Neill BlomkampsChappie isnot having a great weekend: The movies been mostly slammed by critics, and it debuted with $13.3 millionjust about a quarterof its $49 million budget.
For context, Blomkamp made waves in 2009 when he releasedDistrict 9,a sci-fi film that went on to gross $115.6 million total and earn a Best Picture Oscar nod. He followed that up with 2013sElysium,which grossed $93 million and was widely considered a disappointing follow-up to the impressiveDistrict 9.Chappiewasnt expected to reachDistrict 9levels of success, but its weak premiere has already guaranteed it wont even reachElysiums lower levels of success.That one at least premiered with a much more promising $29.8 million.
But strong debut or not, Chappiestill nabbed the No. 1 spot at the box office above the weekends other new releases,The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hoteland Unfinished Business. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotelearned $8.6 million, a couple million more than its predecessors $6.4 million wide debut in 2012.Unfinished Business,a comedy headlined by Vince Vaughn, didnt fare quite as well though: The film barely made the top ten with $4.8 million, finishing behind older movies including Fifty Shades of GreyandThe Lazarus Effect.
Focustook the No. 2 spot with $10 million whileKingsman: The Secret ServiceandThe SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Waterkept their places in the top five with $8.3 million and $7 million, respectively. Those days will likely be over next weekend though whenCinderellaand Liam Neeson action flickRun All Night hit theaters and draw in both fairytale- and action-loving crowds.
1.Chappie $13.3 million2.Focus $10 million3.The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel $8.6 million4.Kingsman: The Secret Service $8.3 million5.The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water $7 million
After 11 weeks in theaters,American Sniperfinally found its way outside of the top 10but it did reach a huge milestone:Its now the highest grossing 2014 release. The title last belonged toThe Hunger Games: MockingjayPart 1,butSniperbeat it this weekend when its total domestic gross hit an estimated $337.2 millionjust a bit more thanMockingjays estimated $337 million.
Source: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/08/box-office-report-chappie
