Registering one of the worst-ever openings for a film its size, writer-directorSimon Kinberg’s globe-trotting spy movieThe 355is expected to make $4.3 million in its debut weekend, which is good enough only for a third place finish. Conservative estimates had put the film’s opening at between $5 million and $7 million, but this is a terrible result for a film playing in over 3,000 theaters and featuring the sort of cast that it does.
StarringJessica Chastain,Lupita Nyong’o,Penélope Cruz,Diane KrugerandFan Bingbing,The 355marks Kinberg’s second high-profile flop in a row. The filmmaker made his directorial debut with 2019’s franchise-killing X-Men film,Dark Phoenix. Like that ill-fated superhero team-up movie,The 355opened to poor reviews.
It also probably didn’t help thatThe 355is debuting exclusively in theaters at a time when audiences seem to be excited to watch only one movie on the big screen. But the film will arrive on digital just 17 days after its theatrical debut, as a part of Universal’s condensed release window.
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Spider-Man: No Way Homeheld on to the top spot in its fourth weekend, having never relinquished that position since its December 17 debut. The film’s $30 million fourth weekend bow is above Christmastime Star Wars offerings in the same frame.Star Wars: The Last Jedimade $23.7 million in its fourth weekend,Rogue One: A Star Wars Storymade $22 million, andStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkermade $15 million. OnlyStar Wars: The Force Awakens($42 million) made more.
The number two spot was claimed by the animated sequelSing 2, which added another $10.3 million for a running domestic total of over $100 million. This is a notable achievement, because theGarth Jennings-directed jukebox musical, featuring the voice talents ofMatthew McConaughey,Reese Witherspoon,Scarlett JohanssonandBono, was made available on digital just this week. Despite that, it fell by only around 50%. The original 2016 film concluded its international run with over $630 million.
At the number four spot was another big budget spy dud, directorMatthew Vaughn’sThe King’s Man, which is estimated to have made $3.1 million this weekend, for a running domestic total of an abysmal $25 million.American Underdog, the faith-based sports drama starringZachary Levifinished at the number five spot, with an estimated $2.4 million three-day haul. This takes the film’s domestic total to just under $20 million.
Next weekend sees the release of the newScreamreboot, which is tracking for a solid, and potentially franchise-best opening.
