Over the past two weeks, a pair of different sequels took the top spots at the box office, although both were far behind their predecessors. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, 20th Century Fox’sX-Men: Apocalypsetook in $65.7 million, far below the $90.8 million haul of 2014’sX-Men: Days of Future Past. Last weekend,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadowswon at thebox officewith $35.3 million, nearly half of 2014’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which earned $65.5 million. This weekend brought two new sequels,The Conjuring 2andNow You See Me 2, along with the video game adaptationWarcraft, but it wasThe Conjuring 2that came out on top with $40.3 million.
According toBox Office Mojo,The Conjuring 2pulled in an impressive $12,070 per-screen average from 3,343 theaters. The $40.3 million tally is just slightly below theThe Conjuring’s $41.8 million debut in the summer of 2013, where it went on to make $137.4 million domestically and $318 million worldwide, from just a $20 million budget.The Conjuring 2has also earned an additional $50 million in international markets for a global total of $90.3 million, from a $40 million budget. This weekend’s other new releases,WarcraftandNow You See Me 2came in second and third places respectively, withWarcraftearning $24.3 million with a $7,164 per-screen average from 3,400 theaters andNow You See Me 2taking in $23 million with a $7,124 per-screen average from 3,232 theaters.
Of these three new releases, onlyThe Conjuring 2is a hit with the critics, earning a solid 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whileNow You See Me 2has a middling 36% rating andWarcrafthas a 27% score, although it did rise from its dismal 16% score earlier this week. Despite thesenegative reviews,Warcraftis already a big hit internationally, where it has earned $286.1 million in select global markets. Thevideo gameadaptation was reportedly produced with a massive $160 million budget.
DirectorJames WanbringsThe Conjuring 2to the screen with another real case from the files of renowned demonologistsEd and Lorraine Warren. Reprising their roles, Oscar nomineeVera FarmigaandPatrick Wilsonstar as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits. The supporting cast includesDavis Thewlis,Frances O’Connor,Franka Potente,Maria Doyle Kennedy,Sterling Jerins,Simon McBurneyandJavier Botet.
Warcraftcomes from Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures, an epic adventure of world-colliding conflict based on Blizzard Entertainment’s global phenomenon. The peaceful realm ofAzerothstands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home. So begins a spectacular saga of power and sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.
Now You See Me 2is set one year after the Four Horsemen outwitted the FBI and won the public’s adulation with their mind-bending spectacles. The gang resurfaces only to find themselves face to face with a new enemy who enlists them to pull off their most dangerous heist yet.Lizzy CaplanreplacesIsla Fisheras one of the Four Horsemen, withDaniel Radcliffejoining the cast alongside returning starsJesse Eisenberg,Woody Harrelson,Dave Franco,Mark Ruffalo,Morgan FreemanandMichael Caine. It’s worth noting that the originalNow You See Meopened with $29.3 million in 2013, en route to $117 million domestic and $351 million worldwide, from a $75 million budget. Rounding out the top 5 will beTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2with $14.8 million andX-Men: Apocalypsewith $10 million.
The top 10 will be rounded out byMe Before You($9.2 million),The Angry Birds Movie($6.7 million),Alice Through the Looking Glass($5.5 million),Captain America: Civil War($4.3 million) andThe Jungle Book($2.7 million). Also opening in limited release this weekend is Reliance Films' crime thrillerTe3n, which earned $284,040 from 104 theaters for a $2,731 per-screen average. A24’s documentaryDe Palmaearned $30,856 from three theaters for a $10,285 per-screen average, Cohen Media Group’s dramaDiary of a Chambermaidearned $11,067 from two theaters for a $5,534 per-screen average, Roadside Attractions' dramaGeniustook in $6,517 from 16 theaters for a $407 per-screen average and Focus World’s comedyPuerto Ricans in Paristook in $25,000 from 41 theaters for a $610 per-screen average. No box office data was released for Electric Entertainment’s thrillerBlackway, Starz Media’s thrillerCareful What You Wish Foror Music Box Films' horror-comedyTherapy for a Vampire. We don’t know if any of these films plan to expand in wide release throughout the coming weeks.
Looking ahead to next weekend, two new movies hit theaters in wide release. Disney Pixar’s long-awaited sequelFinding Dorywill go up against Warner Bros.' action comedyCentral Intelligence, starringDwayne JohnsonandKevin Hart. Also opening in limited release is The Weinstein Company’s horror-thrillerClown, Magnolia’s action-adventureThe Last King, Film Movement’s documentaryMy Love, Don’t Cross That River, First Run’s documentaryArgentina, Hannover House’s romantic comedyA Remarkable Lifeand Magnolia’s documentaryTickled. Be sure to check back on Tuesday for the new round of predictions. Until then, take a look at the top 10 for the weekend of June 10.
