andThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse(4,468). The movie has already turned a profit, since it was produced under a $75 million, and it has also made an additional $42.7 million internationally for a worldwide total of $147.1 million.
For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the folks on two legs leave for work and school. That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur, and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks. The buildings top dog, Max (voiced byLouis C.K.) a quick witted terrier rescue who’s convinced he sits at the center of his owner’s universe, finds his pampered life rocked when she brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a sloppy, massive mess of a mongrel with zero interpersonal skills. When this reluctant canine due find themselves out on the mean streets pf New York, they have to set aside their differences and unite against a fluffy-yet cunning bunny named Snowball (Kevin Hart), who’s building an army of ex-pets abandoned by their owners and out to turn the tables on humanity…all before dinner time.
Ghostbustersmakes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, directorPaul Feigbrings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today -Melissa McCarthy,Kristen Wiig,Kate McKinnon,Leslie Jones, andChris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world! The supporting cast is rounded out byAndy Garciaas the mayor of New York City,Michael K. Williamsas Hawkins,Matt Walshas Rourke,Pat Kiernanas a news anchor and Neil Casey as the human villain Rowan, along with cameos from originalGhostbustersstarsBill Murray,Dan Aykroyd,Sigourney Weaver,Annie PottsandErnie Hudson.
This week’s other new release,The Infiltrator, is based on the true story of Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston), a federal customs and excise agent who lived the high life of Colombia’s most powerful cartels while using his undercover alias “Bob Musella,” all the while recording damning evidence that culminated in a major takedown at a staged wedding. His target under Operation C-Chase was bankers who manipulated complex international finance systems in order to launder money for drug lords like Pablo Escobar, and ultimately proved critical in the conviction of General Manuel Noriega. The top 5 will be rounded out byFinding Dory($13.4 million),The Legend of Tarzan($11.5 million) andMike and Dave Need Wedding Dates($9.1 million).
The top 10 will be rounded out byThe Purge: Anarchy($6 million),The Infiltrator($5.8 million),Central Intelligence($4.2 million),Independence Day: Resurgence($3.8 million) andThe BFG($3.5 million). Also opening in limited release is Lionsgate’sCafe Society, the latest fromWoody Allen, A24’sEquals, GKIDS’Phantom Boy, Independent’sUndraftedand Quality Flix’s documentaryHillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party. It isn’t known if any of these limited release movies will expand in the weeks to come.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount will roll out their long-awaited sequelStar Trek Beyond, which will go up against Warner Bros. thrillerLights Outand 20th Century Fox’s animated sequelIce Age: Collision Coursein theaters. Also opening in limited release is Fox Searchlight’sAbsolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Mirror Images Ltd.‘sBeta Test, The Film Arcade’sDon’t Think Twice, Reliance Big Pictures’Madaari, Strand’sSummertimeand Well Go USA’sTrain to Busan. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, but in the meantime, take a look at our projections for this weekend at the box office.
