Universal’s “American Made” is currently in a tight race against “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and “It” for the top spot at this weekend’s box office. Estimates currently have the R-Rated Tom Cruise crime film making $16.5 million from 3,024 screens this weekend, matching the mid-teens pre-weekend projection from independent trackers.
Meanwhile, “Kingsman” is estimated to make virtually the same amount in its second weekend after making $39 million last week, while “It” is just barely behind with a $16.3 million weekend. “It” has now passed “Gravity” to become the highest grossing film released between Labor Day and Halloween.
“American Made” has earned critical acclaim off the back of Cruise’s performance, earning an 87 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences also enjoyed the film, giving it a B+ on CinemaScore. But despite the praise, this film is still on pace to be Cruise’s lowest domestic opening in five years.
Cruise’s last film that grossed less that $20 million in its opening weekend is 2012’s “Jack Reacher,” which made $15.2 million. It should be noted that except for the 2016 sequel to that film and “American Made” — which has a reported $50 million budget — all of Cruise’s movies since “Jack Reacher” had production budgets well north of $100 million and thus much larger marketing campaigns. The two films that “American Made” is in a virtual tie with also target the young adult male demographic that this crime film is aiming for, making it more difficult to grab viewers’ attention.
Outside the top 3 logjam, “The Lego Ninjago Movie” is expected to take fourth with $11.8 million in its second weekend. In fifth is Columbia Pictures’ “Flatliners,” which is underperforming with an estimated $5.5 million from 2,552 screens after scoring a hard zero percent from Rotten Tomatoes. The $19 million film is looking like it will even fall short of studio projections, which were set at $7-8 million.
Also releasing wide this weekend is Fox Searchlight’s “Battle of the Sexes,” which is pacing to make $3-5 million from 1,213 screens this weekend.
7 Biggest Fall Box Office Showdowns, Including 'Ninjago' vs 'Kingsman' (Photos)
"Thor: Ragnarok," "Justice League" and "Star Wars" will surely dominate the box office in the remaining months of 2017. But along with those would-be blockbusters are several smaller films competing for moviegoers' attention. Here are the seven head-to-head box office showdowns to look out for this fall.
Sept. 15: “mother!” vs. “American Assassin”: If its trailer and NSFW poster are any indication, Darren Aronofsky’s horror show looks like its going to be as terrifying and unforgiving a movie as one can expect. While critical acclaim could give it a boost, “American Assassin” has more crowd pleasing elements with “Teen Wolf” star Dylan O’Brien in the lead, and a story based on Vince Flynn’s best-selling Mitch Rapp novels.
Sept. 22: "The Lego Ninjago Movie" vs. "Kingsman the Golden Circle": Like its "Lego Movie" predecessors, "Ninjago" should be a big draw for family audiences who haven't had a major film for them since "Despicable Me 3" and "The Emoji Movie." Facing it is the R-rated "Kingsman" sequel, which will aim to turn the cult following its predecessor earned into a strong opening.
Sept. 29:"Flatliners" vs. "American Made": After starring in the critically maligned "Mummy" remake this summer, Tom Cruise will star in "American Made," which tells the true story of an an airline pilot who becomes a drug smuggler and later a DEA informant. Facing it will be Columbia's "Flatliners," a sequel to the 1990 cult hit about experiments that induce near-death experiences.
Oct. 20: "Only the Brave" vs. "Geostorm" vs. "The Snowman" vs. "Boo! 2": A quartet of wild card releases hit theaters in the third weekend of October. The one that has the best shot of a strong opening is "Boo! 2," the latest film in Tyler Perry's popular "Madea" series. The first "Boo!" made $28.5 million in its opening weekend.
Oct. 27: "Jigsaw" vs. "Suburbicon": It was only a matter of time before the "Saw" franchise came back to play another game, but after "It," "mother!" and "Happy Death Day" hit theaters, will audiences come back for a fourth helping from an old franchise on Halloween weekend? Against it is Oscar contender "Suburbicon," which features -- get ready -- George Clooney directing Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac from a script co-written by the Coen Brothers.
Nov. 10: "Daddy's Home 2" vs. "Murder on Orient Express" vs. "Thor: Ragnarok": After posting the worst box office performance of his career with "The House," Will Ferrell will try to do better with a sequel to his 2015 collab with Mark Wahlberg. Kenneth Branagh's star-studded adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous murder mystery novel will also release this weekend, but both could fall to "Thor: Ragnarok," which will be in its second weekend.
Dec. 22: Christmas Releases: Let's be real. All of these holiday weekend releases will be fighting for whatever scraps of moviegoers "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" leaves behind. But "Pitch Perfect 3," the final installment in Kay Cannon's hit musical comedy, has a real shot at a solid opening. Other movies in this group include an adaptation of the TV series "The Six Billion Dollar Man" and Oscar contender "Downsizing," which stars Matt Damon as a man who joins a growing group of people who shrink themselves and join miniature communities.
We know ”Thor: Ragnarok“ will dominate when it opens in November, but here are the most competitive weekends to watch
"Thor: Ragnarok," "Justice League" and "Star Wars" will surely dominate the box office in the remaining months of 2017. But along with those would-be blockbusters are several smaller films competing for moviegoers' attention. Here are the seven head-to-head box office showdowns to look out for this fall.
