Racing into theaters this weekend isSonic theHedgehog, ready to thrill kids of all ages. The Paramount Pictures release could have a big weekend ahead after earning $21 million domestic through Friday, February 14. Based on the Sega video game of the same name,Ben Schwartzlends his voice to play the blue speedster withJim Carreyplaying his mustachioed nemesis Robotnik andJames Marsdenappearing as his trusty human sidekick.
Sonic the Hedgehog’s box office pace is a good one so far. After scoring $3 million in domestic Thursday night previews, the kid-friendly feature added $18 million on Friday and putting its domestic total at a cool $21 million. It’s possible that, ifSonickeeps this pace up, it end the weekend with a domestic total somewhere in the $50 to $60 million domestic range. If it manages to do this, then it will surpassDetective Pikachu’s $53.4 million domestic opening and take the 2019 pic’s title of highest-grossing movie based on a video game. Upon closer inspection,Sonicis also doing well per theater, averaging $5,040 per screen across 4,167 screens nationwide.Sonichas been met with lukewarm to positive reviews, scoring a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore.
Sonicwasn’t the only new movie to hit theaters on Friday. Joining the line-up of new movie releases was the number three featureThe Photograph, starringIssa RaeandLaKeith Stanfield, and the number four movieFantasy Island, Blumhouse’s horror-filled spin on the classic ’70s series starringLucy HaleandMichael Peña.The Photographpulled in $6.3 million domestic with $650,000 of that total earned in Thursday night previews. Earning a B+ CinemaScore, the Rae-Stanfield romantic drama averaged $2,496 per theater and opened on 2,516 screens nationwide. As forFantasy Island, which earned an supremely average C- CinemaScore, the Blumhouse pic earned $5.4 million domestic. Opening on 2,784 screens,Fantasy Islandaveraged $1,940 per screen. Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten aboutDownhill, also a new release starringWill FerrellandJulia Louis-Dreyfus. Unfortunately, the Searchlight Pictures feature failed to make Friday’s box office top five, so I’ll be breaking down why this movie’s title matches its box office performance later this weekend.
Meanwhile,Birds of Preyhas already lost its box office crown after reigning supreme during its opening weekend a mere week ago. After a $13 million Friday opening on February 7 followed by a $33 million domestic opening weekend,Birds of Preybrought in $6.4 million on Valentine’s Day. This represents a 51% dip from last Friday and could indicateBirdsof Preyis looking at a 4-day holiday weekend total in the $20 million range. To date,Birds of Preyhas earned $48.5 million domestic and $48 million internationally, bringing its global total to $96 million. Made on an $80 million budget (or thereabouts), it’s not necessarily all doom and gloom that theMargot Robbie-led Warner Bros. feature is bringing in these kinds of numbers. While the spin from opening weekend has indicated as much (includingmy own assessment),Birds of Prey’s box office pace is similar to other features of its size and spectacle opening in this tough box office world. Maybe we just need to ease up on it a bit and get some perspective, eh?
Headed to the movies this weekend? Make sure you check out ourSonic the Hedgehogreview as well as our interviews with the movie’s stars:Ben Schwartz,Jim Carrey, andJames Marsden.
Sonic the Hedgehog
$21,000,000
Birds of Prey
$6,350,000
$48,508,302
The Photograph
$6,280,000
Fantasy Island
$5,400,000
Bad Boys For Life
$4,030,000
$174,052,306
