This weekend Dory swam easily past Captain America to become the biggest grossing US hero of the year. (Captain America still leads internationally by a lot, which is funny if you think about it). That's quite impressive for a forgetful blue tang who could have gone 'straight to video' -- Wait, are we still saying that? If not, what's the new phrase. I'm scared of what this means for the future with all those cheapie animated sequels but it is what happened. The current top ten of 2016 includes only two originals (Zootopia & Central Intelligence) but otherwise it's all brand extensions / revisions. It didn't use to be this way but it's been a slow erosion. Consider by comparison: 2006's top ten had 5 originals; 1996 had 6; 1986 had 7. Since we get less original hits every year how soon until we have none?
It should be noted that an original won the weekend but since The Secret Life of Pets famously steals so shamelessly from the Toy Story template, and since it's been promoting itself for what seems like YEARS already it feels like it's a sequel to itself so should it count? Animated films continue to be the safest box office bets.
Mike and Dave performed fairly well in its opening weekend and The Legend of Tarzan had a strong second weekend. In platform release Captain Fantastic had a decent debut with a teensy tiny theater count: not terrible, not great. Will it win strong word of mouth? We deserve more Viggo in our lives but if we don't support his movie we won't get it.
TOP WIDE
800+ screens. arrows indicate gaining or losing screens
๐บ01 Secret Life of Pets $103.1 NEW
๐ป02 The Legend of Tarzan $20.6 (cum. $81.4) Review
๐บ03 Finding Dory $20.3 (cum. $422.5) Review
๐บ04 Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates $16.6 NEW
๐บ05 The Purge: Election Year $11.7 (cum. $58.1)
๐บ06 Central Intelligence $8.1 (cum. $108.3)
๐ป07 Independence Day: Resurgence $7.7 (cum. $91.4)
๐ป08 The BFG $7.6 (cum. $38.7) Review
๐ป09 The Shallows $4.8 (cum. $45.8) Costume Honors
๐ป10 The Conjuring 2 $1.7 (cum. $99.3) Heroes and Villains
๐ป11 Now You See Me 2 $1.3 (cum. $62.2)
๐ป12 Free State of Jones $1.3 (cum. $19.2)
TOP LIMITED
Less than 800 screens. Excluding previously wide.
๐บ01 Sultan $2.2 (cum. $3.2) NEW
๐บ02 Our Kind of Traitor $731K ($2.2)
๐ป03 Swiss Army Man $690K ($3.1) Best Actor
๐บ04 Hunt for the Wilderpeople $413K (cum. $754K) Review
๐ป05 Love & Friendship $326K (cum. $12.9) Review, Podcast, Best Picture
๐ป06 The Lobster $309K (cum. $8) Reviewish, Podcast
๐ป07 Maggie's Plan $180K (cum. $2.9) Review
๐บ08 Cold War 2 $165K NEW
๐บ09 The Music of Strangers $144K (cum. $566K)
๐บ10 Weiner-Dog $105K (cum. $288K)
๐บ11 Captain Fantastic $98K NEW Review
๐ป12 Genius $80K (cum. $1.2) Review
What movies did you catch this week? Remember to watch Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on Netflix for Tuesday night's "Best Shot" party.