So, the easy prediction is that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens will be the #1 movie at the box office. The second easy prediction is that it will make more money probably than every other film currently in theatres COMBINED. Yes, 2 thru whatever added together this weekend won’t pass the massive opening weekend take of the Star Wars film.
Just how high could it go? Pre-sales indicate the film has already made 100M domestically, but that’s spread out all the way through Christmas Day. A solid chunk of that is for this weekend, with some estimates having Star Wars at 50M just on Thursday night. Star Wars is likely to play more like Avatar, and while it will have a big opening weekend, it won’t set a record, and the box office will be spread out during the first two weeks. It will absolutely dominate for a solid month, likely till at LEAST January 15th when Ride Along 2 opens. There’s really nothing else that can topple Star Wars, and by that point it will be in its 5th week of release.
The biggest opening EVER for a December release is 84M for The Hobbit. That’s right. No film in December has even made 100M opening weekend before, so even THAT would be a record breaking feat for Star Wars.
Phantom Menace opened to 64M (seems low) in 1999, followed by Attack Of The Clones at 80M, and Revenge Of The Sith at 108M for the highest opening in the franchise.
There are other films opening this weekend. Sisters, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler is hoping for some serious girl power this weekend, and it is backed by some positive reviews. Both are hosting SNL this weekend, which increases the visibility of their film. Also, the fourth Alvin and the Chipmunks film that no one asked for is opening, and likely no one will care. The first two both made over 200M domestic, but the third dropped to 133M. Road Chip likely won’t hit 100M. Or possibly even come close.
On Christmas Day, Concussion, Daddy’s Home, Joy, and The Big Short all go wide. The Hateful Eight hits 100, and The Revenant and 45 Years open in limited release.
1) Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens- 150M Weekend, 150M Total
2) Sisters- 15M Weekend, 15M Total
3) Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip- 12M Weekend, 12M Total
4) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay pt 2- 7.5M Weekend, 254M Total
5) The Good Dinosaur- 7M Weekend, 98M Total
6) Creed- 7M Weekend, 89M Total
7) In The Heart Of The Sea- 6.5M Weekend, 20M Total
8) Krampus- 4.5M Weekend, 35M Total
9) The Night Before- 3M Weekend, 43M Total
10) Spectre- 3M Weekend, 195M Total
