While newly Oscar-nominated films get a bump at the box office this weekend, Maze Runner: The Death Cure [MAZE3] looks to dethrone Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle [JUMNJ.BW] at the top. The third film in Fox’s dystopian sci-fi franchise arrives a year late due to an injury suffered by Dylan O’Brien [DOBRI] during filming. The first Maze Runner debuted with $32.5 million in 2014 while the sequel The Scorched Trials opened with $30.3 million a year later. Unfortunately, interest in the genre have waned as franchise fatigue set in. Lining up in 3787 theaters, Maze Runner: The Death Cure may track down $22 million.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will return to second place at around $13 million. With two Oscar nominations including Best Picture, The Post [TPOST] should hold strong and take the third spot with $8.5 million.
12 Strong [HORSO] is likely to drop nearly 50% in its second weekend to $8 million, while Den of Thieves [DENOT] looks to follow suit with about $7 million.
Entertainment Studios is expanding Hostiles [HSTIL] wide to 2815 theaters despite not picking up any Oscar nominations. The R-rated western starring Christian Bale [CBALE] has earned $1.3 million after 4 weeks of limited release. Hostiles could round up $5 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): MAZE3, DOBRI, TPOST, HORSO, DENOT, HSTIL, CBALE