Disney’s “Tron: Ares” will light up the top of the box office in its debut, though the sci-fi entry is coming in dimmer than its projections. Meanwhile, the Channing Tatum caper “Roofman” looks headed for a second place bow.
The “Tron” threequel earned $14.3 million across Friday and previews from 4,000 venues (that includes early access screenings on Wednesday ahead of the wider traditional Thursday rollout.) Pre-weekend tracking had forecast a debut north of $45 million — a range that’s now likely well out of reach. It’s also pacing behind the prior series entry “Tron: Legacy,” which nabbed a $17.5 million opening day in 2010 on its way to a $44 million first frame. Reviews have been mediocre for “Ares,” while audiences were slightly more positive. Survey firm Cinema Score polled a “B+” grade among moviegoers.
It’s a slow start for Disney, which spent a big $180 million on the PG-13 franchise revival. Pegged as one of the few big-budget IP plays to release between the summer and Thanksgiving, “Ares” is banking on international audiences to hit a profit in theaters. “Tron” has always been something between retro cult object and commercial force. The original was only the 22nd-biggest North American release of 1982, while “Legacy” hit $400 million globally against a $170 million budget.
Franchise newcomers Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Evan Peters lead “Tron: Ares,” with the series’ original star Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn. Joachim Rønning directs, after serving as a steady hand for Disney on the final “Pirates of the Caribbean” entry, a “Maleficent” sequel and the Daisy Ridley drama “Young Woman and the Sea.” Disney marketing has also emphasized the original score by Nine Inch Nails, after Daft Punk was celebrated for its work on “Tron: Legacy.”
Paramount’s “Roofman” is also coming in on the lower side of tracking, after earning $3.25 million across Friday and previews from 3,362 locations. The ripped-from-the-headlines comedic thriller is hoping to meet its pre-weekend forecast for a debut of at least $8 million.
Miramax developed, produced and financed the R-rated “Roofman” on a slim $19 million budget and Paramount put some promotional force behind it with a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film has enjoyed good critical buzz, while Cinema Score turned in a “B+” grade. The studio hopes that will translate into solid word-of-mouth after a modest debut.
“Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines” director Derek Cianfrance went for something sunnier with “Roofman,” which stars Tatum as a friendly criminal who robbed dozens of McDonald’s locations before escaping prison and living in a Toys “R” Us. The ensemble is a deep bench, with Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn and Uzo Aduba.
Also opening this weekend, Sony is releasing Affirm Films’ “Soul on Fire” at 1,720 locations. The drama, a return to faith-based true stories from “Soul Surfer” director Sean McNamara, is vying for a fifth place bow after earning $1.3 million across Friday and previews. Projections are for a $3 million opening weekend. The target audience loves it, turning in an “A” grade on Cinema Score.
Meanwhile, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” is barely registering after earning just $343,000 across Friday and previews in a semi-wide release of 1,330 locations. It will struggle to open in the top 10. The R-rated adaptation of the Tony-winning Kander and Ebb musical debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival to respectful reviews, but was only acquired in March by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate. The production was independently financed for more than $30 million; the theatrical release won’t be profitable for the film’s backers after an opening like this. Jennifer Lopez, Gabriel Luna and Tonatiuh star, while Bill Condon directs.
On its third Friday, Warner Bros.’ awards season pony “One Battle After Another” earned $2 million — showing a 41% drop from its daily total a week ago. The very contemporary epic, from auteurist favorite Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, lost what premium large formats auditoriums it still had to “Tron: Ares.” It’s headed for another good hold, but with a $49.8 million domestic total after 15 days, the path to theatrical profitability looks ever narrower for the expensive R-rated original. Maybe it can have the last laugh at the Oscars.
Universal’s “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” is staying in fourth with $920,000 on Friday and projections for a $3.7 million third weekend, down just 30% from its last outing. Domestic total looks to hit just $26.7 million through Sunday on the $32 million DreamWorks Animation production.
Still vying for the top five, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” earned another $900,000 on Friday, down just 27% from its daily total last week. Over a month into its run, Warner Bros. and New Line’s horror sequel has now hit a $170.4 million domestic total.
Notably, the bottom is falling out on “The Smashing Machine,” which failed to register last weekend with a third place opening of $5.9 million. The Dwayne Johnson drama, directed by Benny Safdie and positioned as an awards hopeful, earned about $530,000 on Friday for a sharp 72% plummet from its daily total a week ago. Representing A24’s most expensive production yet, at a $50 million budget, it is fading fast from theaters.
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