By Chris Kavan - 09/14/14 at 09:27 PM CT
While the box office still hasn't shaken off the early fall jitters, this weekend looked a lot better than last weekend in terms of openings and grosses. It might not be enough to turn around the fall blahs, but at least things are now heading in the right direction. It was a mix of good news as, one film topped expectations, but a family-friendly sequel wound up on the opposite end of things, coming in a bit under predictions. Still, with Guardians crossing a major milestone, things finally look to be in a turnaround and hopefully portend better things to come.
1) NO GOOD DEED
Thanks to the rising star power of Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson, the home invasion thriller No Good Deed opened on top with a $24.5 million debut. That was above the $20 million many had predicted and was in line with another similar thriller Obsessed ($28.6 million) while topping last years The Call ($17.1 million). Of note is that No Good Deed became the first movie since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (back in the second week of August) to open above the $20 million mark. The audience was mostly female (60%) and skewed older (59% over 30). They awarded it a solid "B+" Cinemascore - a very good score for this type of film. Although there are going to be a flurry of new films in the next few weeks, No Good Deed is still looking at a total of $60 million plus. A big reason for the success can be attributed to the lack of competition right now, but you can't discount the star power or the subject nature (home invasion) for bringing in some robust business. Considering the budget was a modest $13.2 million, this one is looking like a winner already.
2)
DOLPHIN TALE 2
While No Good Deed may have exceeded expectations, Dolphin Tale 2 came in a little under predictions. While most pegged this uplifting sequel to open at $20 million or above, it managed just $16.55 million in second place. That came in under the original film's $19.15 million, though the original also benefited from 3D screens. Still, it has to be seen as a slight disappointment with most of the main cast returning. It may have been a bit of "been-here-seen-that" as the sequel really didn't offer much more to the series. The movie did have a good audience reaction. scoring an "A" Cinemascore. Considering there are not many family options coming up - Dolphin Tale 2 should enjoy a decent run, topping out above the $50 million mark. Another modestly-budgeted film ($36 million) it should also sneak by with a win for the studio.
3)
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
The perennial champion was finally dethroned, but dropped just 22.4% entering its 7th weekend. The $8.04 million it brought in also helped it cross the $300 million mark - the first movie of 2014 to reach that mark, last hit by the animated Juggernaut Frozen. It now sits at $305.9 million and is still looking at a total north of $325 million.
4)
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
The Turtles also proved to have another great hold, dropping a slight 26.2% in its sixth weekend, bringing in $4.8 million and raising its total to a cool $181.04 million. It added in a some IMAX screens, likely helping it out some. As things stands, it's going to get close the $200 million mark before it exits.
5)
LET'S BE COPS
The buddy fake cop comedy continued the trend of have a light drop by falling just 22.8% in its fifth weekend. With another $4.3 million added on, Let's Be Cops now has a $72.9 million total and will cross the $75 million mark by next weekend.
Outside the top five: In a limited opening of 809 theaters, The Drop, the last film for late actor James Gandolfini, did stellar business with a $4.2 million sixth-place showing. With that kind of reaction, The Drop should do well as it expands nationwide in the coming weeks.
Another limited release, film, The Skeleton Twins (starring comedians Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader) took in $411,000 from just 15 theaters for a great per-theater average of $27,400. The film will also expand in the coming weeks.
Next week the big releases with be another tween lit big-screen adaption with The Maze Runner, The R-rated family comedy (with a well-rounded cast) in This is Where I Leave You and Liam Neeson being, well, Liam Neeson in the action thriller A Walk Among the Tombstones.
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