#1 ‘The Conjuring’ Scares Up $40M Weekend & Rare ‘A-’ CinemaScore; Other New Films Soft Or Sinking: ‘Red 2′, ‘Turbo’, ‘R.I.P.D.’ ~ USA DAILY HOT SEARCHES

Saturday, July 20, 2013

#1 ‘The Conjuring’ Scares Up $40M Weekend & Rare ‘A-’ CinemaScore; Other New Films Soft Or Sinking: ‘Red 2′, ‘Turbo’, ‘R.I.P.D.’

Sorry, tapping this out on my iPhone because no Internet service and probably no vacation either. [Long sigh...] Today was bad news for every new film except great news for Warner Bros/New Line’s The Conjuring (playing in 2,903 theaters) which not only opened #1 with a $40M weekend on tap but made $3.3M from Thursday late shows and Friday midnights. Horror flick also received a coveted ‘A-’ CinemaScore which should help word of mouth. That’s an unusually good grade for the genre where ‘D’ and ‘F’ have become commonplace. Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment’s Red 2 (3,016 theaters) received a strong ‘B+’ CinemaScore so today’s soft opening could become stronger Saturday if more adults turn out due to good word of mouth. Universal was expecting its Jonah Hex-meets-Men In Black retread R.I.P.D. (2,852 theaters) to rest in agony this weekend after long delays. So lousy reviews and its low ‘C+’ CinemaScore were no surprise. Still, it’s a financial disaster because of its too-big budget: my sources say it cost $182.1M but the production rebate was $28.1M so the aggregate net negative to Universal $154M. At least the studio has humongous worldwide profits from Despicable Me 2 to console it. Finally, DreamWorks Animations’ original non-sequel Turbo (3,806 theaters) which opened Wednesday will have the toon company’s worst opening since company started (figuring in inflation, higher ticket prices, and the 3D premium.) Then again, these animated pics have 4x-5x multiples around the globe so distributor Fox isn’t going to count it out yet. Sorry to repeat myself, but shame on all those morons at other media outlets gleefully declaring ‘bombs’ days before the movies even opened in one theater. At least wait until opening night to detonate the humiliating headlines so heartbreaking for filmmakers. And it’s finally clear that Legendary Pictures’ too-expensive Pacific Rim may eke out $100M domestic all in – which means it, too, must depend on Warner Bros’ distribution overseas for most of its coin.

Here are Top Ten domestic estimates for Friday. Full analysis when blackout lifts.

1. The Conjuring (New Line/Warner Bros) NEW [Runs 2,903] R

Friday $16.5M, Weekend $39.0M

2. Despicable Me 2 (Illumination/Universal) Week 3 [Runs 3,820] PG

Friday $7.5M (-44%), Weekend $24.0M, Cume $275.0M

3. Grown Ups 2 (Columbia/Sony) Week 2 [Runs 3,491] PG13

Friday $6.5M (-60%), Weekend $20.0M, Cume $79.5M

4. Red 2 (Summit/Lionsgate) NEW [Runs 3,016] PG13

Friday $6.2M, Weekend $18.0M

5. Turbo (DreamWorks Animation/Fox) Week [Runs 3,806] PG

Friday $6.0M, Weekend $19.0M, Cume $27.7M

6. Pacific Rim (Legendary/Warner Bros) Week 2 [Runs 3,285] PG13