With just a few weeks left until Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil Warkicks off the summer movie season, Disney’sThe Jungle Bookput up big numbers in its debut last week, raking in $103.2 million. This weekend, theDisney adventureonly went up against one new movie in wide release, Universal’sThe Huntsman: Winter’s War, while a number of other movies like Pantelion’sCompadres, Bleecker Street’sElvis & Nixonand Roadside Attractions’The Hologram For the Kingalso debuted in limited release. None of these movies ended up standing a chance againstThe Jungle Bookat thebox officethis weekend, which won again with an impressive $60.8 million.
The Jungle Bookwas being projected to drop a healthy 43% in its second frame in theaters, winning for the second week in a row with $59 million, but it ended up faring a bit better than those predictions. According toBox Office Mojo,The Jungle Bookdropped just 41.1% to take in $60.8 million. The movie remained in 4,028 theaters, earning an impressive $15,095 per-screen average, with a domestic take of $191.4 million and a worldwide tally of $528.4 million. As expected,The Huntsman: Winter’s Wardebuted in second place with $20.08 million, with the top five rounded out byBarbershop: The Next Cut($10.8 million),Zootopia($6.6 million) andThe Boss($6.08 million).
The Huntsman: Winter’s Warbrings fans back to the fantastical world ofSnow White and the Huntsmanexpands to reveal how the fates of The Huntsman Eric andQueen Ravennaare deeply and dangerously intertwined.Chris Hemsworthand Oscar winnerCharlize Theronreturn to their roles inThe Huntsman Winter’s War, an epic action-adventure in which they are joined byEmily BluntandJessica Chastain, as well as directorCedric Nicolas-Troyan. ProducerJoe Roth(Maleficent,Alice in Wonderland) once again leads the team in a breathtaking new tale nested in the legendary saga.
Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished bySnow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom. With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen-including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain)-only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love. When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen.
Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banishedhuntsmenwho broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another. When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen. Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.
Elvis & Nixonwas projected to crack the top 10 this weekend, but it fell quite short, debuting in 20th place with $456,793 from 381 theaters, for a paltry $1,199 per-screen average. This movie tells the story about Elvis Presley visiting President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in December of 1970. The meeting was initiated by Presley, who wrote Nixon a six-page letter requesting a visit and suggesting that he be made a ‘Federal Agent-at-Large’ in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Presley brought with him family photos and a Colt 45 pistol as a personal gift to the President.Michael Shannonplays Elvis Presley, withKevin Spaceyplaying Richard Nixon in this new drama based on an incredible true story. The supporting cast is rounded out byAlex Pettyfer,Johnny Knoxville,Colin Hanks,Evan Peters,Sky Ferreira,Tracy Letts,Tate DonovanandAshley Benson.
Rounding out the top 10 isBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice($5.5 million),Criminal($3.6 million),My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2($2.4 million),Compadres($1.3 million) andEye in the Sky($1.2 million).Compadresactually opened in fewer theaters thanElvis & Nixon, debuting in 368 theaters, but it fared much better, with a $3,668 per-screen average. Also opening in limited release this weekend is Roadside Attractions’A Hologram For the King, which just barely missed the top 10 in 11th place with $1.2 million. The drama opened in 401 theaters for a decent $3,010 per-screen average. Other limited release debuts this weekend were Sony Pictures Classics’The Meddler($15,067 from 4 theaters for a $3,767 per-screen average), Drafthouse’sMen & Chicken($2,565 from two theaters for a $1,283 per-screen average) and IFC’sTale of Tales($9,000 from two theaters for a $4,500 per-screen average).. It isn’t known if any of these films will be expanding in the weeks that follow.
Looking ahead to next weekend, three new movies will hit theaters, Warner Bros.‘Keanu, Open Road Films’Mother’s Dayand Focus Features’Ratchet & Clank. Magnolia’sViva, IFC’sThe Man Who Knew Infinity, Yari Film Group’sPapa Hemingway in CubaandThe Family Fangwill open in limited release. This will be the last frame until the summer movie season kicks off on May 6 with Marvel’s highly-anticipatedCaptain America: Civil War, which is projected to earn between $175 million and $200 million. Take a look at at this weekend’s box office estimates, and check back on Tuesday for our predictions for the weekend of April 29.
