Pantera’ Eyes No. 1 Win With $14M+

Saturday morning: Update for chart and more analysis Lionsgate can enjoy its No. 1 win Den of Thieves 2: Pantera This weekend, which is now on track to open with $15 million, roughly the same as the 2018 original. Let's hear it for great dating. The studio known for counter-programming found a great release date on the schedule and maximized it. The results here are better than Gerard Butler's last film with Lionsgate for 3 days, airplane ($10.2 million for 3 days, $11.8 million for 4 days)

The sequel also earned a B+ CinemaScore like the original film with PostTrak coming away with a strong four stars and a diversity turnout with 31% Caucasian, 31% Latino and Hispanic, and a very good 25% Black, 6% Asian.

A third of the audience was between 25 and 34 years old, the largest demo, while 52% of the audience was over 35 years old. There is no Imax in the second segment, but PLFs drive 31% of the business. The best markets are in the South, South Central, West and Midwest, with Harkins Estrella Falls leading the way with over $21,000 to date.

Paramount expansion of A better man, Which I recently learned they co-financed the $25 million take-up cost – the film unfortunately suffers Million dollars Despite a significant audience checkout (83% on PostTrak, 63% definitely recommend). The pic's lackluster holiday exclusive release ($3k per theater) said all that despite Paramount believing in this film throughout the festival season and giving it a boost for awards season. The exclusion of the pic's song “Forbidden Road” from the Academy's shortlist didn't help. And also an indicator of that A better man He was set to bomb here by the fact that he fell flat on his face in his native UK for less than $5 million where pop star Robbie Williams is known. If the movie was going to work anywhere, it was there. I'm told he's not exactly George Michael in terms of reputation there, or even Geri Halliwell (that's Ginger Spice for you, unfaithful Spice Girls), so there's no jostling. It's definitely not Harry Styles on this side of the pond. What prompted Paramount executives to buy this film? Basically, they were blown away by the story and Michael Grassi's filmmaking, and realized it was a stretch. Gut gamble? Chance of it at the very least A better man It would become a cult title with profits downstream, particularly Paramount+. Additionally, Paramount was working with Gracie on the feature film for Jessica Townsend's novel, Nevermore. Ultimately, we can't quite say that Paramount was irresponsible in its spending. Leave it to a streamer and they would have spent over $100 million for it A better man With more downside.

This film in which Williams plays a CGI monkey was largely 56% male with 52% of the audience over 25, the largest demo being 25-34 at 28%. Diversity offerings were 65% Caucasian, 18% Latino and Hispanic, 8% Black, 7% Asian, and 2% other. Any cash received from A better man They can be found in the western, mountainous and southern regions with AMC Disney Springs being the highest grossing venue in the country at under $3k so far.

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Friday evening: Lionsgate looks to celebrate this weekend with its first No. 1 opening since November 2023 The Hunger Games: Song of Songbirds and Snakes with Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Who is currently witnessing a $14 million+ Open with room for upside. You'll recall that the Santa Monica, California-based studio wasn't exactly plunging in piles of cash last year on a roster that was starving for tentpoles. Friday is $5.5 million-$6.5 million Pantera. For Gerard Butler, this marks his first opening at No. 1 since August 2019 The angel has fallen ($21.3 million). Lionsgate has PLF and movable seating Den of Thieves 2.

We'll know as the weekend ends just how bad Los Angeles is with about a dozen closures; In total about 84 including those affected by winter conditions in Texas.

I inherited Lionsgate Den of Thieves 2 Through their acquisition of eOne (which owns Sierra/Affinity). Their exposure to the $40 million sequel after foreign sales is $15 million with another $20 million spent on earnings and acquisitions. Tucker Tooley co-financed the sequel with eOne and supervised the cut of the title from STX to eOne. Studios have made a business out of meat-and-potatoes action films with upside in the PVOD windows and beyond. If they were not, they would not have been released. Last night's Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak exits were 72% positive and 3 1/2 stars with 64% men and 79% over 25.

Paramount wide break for A better man Doesn't look exciting Million dollars From 1,291 sites. The studio acquired the Michael Gracey-directed film for $25 million including territories in France and Japan.

Mufasa crossed Half a billion marks At the global box office this morning. Moana 2 Yesterday it recorded $971.1 million worldwide, surpassing that Despicable me 4 ($969.1 million) as the No. 3 global release of 2024 and the 13th highest-grossing anime title of all time.

The rest of the top five were as follows:

Friday morning: Lionsgate Den of Thieves 2: Pantera to make $1.35 million yesterday from its 6pm screening times, which beats the original film's 2018 previews of $950,000 by +42%, but is lower than last year's The Other Man's Meat and Potatoes, beekeeper which grossed $2.4 million in gross previews ($1.5 million strictly on Thursdays) on its way to a $16.5 million 3-day cume.

Previews for Den of Thieves 2 It is also higher than that of Gerard Butler airplane Back in January 2023 which grossed $625k on its way to $3.5m on Friday and $10.2m in 3 days.

Den of Thieves 2 It is expected to open between $11 million and $13 million at 3,008 in a soft frame in early January. Part of that has to do with the offerings here, however, business is sure to be slow in the No. 1 market in the country, Los Angeles, due to the wildfires. Of the 14 movie theaters that closed, two have reopened: AMC Americana in Glendale and AMC Topanga 12 in Canoga Park. Prime LA venues AMC Century City, AMC Burbank and AMC Grove remain open. Den of Thieves 2 can be overcome Mufasa or Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Looking to do the same.

The previous film was released by STX when it was in all its glory. The sequel is here with the return of Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. Additionally, director Christian Gudegast is not part of STX's directing deal with Lionsgate. Foreign sales of Part 2 were announced at Cannes 2019 by Sierra/Affinity. Why a sequel? The first film surpassed its single-digit opening performance in January 2018 to $15.2 million and ended up with $44.9 million domestically and $80.5 million worldwide.

Part 2 Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and approaches Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in a treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the notorious Panther Mafia, as they plan a massive heist of the world's money. The largest diamond exchange. The film was produced and co-financed by Tucker Tully, and produced by Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, and Mark Canton.

Deadline's Pete Hammond enjoyed the sequel, which received a 70% critical acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes.

Other showings this weekend include a 1,200-seat theater expansion for Paramount's biopic about pop star Robbie Williams, A better man, Which isn't expected to do much in the single digits after an exclusive run that only delivered a theater average of $3K-$4K in its first two weekends.