This weekend brings a couple more original films to the box office fray, though both are adapted from existing IPs. Newcomers The Emoji Movie [EMOJI] and Atomic Blonde [CLDCT] could have a chance to topple Dunkirk [DUNKR]. Christopher Nolan’s last film Interstellar fell 40% in its second weekend. With a similar target audience, Dunkirk is likely to decay at a similar rate to $29.0 million in a tight race for first place.
Sony Pictures Animation has turned the messaging emoticons on smartphones into The Emoji Movie [EMOJI] with a voice cast led by T.J. Miller [TJMIL] as ‘meh’ and Patrick Stewart [PSTEW] as ‘poop’. The PG-rated story is basically Wreck-It Ralph meets Inside Out. Critics are bashing the film, but there’s an audience eager for The Emoji Movie. Sony debuted The Angry Bird Movie to $38.2 million last May. Loading in 4069 theaters, The Emoji Movie could receive $28 million.
Based on the graphic novel The Coldest City, Atomic Blonde [CLDCT] stars Charlize Theron [CTHER] as a spy during the Cold War. Focus is marketing the R-rated actioner as a female James Bond, though the film has more in common with John Wick in sharing director David Leitch. Atomic Blonde could nail $24 million from 3304 locations.
Girls Trip [GIRLT] has become the rare comedy hit of the year. Fabulous word of mouth should continue to bring out the ladies. Girls Trip looks to hold around 60% in its second weekend at $19 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): EMOJI, CLDCT, DUNKR, TJMIL, PSTEW, CTHER, GIRLT