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« The Furniture: 25 Years Trapped in Castle Dracula | Main | 72 days until Oscar nominations. Let's talk '72 »
Sunday
Nov122017

Thor and Lady Bird Reign at the Box Office

by Nathaniel R

Weekend Box Office (Nov 10-12)
W I D E
800+ screens
L I M I T E D
excluding prev. wide
1. Thor Ragnarok  $56.6 (cum. $211.5)
REVIEW, YOUR QUEEN
1.🔺 Lady Bird $1.2 on 37 screens (cum. $1.7) REVIEW
2.🔺 Daddy's Home 2 $30 2.🔺 Let There Be Light $1.1 on 773 screens (cum. $6)
3. 🔺 Murder on the Orient Express $28.2
3.🔺 Florida Project $579k on 229 screens (cum. $3.8) REVIEW 
4. A Bad Mom's Christmas  $11.5 (cum. $39.8) 4.  Loving Vincent $515k on 212 screens (cum. $3.9)
5. Jigsaw $3.4 (cum. $34.3)
5. LBJ $509k on 608 screens (cum. $2)  

 

6. Boo 2! A Madea Halloween  $2 (cum. $45.9) 6. 🔺  The Killing of a Sacred Deer $476k on 238 screens (cum. $1.5) REVIEW
7. Geostorm  $1.5 (cum. $31.6) 7. 🔺  Three Billboards... $320k on 4 screens REVIEW 
8. Blade Runner 2049  $1.4 (cum. $88) REVIEW | SHORTS | "BESTS"
8. 🔺 Wonderstruck  $245k on 261 screens (cum. $825k) REVIEW, PODCAST
9. Happy Death Day  $1.3 (cum. $54.9)  9. 🔺  Jane $228k on 96 screens (cum. $825k) CRITICS CHOICE WINNER  
10. Only the Brave $950k (cum. $17) 10. 🔺 My Friend Dahmer $190k on 45 screens (cum. $243k) REVIEW

🔺 = new or significant expansion

numbers (in millions unless otherwise noted) from box office mojo 

 

Thor: Ragnarok  dominated the movies for another week but both of the new wide releases did business that they have to be happy about considering that it could have gone either way for them. Next weekend Justice League  will definitely shake up the charts. But the big news this weekend was surely Lady Bird which had an incredible second week earning over a million on just 37 screens; word of mouth is strong with this one. Three Billboards also sold out houses on its 4 screens. Norway's memorable Oscar submission Thelma also opened this weekend, albeit only on one screen for a $12,000 gross. 

The Florida Project, now in its sixth weekend showed the first signs of slowing down... but awards season will surely give it a second wind. In other long-lasting news Blade Runner 2049 which was instantly dubbed a failure on release has stuck around in the top ten every week since so interest didn't dissipate instantly. It had legs, however wobbly they first looked entering the room.

WHAT DID YOU SEE THIS WEEKEND?

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Reader Comments (38)

Murder on the Orient Express certainly did better than expected given its mixed reviews and so-so advertising.

November 12, 2017 | Unregistered Commentertonytr

I saw Girls Trip which wasn't as funny as everyone around me was telling me it was. But I can definitely see why it was so successful.

I understand Tiffany Haddish was everyone's MVP, but I much preferred the performances of Regina Hall and Jada Pinkett Smith. And I also really liked Larenz Tate's performance as Julian: the decent, soulful guy who Regina Hall's character winds up with at the end of the movie.

Whilst watching the movie I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew him from a previous role so I had to look him up online afterwards and was shocked to find that he was the same actor who played a trigger-happy teenager in Menace II Society.

November 12, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterMDA

Lady Bird - it’s good to great. I would love to see Soarise (sp) and Laurie Metcalf nominated. It’s very well acted and written, and very female centric. Lois Smith, Tracy Letts and Lucas Hedges also very good

November 12, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterTom Ford

Any wagers on Justice League opening weekend? Thor: Ragnarok did $122 mil, and I'm guessing the former will at the very least match that, give or take.

Wonder Woman did $103 with better critical buzz over BvS, which did $166, while the critically scathed Suicide Squad still pulled off $133. So if Justice League can maintain its (early) good word-of-mouth on into actual reviews, I see no reason why it can prove to be Warner/DC's highest grosser yet. Say, $170 to $180?

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterCannon

"Lady Bird"! So winsome and sharp and lovely, with a cultural specificity and attention to behavioral detail rare in American coming-of-age films. And the filmmaking is stunningly economical - a pithiness also characteristic of Gerwig's collaborations with Baumbach.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterJonathan

Really happy about LADY BIRD. Should be seen by everyone!

As for me, I had a gay ol' time at the theaters this weekend. Took in a double feature of BPM and GOD'S OWN COUNTRY on Saturday then on Sunday I saw the film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical HELLO AGAIN (starring Audra McDonald, Martha Plimpton, Cheyenne Jackson, and more). Check it out, you guys!

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterRyan T.

Saw the Florida Project. It was superb! The lived in feeling ...the dissonance of childhood innocence and adult cruelty amplified by the juxaposition of the geographies of disney and the motels. I appreciated the unplotted storytelling. It is not many people's cup of tea for sure. Just the topic of poverty in movies seems explotative to those cannot be bothered by it. But movie is not that. I would love to see Oscar noms for this little gem.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterKD

Watched quite a bit, which was unusual for me. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS which I admired but didn't fully enjoy as it was a bit slow. Looooved Michelle Pfeiffer in it & that gorgeous song sung by her during the end credits. THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER which I liked, and I'm happy Colin Farrell found a director who knows how to utilize him so well. GOD'S OWN COUNTRY which I also liked, but I was hoping I'd love it after anticipating it for so many months. Also caught up on THE BEGUILED on DVD, which I really liked as well. Currently finally watching SYRIANA to see how George Clooney won his Oscar.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterGeorge P.

I also saw "Murder on the Orient Express" and, while I really enjoyed it, the 70's version is much superior. Too much tell, not enough show of the clues.

It looked too CGI in the location shots. But everyone is fun and it's so clever. Good but not great. SO nice to see Michelle Pfeiffer back on the big screen. I hope Branaugh does do more, as implied.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commenterforever1267

I saw both Thor: Ragnarok and Murder on the Orient Express yesterday.

Thor was was very funny and I really liked what it brought to the MCU. I sort of didn't get the reviews of people saying it was comedy first and action second when I felt it was pretty even in that regard and sometimes at the same time. I actually have enjoyed all the Thor films, but yes this is the best one by far. Tessa Thompson's Valkryie was an excellent addition to the this world. Her charisma is off the charts. Cate Blanchett was excellent as Hela and that villain is definitely one of the better villains that Marvel has put out. Goldblum was hysterical and he seemed to be having a lot of fun in his role. The visual style is reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, but I'm not surprised considering that is is a film that deals with an alien world.

Murder on the Orient Express I absolutely loved. I thought it was a beautiful. I love how many of the shots looked like a painting. I loved the attention to detail in the production design. I thought most of the acting was very good. This is probably one of the few cases where I was happy I had not seen the original film nor read the book because the mystery kept me guessing through the entire film. I kept trying to think of what the film reminded me of and I figured out that it reminded me of the polished period films of the nineties. Some of the tracking shots through the train reminded of the tracking shots in Titanic. B+/A-

Friday night at home I watched Ricki and the Flash, which my boyfriend bought on iTunes, and I am so happy we decided to watch it. I'm sad I didn't see that one in theaters. I know it was a bit formulaic, but it was just so enjoyable to watch and I loved a good complex family dramedy. I also honestly liked Meryl Streep in this film more than some of her Oscar nominated roles. Also, "Cold One" should have been nominated for Original Song at the Oscars (especially considering how bad the winner was that year).

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterBrian

I saw 'Three Billboards', 'Orient Express,' and 'Sacred Deer.'

Three Billboards was very fun, though some scenes seemed to pander to the audience more than to serve the plot. I'm on-board for a McDormand and maybe a Rockwell nomination, and I won't be sad if it gets in Best Picture, but I'm surprised it won TIFF.

I'd heard a lot of bad things about Murder on the Orient Express, but I loved it. Admittedly, I'm an Agatha Christie fan and this was not the best adaptation of a complex whodunit but it was beautifully rendered with an excellent cast. I loved Michelle Pfeiffer and especially Daisy Ridley and Lucy Boynton. Hated Branagh's Poirot. Can we please get an all-star remake of And Then There Were None?

The Killing of a Sacred Deer was very captivating, but it mostly works at a surface level. I'm not sure it provides as much social commentary as Dogtooth or especially The Lobster.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterEvan

I watched Murder on the Orient Express. I'm a big Christie fan and I enjoyed the movie. It was a little too short though and we didn't get as much time to really know the characters. Of the men, I would say (surprisingly) that Josh Gad gave the best performance simply because the film gave his character so much more time then the others. Of the women, Penelope Cruz and Daisy Ridley have brief great moments but Michelle Pfieffer is the movie's MVP. The scene where her character's past is revealed is a great moment. Not enough for a nomination I don't think, unless traction for Mother combines with this one for an overdue nom.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterTom

Saw Thor. Enjoyed Taika’s character and colorful visions (the Hulk carnival!). Tessa Thompson was fantastic pre-makeover. I found the final action sequence boring as usual. The snake Loki story (improvised?) was amazing. The world-switch-up was fun.

This was the second movie in a row (after blade runner) in which a big/surprising moment or reveal in the film was spoiled by the very first trailer that came out. During blade runner I kept thinking in the back of my mind “okay, so when does Harrison Ford’s character come back” and it wasn’t until the very end of the movie! Similarly, there was a huge buildup in Thor about the fighting champion and the whole time everyone in the theater already knows that it's Hulk. I get that someone thinks these trailer reveals helped sell the films (which didn’t work with Blade Runner apparently) but it’s a very anti-audience move. I’ve been trying to avoid trailers for Star Wars for that reason but that’s becoming harder and harder when seeing movies in theaters. Sigh. Let us have our surprises!

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commentercatbaskets

Saw Murder on the Orient Express. I really enjoyed it. OK so it's not going to end up on anyone's top 5, Branagh's a little bit too in love with his own face, it's a little slow in places, and a lot of that incredible cast are reduced to glorified cameos - BUT, it looks gorgeous, it's well made, it's fun, it's old fashioned, and happy to say that Michelle Pfeiffer, for the second time this year, is MVP in a film that could really do with using her more.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterJB

I think Nat should do a who acted it best for MOTOE,Pfeiffer,Cruz,Dafoe and Depp were the only stars on board beside Branagh yet the original was stuffed witht hem and all the better for it,Odom whoever he is replacing Connery,Gad replacing Perkins,Ridley for Redgrave.

Dench compared to Hiller was such a lazy lazy performance.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

@markgordonuk- I don't think Dench's performance was lazy, just shortened. All of the wonderful dialogue that Hiller had in the 1974 version was gone. Dench only had about 15 lines in the whole movie. And Olivia Colman outside of speaking German had almost no lines! So much character interaction was cut from the film.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterTom

You mean the script or deleted footage,I just felt in the original everything was told during the denuemont with flashbacks and the interrogations were linked into it and what stars we had then,Pfeiffer was MVP and could by a fluke receive a nomination for it,Bergman did it,I appreciate Finney more after seeing Branagh.

RE Dench it just seemed very phoned in,I didn't want her to repeat but that role could've popped with someone else in it,I admit I love Hiller in the original and would have nominated her in 74,I also liked how Jacobi completed did a u turn away from Geilgud's peformance but the unknowns BOynton and her chap,Ridley,oom and the others were awful.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

I mean compared to the original there was more time for the characters to speak and interact and therefore be more fleshed out. The interrogations kind of zipped by. Wendy Hiller's interrogation scene told us so much about the Princess and her life. This scene was so quick we barely had any time with her.
I agree that if anyone is going to get Oscar buzz from the movie it is Pfieffer. I also agree about the man playing the count. Pfieffer monologue about good looking men who open their mouths and ruin everything completely applies to him.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterTom

I went and saw THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER and it was terrific. Even if it didn't have a singular message the way Yorgos Lanthimos' last two films did, it still managed to work as an ambiguous nightmare that dares you to enter.

Also, the acting was quite amazing. Even Alicia Silverstone in her one scene.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterMatt St. Clair

Orient Express - Hated Branagh's Poirot, at a flames on the side of my face level, and how it was written to focus so much more on him vs. the suspects. That said, I thought Gad, Bateman, Ridley, and Pfeffier were all quite good - it's just a shame we saw so little of Pfeffier and so much of Branagh's bizarrely action and athletics-oriented Poirot. I'm a fan of these all-star mysteries - but that means I want to see more than one actor.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterScottC

Somehow I ended up seeing both the top Wide and Limited grossers this weekend! Of the two, Lady Bird is far superior, but that's not a surprise to anyone, is it? It's such a lovely, deeply felt piece, and just exquisitely directed. All the actors, right down to the smallest of parts, were terrific, especially Ronan and Metcalfe - this has to be one of the best-written and performed mother-daughter dynamics ever filmed. I was unexpectedly touched by it, especially since I didn't know going in that it took place in the 2002-2003 school year, which is the year after I graduated high school and went a plane ride away to college. So it brought up a LOT of feels.

Thor 3: Battle of the Divas was pretty much everything I was hoping for. My only criticism is that I wanted more of Hela. Yes, she's one of the best villains Marvel has come up with, but I feel like they could have gone farther with her. Blanchett was clearly game. I'm so glad they leaned into the comedy, because Hemsworth is a natural at it. Needed WAY more shirtless Thor, though. I still enjoyed it very much, though, if not quite as much as the second Guardians film.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterDancin' Dan

Saw Orient Express. Pleasantly surprised. A little messy as a mystery puzzle (hard to follow the "clues" as edited) but unexpectedly solid as a more emotional piece...much thanks to Pfeiffer who really is tremendously good. She really gets how to walk that line between movie star and deep performance.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterTom M

I saw Columbus, Wonderstruck, Human Flow and Thor Ragnarok. All worth seeing even if I didn't love them all.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterJoseph

I had a little chuckle when I first glanced at the top of this graphic and thought Thor Ragnarok could have been called Daddy's Home 2 LOL.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterJoseph

Saw Lady Bird, and it exceeded all my expectations. Gotta feeling that Saoirse is gonna be one of the all time greats. What a great time and good cry at the movies.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commenterbrookesboy

I saw Wonderstruck and I liked it a lot. It's too bad it's not gaining traction. Julianne Moore and the kids were so good, and of course the production design was outstanding. I'm not sure why some critics are claiming the design elements are too much when that is basically Haynes's signature, and he's been praised for them in the past.

I also saw...

Marjorie Prime - A disappointment and rather monotonous once the big family secret was revealed.

Cheri - Also a disappointment. After hearing about this for years, I expected much more, but there was no chemistry between Michelle Pfeiffer and her leading man, who looked too old for the part. What happened to Stephen Frears's career?

Frances Ha - I rewatched this in preparation for Lady Bird next week, and of course it is so wonderful and relatable. One of the best of recent years?

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterSuzanne

I saw The Killing of a Sacred Deer and thought it was brilliantly off-kilter. It’s amazing how Lanthimos has been able to translate his sensibilities so effortlessly to his English features - that doesn’t always work for foreign auteurs. Farrell and Kidman really know how to navigate his material and Barry Keoghan was terrifying. Loved every squirm-inducing, darkly funny minute of it.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commenterthefilmjunkie

I saw "Thor Ragnarok" which I enjoyed as a trifle. Chris Hemsworth should make the full switch to comedy. I also saw BPM before the weekend which was powerful and one of the most honest portrayals of being gay. It was great to see a gay film where the gays are not tortured by their identity but rise up defiantly because of it. The end is a bit harrowing, and it didn't help that a friend recently passed at a young age from leukemia. I kept thinking of him in relation to watching young, vibrant and passionate people die. It's disappointing that "BPM" isn't doing well at the box office.

On streaming I finally caught "Their Finest" which was an understated delight. The performances were all terrific. The film seems predictable throughout, hitting just the right notes. I thought I knew where the film was headed until I didn't. There is a surprise that jostles the film out of the romantic comedy road it was traveling. The romantic side of me wished it had remained charmingly predictable, but I think the film ends on a strong note of female empowerment--much-needed these days.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterRaul

LADY BIRD. So great, loved every second. And honestly, can we just get more movies with Tracy Letts and Laurie Metcalf? My god, they are great actors!

S3 of W1A. Again. I freaking adore this show. Writer/director Morton is working on a feature rom-com, so sure hope he's writing it for Hugh Bonneville and Nina Sosanya, with a little Sarah Parish thrown in.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterPam

Should we begin casting Death on the Nile.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

Saw Lady Bird and loved it. In addition to everything everyone has said, I really loved Lucas Hedges in it. His hugging Ronan, just leaning into it more and more, was so heartbreaking and specific.

Also saw Pepi, Luci, Bom since I learned about it from the Almodovar retrospective on this very site. So absurd and dirty and pervy and weird, but he sure does find very game actors to take the material and run with it.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterDJDeeJay

Cannon: $180 million is only about $20 million off the opening of The Avengers, and...this is still pretty much a Zack Snyder superhero movie. They're already running into a mild to moderate level of controversy over going with skimpier Amazon wear as opposed to just using or replicating the costumes from the Wonder Woman production (an obvious mistake that Marvel wouldn't make). Based on that, the recent marketing looking...not BvS or Man of Steel bad, but not seeming like something to get naturally hyped over, the actual result of three of the last four movies (and all four DCXU final acts, to be frank)... AND the fact that there's an actual competitor for this rough, gritty, super serious style of comic adaptation that same weekend with The Punisher? I'd wager $110-130 million. Basically a coin flip as to out-grossing Ragnarok's opening week, but not the almost Avengers numbers you're positing.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

^Raul

I caught THEIR FINEST a month or two ago since I missed it in theaters and I really liked it as well. It surprised me too with where it went.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterGeorge P.

Note: That $110-130 million guess is based on that good word of mouth actually translating into the actual reviews. If it doesn't, I'd guess we're looking at $70-90 million.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

I saw FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL at a British Film Festival in Sydney. Very nicely done - Jamie Bell is fantastic. The Bening is great as usual, but it took me a little while to get into her performance.

My partner loved it but had never heard of Gloria Grahame and didn't realise she was a real person!

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterSteve G

I saw "Thor Ragnarok" which is everything a comic book movie should be- fun, exciting and spectacular- a great hero Mr Hemsworth can be both beautiful and funny- a great villain Blanchet has to come back for the next one- nice sidekicks you can't have Thor with out Hiddeston's Loki. And the nutty Jeff Goldblum- great production design.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterJaragon

The film junkie: I loved KOASD as well and Barry Keoghan gave the best performance I have seen all year. Might he figure in the year end critic's awards? I hope so.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterMichael R

Raul -- i also lost a friend young to leukemia. we were only 23 when he passed so i feel you.

DJDeeDay -- so happy to spread the Almodovar word.

Pam -- yay. so happy Lady Bird is having no problem collecting fans out there.

November 13, 2017 | Unregistered CommenterNATHANIEL R
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