We’ve arrived at summer’s final frame and, in terms of the box office, the season is ending with a whimper. This is shaping up to be the lowest three-day Labor Day weekend in at least a decade, with not one title expected to top $10 million by Sunday. The last time that happened was way back in 2004, when the average North American ticket price was just $6.21 (compared to about $8.60 this year).
Even within this depressing overall picture, there are a handful of films that should have something to be proud of this weekend… relatively speaking. Not among them, surprising though that seems, isThe Transporter Refueled. The fourth film in theTransporterseries (and the first without starJason Statham), managed to pull off a surprise win on Friday – barely. With an estimated $2.4 million from 3,434 locations,Refuelededged outWar Roomfor first place by less than $100,000. The film is looking at a high-end projection of $8 million through Sunday. That’s down from $12 million forTransporter 3in 2008.
The movie that looks strong this holiday frame isWar Room, the faith-based drama that opened in second place last weekend. Sony added another 391 locations for the film’s sophomore frame, bringing its theatre count up to 1,526. The boost helpedWar Roomclaim an estimated $2.31 million on Friday, which puts it on track for approximately $9 million through Sunday. That might be enough to denyStraight Outta Comptona fourth consecutive win, but with estimates this low and this close no clear winner is obvious.
Entering its fourth weekend,Straight Outta Comptonearned an estimated $2.23 million on Friday. Projections for the three-day Labor Day frame put the biopic at just over $9 million – barely enough to squeeze pastWar Roomfor first place. Even if it’s denied a fourth win,Comptonshould hit the $150 mark by the end of the four-day holiday weekend.
Though it came in behindThe Transporter Refueledon Friday, the R-ratedA Walk in the Woodsappears to be this weekend’s strongest new title. The first nationwide release from indie-distributor Broad Green Features,A Walk in the Woodsopened on Wednesday and took in $1.16 million. That was good enough to give theRobert Redford-Nick Noltecomedy first place for the day, though it was overtaken byComptonone day later. With an estimated $2.19 million from 1,849 locations yesterday,A Walk in the Woodsis expected to bring in about $8 million for the three-day Labor Day weekend. That’s in-line with the projection forRefueledbut, because of the difference in theatre counts and marketing,A Walkwill come out looking far stronger.
Here’s Friday’s top five films, based on studio estimates:
The Transporter Refueled
$2,400,000
$2,310,0000
Straight Outta Compton
$2,230,000
A Walk in the Woods
$2,193,000
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
$1,675,000
