Minions ruled; Smurfs, Snails, Planes and Monsters suffered
A record number of CGI characters graced the silver screen this summer. Blue Sky’s “Epic” was released over Memorial Day weekend and made $107 million, making it the studio’s lowest grossing film of all-time. “Monsters University” had a strong open, but barely outearned the original with $261M. And when you consider “adjustment for inflation”, “MU” grossed far less than its predecessor. “Despicable Me 2” came-out on top with close to $350 million. The animated films that followed all suffered box office disappointments. DreamWorks’ “Turbo”, Sony’s “The Smurfs 2” and Disney’s “Planes” have all underperformed and none will cross the $100M mark. With audiences returning to theaters to see Gru and the Minions, nobody else stood a chance.
“Hangover III” biggest bust; “Now You See Me” biggest surprise
The all-star ensemble of illusionists fooled the experts by making an amazing $116M. Meantime, the “Hangover” gang dropped the biggest bomb. Going up against “Fast & Furious 6” opening weekend, “The Hangover: Part III” was expected to open at #2, but the “hangover” of dislike from 2011’s “Part II” doomed this franchise to end of a very sour note.
Scaring Audiences Still Works
Universal had a solid summer: “Fast 6”, “Despicable 2” were hits, “RIPD”, “Kick-Ass 2” were busts. The horror film, “The Purge”, fell right in between, with a strong first weekend: $34M, and another $30M during its theatrical run. However, WB’s “The Conjuring” was able to defeat “Red 2”, “RIPD”, “Turbo” and knock “Despicable 2” off the #1 spot to win the July 19-21 weekend. Usually, horror films drop off significantly after week 1, but “Conjuring” held steady and has made close to $130 million.
Oscar Buzz starts earlier than ever
“The Great Gatsby”‘s $50M opening weekend was a big surprise. While it likely will not get a Best Picture nomination (it may have had it been released last Christmas as originally scheduled), other summer releases have a shot. “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” has connected with both critics and audiences, along with the powerful drama “Fruitvale Station”. Cate Blanchett will likely score a Best Actress nomination for Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”. “The Way, Way Back”, “Before Midnight”, “The Spectacular Now” and even “Jobs” are getting some buzz. And I’m looking for the incredible documentary, “Blackfish”, to become the first doc to ever receive a Best Picture nomination.
The “A-list” needs a makeover
Will Smith re-teamed with son Jaden for “After Earth”. It was both a terrible film (directed by M. Night Shaymalan) and a box office dud (only making $60 million). Smith Sr. hadn’t opened a film below #1 in two decades. Johnny Depp re-teamed with “Pirates” and “Rango” director Gore Verbinski for “The Lone Ranger”. Too long, too dull, and too predictable. Disney’s 4th of July release made only $88M domestically. Ouch. And Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson re-collaborated for “The Internship”, but the bland comedy managed only $45M. And Adam Sandler and his friends’ “Grown Ups 2” fell short of matching the original in box office total ($127 to $162). Quality of entertainment, not star power, is what brought audiences to the theaters.