By Chris Kavan - 11/03/21 at 11:52 AM CT
This week we have a couple of new films on the ratings front and on the box office front October goes out with a whimper. A new pair of horror films couldn't break into the top five leading to a surprise new entry instead. While the final weekend in October was a bit of a letdown, it didn't stop the month from becoming the highest-grossing of the year - the first time October has ever held that distinction - thanks to the likes of No Time to Die, Dune and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Now we'll see how the last two months shape up with plenty of big films yet to come.
Taking the first place spot for the second week in a row, Denis Villeneuve's Dune dipped 62.4% and brought in $15.4 million, giving the star-studded sci-fi epic a new $69.2 million total. That hold is better than previous Warner Bros. films this year, which fell in the 70-75% range in their respective second weekends. With marketing pushing this film as being a big screen experience, a hefty $17 million of its total has come from IMAX screens. Dune continues to be a big draw overseas as well, where it has amassed a $227 million with a worldwide total fast approaching the $300 million mark. Profitability is still up in the air, but it has done well enough to fast-track a sequel (and hopefully even more) so at least that is not a questions anymore.
In second place with find the horror film of choice for the scary holiday, Halloween Kills, which held on to its spot while falling a light 39.5%. That was enough for a $8.74 million weekend and a new $85.8 million total. The film has taken in an additional $29.5 million overseas for a global total just over $115 million - certainly one of the more successful horror film this year.
In third place, No Time to Die dipped 36.5% for a $7.7 million weekend and a new $133.2 million total. The big news for Bond, however, was its long-awaited debut in China but the big news was muted when China locked down 13% of its theaters due to Covid protocols. That left Bond hanging and the series, in one of its most lucrative markets, could only muster a $27.8 million opening. Still, that meant No Time to Die crossed the $600 million worldwide mark, joining F9 as the only other North American film to hit that mark this year.
In fourth place was not a new horror film, but a new anime film. My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission, the third entry in the popular franchise, dark horsed its way to a $6.4 million opening - and proved once again that this series has a big legion of fans. The series has also earned nearly $30 million overseas, putting its worldwide total above the $35 million mark.
Rounding out the top five, Venom: Let There Be Carnage beat out the two horror newcomers to hang on its position with a $5.7 million weekend (off 38.2%) and a new $190.44 million total, still looking promising to top $200 million before it ends its run. With $205.4 million overseas, the film is also approaching the $400 million worldwide mark as well.
Outside the top five we find the two new horror films that landed in the sixth and seventh spots respectively. Coming out just ahead was Antlers, a folk monster tale set in rural Oregon starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons. Despite having a worse critical response (at 60%) and audience reaction ("C+" Cinemascore) it topped Last Night in Soho with a $4.27 million opening.
Edgar Wright's fever dream had to settled for the next spot down with $4.17 million with a 74% Fresh and a "B+" Cinemascore. That has to be seen as a letdown for sure given it stars the red-hot Anya Taylor-Joy, along with Thomasin McKenzie, Diana Rigg, Matt Smith and Terence Stamp. I thought it was a good film and if you liked Wright's previous films - and the 60s aesthetic, you should really give it a chance.
Also of note this week, Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch expanded into 788 theaters, jumping 92.9% in the process and breaking into the top 10 with a $2.6 million weekend and a new $4.47 million total. I'm hoping this continues to expand as I would like to see this one myself.
Next week brings us Marvel's next cinematic adventure in The Eternals, and even though everyone is focusing on how this is the MCU's first "rotten" film, it's still expected to open to about $70 million.
That brings us to this week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin where we find Zachary Levi pulling double duty as a true American underdog and the father of a truly inspirational son. I guess his inspirational clout is off the charts.
The start of our feel-good update begins with football - no, not soccer, the "true" American version. While biopics of teams and players can be all over the place, most do prove quite effective from Mark Wahlberg in Invincible to James Caan and Billy Dee Williams in Brian's Song. Zachary Levi is going to join the club with American Underdog as future two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. But Warner's story is about the journey - from stocking store shelves to a career full of ups and downs to a wide range of support he receives to persevere, especially from wife Brenda (Anna Paquin). The supporting cast also includes the likes of Dennis Quaid, Adam Baldwin, Bruce McGill and Chance Kelly. The success of failure of any "true life" story is about how they treat the subject - I'm not expecting American Underdog to be as dramatic or intense as, say, Spencer, but I'm hoping they don't make this too corny and keep it more down-to-earth, but we'll have to wait on that. Rated PG for some language and thematic elements.
Not content with just one piece of inspirational piece this week, Levi returns with another sure-to-make-you-cry film in Unbreakable Boy. From football star to supportive father, Levi plays the father of Austin LeRette (Jacob Laval), a young boy not only dealing with autism, but also the rare brittle-bone disease. But instead of seeing his son as a broken boy, he sees the joy and life-affirming life of his indestructible spirit. Keep your Kleenex handy for this one, folks. Also stars Patricia Heaton, Meghann Fahy, Drew Powell and Gavin Warren. Rated PG for strong thematic material, alcohol abuse, language and some violence.
Those are the two major films for this week, but you can check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
AMERICAN UNDERDOG
Rated PG for some language and thematic elements.
BELLE
Rated PG for thematic content, violence, language and brief suggestive material.
THE BUBBLE
Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, drug use and some violence.
CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED
Rated R for some sexual content and language.
THE COMMANDO
Rated R for strong violence, language throughout and some drug use.
DESPERATE RIDERS
Rated PG-13 for violence including brief sexual assault.
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY
Rated R for language, some sexual content/nudity and violence.
FUNNY THING ABOUT LOVE
Rated PG for brief rude humor.
THE LADY OF HEAVEN
Rated R for strong/bloody violence.
RUN & GUN
Rated R for violence and language.
SHATTERED
Rated R for violence, bloody images, sexual content, nudity, and language throughout.
THE SOUND OF VIOLET
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexually suggestive material, some violence and
drug material.
THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS
Rated PG for thematic content, peril, some language, unsettling images and smoking.
UNBREAKABLE BOY
Rated PG for strong thematic material, alcohol abuse, language and some violence.
