Marvel’s blockbuster sequelGuardians of the Galaxy 2had no trouble destroying itsbox office competitionlast weekend with $65.2 million, up slightly over the Sunday estimate of $63 million, and posting a 55.5% decrease from last weekend’s $145 million debut. The sequel wasn’t given any real competition by the underperformingSnatched($19.5 million) andKing Arthur: Legend of the Sword($15.3 million), but this weekend, it faces its toughest challenge yet, with 20th Century Fox’sAlien: Covenant, along with the studio’s family-friendly sequelDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Hauland Warner Bros.‘Everything, Everything. We’re predicting that the R-ratedAlien: Covenantshould have no trouble taking the top spot this weekend, with an estimated $39.6 million.
This figure does come in far below the $51 million debut of 2012’sPrometheus, but there are a number of factors as to why it may come in below its predecessor.Prometheuswas seen as quite the disappointment to many longtime fans of theAlien franchise, and it may affect how many show up for this follow-up, which takes place 10 years after the events ofPrometheus. As of now,Alien: Covenanthas been received better by the critics than its predecessor, but just barely.Alien: Covenantis standing at a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, just ahead ofPrometheus’ 72% rating.Everything, Everythingdoesn’t have enough ratings for a RT score yet, whileDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haulis a critical flop with a paltry 17% RT rating.
Box Office Mojoreports thatAlien: Covenant, which kicks off anAlien prequel trilogythat will connect to the original 1979Alienmovie, will open in approximately 3,600 theaters, compared to a roughly 2,900-theater debut forDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Hauland an estimated 2,800-theater rollout forEverything, Everything. We’re predicting thatGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2will not be too far behindAlien: Covenant, posting a third-weekend gross of $34.2 million, which, along with the sequel’s weekday haul, should put it over the $300 million domestic mark in just its third weekend in theaters. We’re predicting that the top 5 will be rounded out byDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul($13.6 million),Everything, Everything($10.4 million) andSnatched($9.3 million).
Ridley Scottreturns to the universe he created inAlienwithAlien: Covenant, the second chapter in a prequel trilogy that began withPrometheusand connects directly to Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction. Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world, whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition. The cast also includes Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride, Demian Bichir, Jussie Smollett, Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo, Callie Hernandez, Noomi Rapace and James Franco.
InDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, based on the record-breaking book series, a family road trip to attend Meemaw’s 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course, thanks to Greg’s newest scheme to (finally!) become famous. Thisfamily adventureintroduces a new cast, with Tom Everett Scott and Alicia Silverstone portraying the parents, and Jason Ian Drucker, Charlie Wright, Owen Asztalos playing their children. Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn played the parents in the first three movies, with Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Owen Fielding and Connor Fielding playing their kids.
Everything, Everythingtells the unlikely love story of Maddy (Amandla Stenberg), a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly (Nick Robinson), the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world, and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together…even if it means losing everything.
The top 10 will be rounded out byKing Arthur: Legend of the Sword($7.4 million),The Fate of the Furious($3.1 million),The Boss Baby($2.4 million)Beauty and the Beast($1.9 million) andHow to Be a Latin Lover($1.5 million). Also opening in limited release is IFC’sWakefieldand ArtEffects’Champion, although it isn’t clear if there are any plans for expansion. Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount debuts its R-rated remakeBaywatchon Thursday, May 25, with Disney’sPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talesarriving a day later on Friday, May 26, for a Memorial Day weekend box office showdown. Also arriving in limited release is Broad Green’s documentaryBuena Vista Social Club: Adios, Screen Media’sDrone, Parade Deck Films’The Here After, Indican’s action filmJasmineand Abramorama’sLong Strange Trip - The Untold Story of The Grateful Dead. Take a look at our box office projections, and check back on Sunday for the weekend estimates for the weekend of May 19.
