Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ headed for $100-million Memorial Day weekend box office
Disney’s highly anticipated live-action reimagining of “Aladdin” dominated the box office with an $86.1 million weekend opening and a projected $105 million through the Memorial Day holiday, according to predictions from measurement firm Comscore.
Internationally, the film earned $121 million for a global cumulative of $207.1 million, excluding the U.S.’s Monday projections. $15 million in global receipts were earned at IMAX theaters through the holiday.
The PG-rated film “Aladdin” stars Mena Massoud as the titular character, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Will Smith as Genie. It earned an A CinemaScore from audiences but mixed reviews from critics with a 58% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The haul is the fourth best three-day opening for the studio’s live action reimaginings after 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($174.7 million), 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” ($116.1 million) and 2016’s “The Jungle Book” ($103.3 million).
The result is a big win for Disney on a weekend when the studio has historically had many disappointments including “Prince of Persia,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Tomorrowland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
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In second place, Lionsgate’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” added $24.3 million (a 57% drop) through Sunday and an expected $30.5 million through Memorial Day for a cumulative $101 million. The film has already outgrossed its predecessors’ final global totals in just two weekends of release.
At No. 3, Disney’s “Avengers: Endgame” added $16.8 million in its fifth weekend for a cumulative $798.2 million. Domestically, the film will cross the $800 million mark on Memorial Day, only the second film ever to do so. Globally, it stands at $2.67 billion through Sunday.
In fourth place, Warner Bros.’ ”Pokemon Detective Pikachu” added $13.3 million in its third weekend for a cumulative $116.1 million through Sunday, and is projected to reach $17.2 million for the four days and $120 million total. Globally, the film has earned $352.9 million.
Rounding out the top five, Sony’s “Brightburn” opened with $7.5 million, and is projected to earn $9 million through the holiday.
The superhero horror film stars Elizabeth Banks as a mother whose 12-year-old son develops superpowers and decides to use them for evil. It earned a 59% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Also new this week, United Artist Releasing’s and Annapurna’s “Booksmart” premiered in sixth place with $6.5 million and an expected $8 million through Monday. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the film stars Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein as a pair of high-achieving high school seniors determined to attend a party before graduation. It earned positive reviews with a B+ CinemaScore and a 97% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In limited release, Greenwich Entertainment’s “Echo in the Canyon” opened with $103,716 on two screens for an impressive per-screen average of $51,858.
Bleecker Street opened “Tomorrow Man” on Wednesday in four theaters and grossed $19,327 Friday through Sunday for a per-screen average of $4,832 and an expected $25,129 through Monday.
Oscilloscope Labs opened “The Proposal” in one theater with $12,000 over the weekend and $14,000 expected through the holiday.
Other films’ three-day performances:
At No. 7, Universal’s “A Dog’s Journey” added $4 million in its second weekend for a cumulative $14.9 million.
In eighth place, United Artist Releasing’s and MGM’s “The Hustle” added $3.8 million in its third weekend for a cumulative $29.8 million.
At No. 9, Sony’s “The Intruder” added $2.3 million in its fourth weekend for a cumulative $31.9 million.
Rounding out the top 10, Lionsgate’s “The Long Shot” added $1.6 million in its fourth weekend for a cumulative $28.7 million.
This week, Warner Bros.’ opens the sci-fi action “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” Universal opens the thriller “Ma” and Paramount opens the Elton John biopic “Rocketman.”
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