“Office Christmas Party” raged to a strong $950,000 at the Thursday box office.
In the days leading up to the film’s opening, tracking was all over the place. Experts saw the film open anywhere between $20 million to $29 million, with Paramount being more conservative with a range of $13 million to $15 million.
Comparably, last year’s “Sisters,” which opened up against “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” earned $769,000 on Thursday and went on to earn $13.9 million over the three-day opening weekend. When Seth Rogen’s holiday-themed comedy “The Night Before” opened last year, as well, it grossed $550,000 on Thursday. Last month’s ensemble comedy “Almost Christmas” earned $507,000.
“Office Christmas Party” stars Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Jillian Bell, Courtney B. Vance, Rob Corddry and Kate McKinnon and was helmed by directing duo Josh Gordon and Will Speck (2007’s “Blades of Glory”). It was made for $45 million, not counting marketing costs, and is set to open in roughly 3,100 locations.
The Paramount, DreamWorks and Reliance Entertainment title is rated R and currently holds a score of 43 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie stars Aniston as a company CEO trying to thwart the success of her hard-partying brother (Miller) and his CTO (Bateman). The two guys have to rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.
Also going wide this weekend are Jessica Chastain’s “Miss Sloane” and Amy Adams’ “Nocturnal Animals.”
Chastain’s R-rated mystery, which has a 64 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, centers on the most formidable lobbyist in Washington, D.C., as she takes on a powerful opponent. It has so far amassed $135,869 in its very limited release. The film is not expected to exceed $5 million over the three-day weekend.
Focus Features’ moody thriller “Nocturnal Animals” is expanding in its fourth weekend, having earned $2.9 million so far in limited release. Written and directed by fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford, it stars Adams as an art gallery owner who can’t shake threatening thoughts inspired by the writings of her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal), who penned a violent revenge-themed novel which she takes to heart. It has a 72 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The big question will be whether “Office Christmas Party” will topple the reign of Disney’s “Moana,” which was released on Nov. 23 and has earned $124 million so far. If the comedy does earn between $20 million and $29 million, it should be enough to boot “Moana,” starring Dwayne Johnson, from first place.
13 Christmas Movies That Definitely Aren't for Kids (Photos)
Sure, Christmas is a time of joy for children of all ages, but that doesn't mean that grown-ups can't have the cinematic equivalent of a spiked egg nog. After you've packed the little ones off to bed, enjoy these movies, from the hilarious to the horrifying, that are aimed at adult audiences.
"Black Christmas" (1974)
A decade before making the classic "A Christmas Story," director Bob Clark invented the holiday slasher with this still-chilling cult fave about sorority sisters fending off an obscene phone caller. (A new remake slays in theaters in December 2019.)
"The Silent Partner" (1978)
Bank teller Elliott Gould and robber Christopher Plummer play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse; this twisty thriller was an early success for the late Curtis Hanson, who scripted.
"Christmas Evil" (1980)
John Waters' favorite Christmas movie involves a man obsessed with Santa (Brandon Maggart) who takes his naughty list to homicidal extremes.
"Some Girls" (1988)
Long before he was McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey played a horny college student bewitched by three sisters (played by Jennifer Connelly, Sheila Kelley and Ashley Greenfield) in an early Sundance hit that's still underappreciated (and still sexy).
"Metropolitan" (1990)
Writer-director Whit Stillman scored a dynamite debut -- and made a low-budget indie look great by shooting in holiday-decorated Manhattan -- with this smart and sprightly tale of young debutantes in love.
"The Ref" (1994)
Cat burglar Denis Leary is forced to play marriage counselor to bickering spouses Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis in this pungently hilarious farce.
"Go" (1999)
Writer John August and director Doug Liman keep the twists and the wisecracks coming in this ensemble piece about young L.A. types chasing down ecstasy. The cast is full of before-they-were-famous folks.
"Eyes Wide Shut" (1999)
If you don't think of this as a Christmas movie, you haven't seen it lately; director Stanley Kubrick inserts twinkle lights and trees all over his sexual thriller starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2005)
One of Robert Downey's best pre-Marvel roles was as a struggling actor caught up in a Christmastime conspiracy, trading quips with scene-stealers Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.
"A Christmas Tale" (2008)
Catherine Deneuve isn't the usual mom-with-cancer; this matriarch demands her kids give her a bone marrow transplant in this biting, brilliant family story.
"Better Watch Out" (2017)
This clever holiday horror-comedy takes the youthful sadism of "Home Alone" and ratchets it up a few notches, with teenage Luke (Levi Miller, "Pan") hiding some real darkness behind that sweet face.
"A Bad Moms Christmas" (2017)
The bad moms just want to have fun, even when their own bad moms come rolling into town to celebrate the season. Santas will strip, and the egg nog will be spiked.
"Anna and the Apocalypse" (2018)
It's Christmastime! But thanks to a zombie outbreak, it's also the end times, and our high school heroes dispatch the undead with bloody fervor. And did we mention this is also a musical?
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”Black Christmas“ isn’t the only film that brings an R-rated sensibility to the holiday season
Sure, Christmas is a time of joy for children of all ages, but that doesn't mean that grown-ups can't have the cinematic equivalent of a spiked egg nog. After you've packed the little ones off to bed, enjoy these movies, from the hilarious to the horrifying, that are aimed at adult audiences.
