This summer season thus far has been unkind to sequels and the trend looks to continue with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows [TMNT2]. The 2014 reboot broke out with an August opening of $65.5 million, though the subsequent word of mouth was mixed. The PG-13 rated sequel has shifted the focus from Megan Fox [MEFOX] as April to the title characters: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Rafael. In addition, Paramount has loaded up the sequel with familiar TMNT characters such as Casey Jones, Dr. Baxter, Krang Rocksteady and BeBop. The move should prove popular with fanboys and families with boys, but the general audience will likely pass. Playing 4071 theaters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows looks to ride out $42 million.
Although fans liked X-Men: Apocalypse [XMEN6] more than critics, the sequel is still headed for a steep drop. The well-regarded X-Men: Days of Future Past tumbled 64% in its second weekend. Even if it dropped 55%, X-Men: Apocalypse is unlikely to do more than $29 million.
Warner Bros. targets women with the PG-13 rated romance Me Before You [MBFYU]. While Emilia Clarke [ECLAR] and Sam Claflin [SCLAF] have yet to prove their draw outside franchise films, they are recognizable stars who make an attractive pairing. With no competition in the marketplace, Me Before You could bring in $14 million from 2704 locations.
Alice Through the Looking Glass [ALNC2] was thoroughly rejected by moviegoers that contributed $334 million to the first film. With more bad press this week for star Johnny Depp, Alice Through the Looking Glass [ALCN2] could tumble nearly 60% to $11 million.
Universal hopes Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping [CON4R] brings out the hard-to-reach millennial males. The R-rated mockumentary utilizes Andy Samberg’s [ASAMB] talent for viral music as seen on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Lonely Island Boys’. He is also a bigger star now than back in 2007 when his only solo comedy Hot Rod debuted with $5.3 million. Dropping in 2310 theaters, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping could score $6.5 million.
After 3 weeks of limited release, Love & Friendship [LVFRN] expands wide to 891 theaters. Walt Whitman’s adaptation of Jane Austen has connected with older moviegoers and averaged nearly $5000 per theater last week. A $4000 PTA would net Love & Friendship around $3.5 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): TMNT2, MEFOX, XMEN6, MBFYU, ECLAR, SCLAF, ALCN2, CON4R, ASAMB, LVFRN
