The animation domination of 2016 continues with the release of The Secret Life of Pets [PETS] from Illumination. Buzz has been building since Universal dropped the first teaser a year ago with Minions. The PG-rated movie reinforces the notice that dogs and cats as part of the human family. The marketing campaign has wisely teamed with products that target pet owners. Advance ticket sales are pacing ahead of Zootopia, which debuted at $75 million, but probably not ahead of Despicable Me 2, which opened with $83.5 million 2 years ago. Opening in a record 4396 theaters for an animated film, The Secret Life of Pets could bring home $82 million.
Finding Dory [NEMO2] continues its amazing run as it crosses the $400 million milestone before the weekend. Finding Dory looks to add another $26 million as it swims towards the all-time record for an animated film held by Shrek 2.
Moviegoers responded to The Legend of Tarzan [TARZN] better than the critics. Still, The Legend of Tarzan is likely to fall 50% in its sophomore weekend to $19 million.
Zac Efron [ZEFRO] is back toplining another R-rated comedy in Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates [MDNWD]. Dirty Grandpa opened with $11.1 million in January, while Neighbors 2 vastly underperformed in May. Fox is hoping his co-stars Adam Devine [ADEVI] and Anna Kendrick [AKEND] attract female fans of the Pitch Perfect films. Toasting in 2982 theaters, Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates could drink in $13 million.
Like the two previous installments, The Purge: Election Year [PURG3] looks to lose more than 60% of its opening weekend for a second counting of $11.5 million.
Despite the Spielberg name, The BFG [TBFG] failed to find an audience worthy of its budget and is about to be buried by The Secret Life of Pets. The BFG may shrink 50% from its debut to $9 million.
That’s the whisper from the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): PETS, NEMO2, TARZN, ZEFRO, MDNWD, ADEVI, AKEND, PURG3, TBFG