Disney looks to milk their prized Lucasfilm acquisition over the Memorial Day weekend with the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story [SWAR2], their fourth Star Wars film in three and a half years, and less than six months from the last entry, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Alden Ehrenreich [AEHRE] takes on the role of Han Solo, famously played by Harrison Ford, in a spin-off prequel to Star Wars: A New Hope. The PG-13 rated actioner features old favorites Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, played by Donald Glover [DOGLO], as well as new characters played by Woody Harrelson [WHARR] and Emilia Clarke [ECLAR]. The production went through a well-publicized upheaval when the original directors were fired and replaced by Ron Howard [RHOWA], who reshot over 70% of the film.
While devoted fans rushed out to buy advance tickets on the first day, the pace slowed down and has not matched the other spin-off prequel Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which took in $155.1 million over 3-days in December 2016. Some speculates Solo may not even break the Memorial weekend record of $139.8 million over 4-days held by 2007’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Solo reviews are mildly positive, but with the worst RottenTomatoes rating among the last four Star Wars films. Blasting off in 4381 theaters, Solo: A Star Wars Story may punch in $152 million over the 4-day weekend.
Deadpool 2 [DEAD2] couldn’t improve upon on the original, neither quality-wise nor box office-wise. Deadpool dropped 57% from its opening over President's Day holiday weekend. Deadpool 2 gets a holiday weekend for its sophomore frame, which should soften the fall. Deadpool 2 may gather $70 million over the long weekend.
With its older female target audience, Book Club [BKCLB] should hold strong in its second weekend and tally $10 million through Monday.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): SWAR2, AEHRE, DOGLO, WHARR, ECLAR, RHOWA, DEAD2, BKCLB