This summer is likely to make multiple studios reconsider their production and marketing strategies moving forward. Movies like The Lone Ranger and Pacific Rim were expected to be huge hits and weren't able to find their audience in the US. While The Wolverine can't be considered a failure, it certainly underperformed in its opening weekend as well.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine opened to $85 million in 2009 and early projections had The Wolverine at around the same number for its opening weekend. When the movie opened on Thursday night, Fox was still hoping for an opening in the mid-60 million range, but even that didn't happen by the time the weekend estimates came in. It's not the end of the world for The Wolverine, though. Its international ticket sales should easily keep this movie profitable for Fox. Currently, the movie has made $86 million internationally.
The real winner this weekend is The Conjuring. In its second weekend, the R-rated horror movie earned $22 million. The movie was produced for only $20 million and has earned $83 million in the US since opening. This Conjuring should have no problem crossing the $100 million mark and a sequel is already in the early stages of development.
Pacific Rim brought its US total up to $84 million this weekend, but it's real strength has been international ticket sales. To date, the movie has earned $224 million worldwide. It's not what Warner Bros. and Legendary were hoping for, but we wouldn't rule out a sequel moving forward if the international numbers continue to hold strong.
Next week sees the wide release of The Smurfs 2 on Wednesday and 2 Guns on Friday. Cockneys vs. Zombies will also have a limited theatrical release. Here are the top ten results for this weekend:
1. The Wolverine - $55,000,000
2. The Conjuring - $22,130,000
3. Despicable Me 2 - $16,024,000
4. Turbo - $13,325,000
5. Grown Ups 2 - $11,500,000
6. Red 2 - $9,400,000
7. Pacific Rim - $7,540,000
8. The Heat - $6,850,000
9. R.I.P.D. - $5,857,000
10. Fruitvale Station - $4,657,000
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