Till and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

By Chris Kavan - 09/07/22 at 12:10 PM CT

As the we enter what's looking to be a very long and depressing September at the box office, Labor Day weekend offered $3 tickets and the return of a web-slinging hero, though it was Top Gun: Maverick that once again flew past the competition - and back into first place. Overall, however, it was still a dire weekend, the $55.18 million was just a bit ahead of last week's $52.1 million but still represents one of the lowest-grossing weekends of the year. And that it probably going to be as good as it gets as the rest of September is a literal dead zone for wide release prospects. And as far as the ratings bulletin - the MPAA is once again being stingy with another week of a single wide release.

The big news over the weekend was National Cinema Day where tickets were just $3 - and it did lead the biggest Saturday of the year - for volume, but not grosses, as 8.1 million people took advantage of the deal. And what film was the big winner for the extended weekend? Top Gun: Maverick, of course, with Tom Cruise's latest now being able to boast being the only film to top both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Even after 15 weeks, people can't get enough as the film brought in $6 million for the weekend (a bump of nearly 28% above last weekend) - rising to $7.9 million by Monday and topping $701 million domestic, beating out Black Panther ($700.43 million) for fifth place on the all-time domestic charts. Maverick has also earned over $1.44 billion worldwide at this point as well - and it already topping PVOD charts even as it plays out in theaters.

Coming in second was Bullet Train - the Brad Pitt actioner charted $5.78 million for the weekend (a modest 3.1% increase over last week) and $7.5 million including Labor Day, giving the film a new $88 million total. It is approaching $200 million worldwide at this point and it looks like the $90 million production will enjoy at least a slight positive return overall.

In third place for the weekend was Spider-Man: No Way Home - The More Fun Stuff Version re-release with 11 minutes of additional footage. Although the web-slinger and his multi-verse friends were projected to win the weekend, it fell short when finals came in with a $5.4 million weekend and a $6.5 million Labor Day - actually falling to fourth place with the holiday factored in. Still, that gives No Way Home a new $811.6 million total. I think they waited a bit too long to capitalize on the fervor as Maverick seems to have stolen its nostalgic thunder.

In fourth place, family-friendly DC League of Super-Pets enjoyed a nice 21.7% bump for the weekend with a $5 million showing and leap-frogged No Way Home to land in third place on Labor Day with a $6.76 million total. That gives the animated title a new $82.11 million domestic total and even though it has only $161 million worldwide on a $90 million budget, it has shown decent legs and may yet turn a profit, albeit a small one.

Rounding out the top five, horror film The Invitation took a 28.3% tumble from first place and made off with $4.87 million for the weekend and $6.11 million including the holiday. That gives the Nathalie Emmanuel-led thriller a $15.16 million domestic total, which is low, but still should ultimately work out for the $10 million-budgeted film. Like most films of late, even a small profit is better than none.

Outside the top five: Jaws was also re-released for the holiday and Steven Spielberg's iconic shark blockbuster added in $3.34 million (9th place) for the time frame.

The weekend's only true NEW wide release, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. opened in 1,880 theaters but didn't find much of an audience with just $1.73 million (14th place) for the holiday weekend.

Next week brings us the horror title Barbarian, action film Medieval and Indian film Brahmastra Part One: Shiva and could potentially also brings us the lowest-grossing weekend since the pandemic hit.

MPAA Official Logo

In what's becoming a too-familiar pattern of late with the MPAA Ratings Bulletin, I have but one film to share this week, but it looks to pack quite a punch as it tackles a serious subject in an emotional biopic.

The focus of Till is not just the lynching of a young Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) but the journey of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler) to get justice for her son - and bring change and healing to a nation. A story of grief, yes - but also love and one that looks to truly give a jolt to the audience. The film co-stars Frankie Faison, Whoopi Goldberg, John Douglas Thompson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Haley Bennett, Gem Marc Collins, Diallo Thompson, Tyrik Johnson and Enoch King. We'll find out if such a powerful film can move audiences and have an appearance during awards season. Rated PG-13 for thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images and racial slurs.

That is your one bone for the week, but you can check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:

BARDO

Rated R for language throughout, strong sexual content and graphic nudity.


THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Rated PG-13 for some language, a suggestive reference, brief partial nudity and drug references.


DANGEROUS GAME: THE LEGACY MURDERS

Rated R for strong violence, gore, and language throughout.


THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.


HOLIDAY HARMONY

Rated PG for some suggestive material, thematic elements and a brief drug reference.


LE PUPILLE

Rated PG for thematic elements.


PRANCER: A CHRISTMAS TALE

Rated PG for language, some action/peril and thematic elements.


SHOWING UP

Rated R for brief graphic nudity.


THE STORIED LIVE OF A.J. FIKRY

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some suggestive material and thematic elements.


TILL

Rated PG-13 for thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images and racial slurs.


US OR THEM

Rated R for strong violence, gore, and language throughout.


THE WONDER

Rated R for some sexuality.

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