Terrible Box Office Summer Bleeds into First Fall Weekend, as ‘Guardians’ Wins Again

Not a lot of people went to the movies this weekend

Chris Pratt

If you’re looking for some alone time this Sunday, here’s a recommendation: Go to the movies.

The weekend after Labor Day has been historically slow, and this year, theater receipts have been particularly moribund. In total, it looks as if multiplexes will take a huge drop from last year’s $84 million; that weekend was buoyed by Vin Diesel‘s “Riddick” making over $19 million in its opening weekend.

Also read: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Topping Box Office Again as Hollywood Parties in Toronto

Diesel plays a part (albeit much smaller) of this year’s post-Labor Day winner, as well, Marvel/Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” will retain its title for the fourth time with an estimated $10.16 million weekend. The winning weekend puts the James Gunn-directed space adventure at $294 million domestic since it was released at the beginning of August.

“Guardians,” starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista (with help from Diesel and Bradley Cooper), has made over $586 million globally, with $43 million coming from the UK and $36 million from Russia. It will open next week in Japan, and on October 10 in China.

Also read: 9 Burning Fall Movie Questions: Will ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ be Blessed? Who Will Grinch Flinch?

Second place goes to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” which stuffed $6.5 million into its half-shell to bring its domestic total to $174 million. It is up to over $280 million worldwide.

“If I Stay,” the Warner Bros. YA weeper starring Chloe Grace Moretz, made $5.75 million, taking its three week total to just under $40 million. Finishing just shy of a medal were Fox’s “Lets Be Cops” ($5.4 million), Relativity’s “The November Man” ($4.2 million), Sony’s “When The Game Stands Tall” ($3.7 million), and Universal’s “As Above/So Below” ($3.7 million). DreamWorks/Disney’s “The 100 Foot Journey” made $3.2 million.

The weekend’s only new semi-wide release, Freestyle’s “The Identical,” flopped even harder than expected, with $1.9 million. Its terrible reviews, coupled with the traditionally slow football-focused weekend, made for the perfect storm that kept people away from theaters.

Also read: How ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Brought Rocket Raccoon and Groot to Life

The same weekend last year solid second, third, and fourth place films: “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” made $8.4 million, Spanish hit “Instructions Not Included” scored $8.15 million, and “We’re the Millers” took in $7.6 million. All three of those would have won second place this year.

On the bright side for Hollywood, a few potential hits are coming soon, including Liam Neeson‘s “A Walk Among the Tombstones” and Denzel Washington‘s “The Equalizer.”

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