“A Quiet Place: Day One” made a splash at the box office. The prequel earned an estimated $53 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.
They are two of the best franchises and significantly more than expected. Over the weekend, prerelease tracking had “Day One” with a $40 million debut, but viewers were more enthusiastic to see the horror action starring Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and released by Paramount.
The same cannot be said for Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1,” which opened to $11 million.
The victory of “A Quiet Place” was not enough to reach the desired first place on the charts.
The award again goes to Disney and Pixar’s juggernaut “Inside Out 2,” which added an estimated $57.4 million in its third weekend in theaters, and surpassed $1 billion worldwide.
There is a remote chance that the spot will move when it actually releases Monday. But either way it is good news for cinemas in the summer which is finally heating up but still far from last year (down 19%) and the pre-pandemic norm (down 36% from 2019).
“Inside Out 2” continues to be a box office phenomenon, the likes of which the industry hasn’t seen since “Barbie” nearly a year ago.
In just three weeks of release, it has earned nearly $470 million in North America and $545.5 million internationally, bringing its global total to $1.01 billion.
The sequel was the only 2024 release to cross the billion dollar mark and took 19 days, a record for an animated film.
“The film’s astonishing global success demonstrates once again that audiences around the world respond to compelling and entertaining films, and they want to see them on the big screen,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Theater Association. The owner, in a statement.
“A Quiet Place: Day One,” directed by Michael Sarnoski and rated PG-13, is also quickly approaching critical thresholds out of the gate. Including $45.5 million from international exposure in 59 markets, the $67 million production has grossed $98.5 million.
“There’s a lot of love for the ‘A Quiet Place’ franchise,” said Chris Aronson, head of domestic distribution for Paramount. “We’re listening to fans who want to expand the world.”
In a rare feat for a third film, it opened higher than “A Quiet Place” ($50.2 million opening in April 2018) and “A Quiet Place: Part II” ($47.5 million opening in May 2021). John Krasinski, who wrote and directed the first two, continues to produce.
“This is one of those rare horror franchises that has generated incredible goodwill with audiences and critics alike,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
Playing on 3,708 screens in the US and Canada, nearly 40% of domestic revenue comes from “premium screens” including IMAX and other large formats.
It entered the market with positive reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes); Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore and four out of five stars on PostTrak.
“We put together a compelling package but I also think it shows people going to the movies,” Aronson said. “Markets really work when there’s choice and there’s something for everyone.”
The beginning for “Horizon,” meanwhile, was slow. Even if the older audience, the ones who support Western epics the most, usually don’t rush out to see movies on opening weekend like people often do for horror and superheroes, the road ahead won’t be easy: The reviews haven’t been good and that’s underwhelming B- CinemaScore.
The stakes are also a little different for “Horizon,” a $100 million production that Costner financed himself and partnered with Warner Bros. It opened in 3,334 locations.
A decades-old passion project, which mortgage property in Santa Barbara, California to finance and get out of “Yellowstone” to see it through.
In a bold, unconventional strategy, “Chapter 2” comes to cinemas later this summer, on August 16. He also has plans for two other films.
“The western genre is a very specific one,” says Dergarabedian. “It’s going to be about the long game.”
A quick glance at the top 10 shows that audiences prefer franchises and “familiar commodities” over originals.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is behind “Horizon” on the charts, and has been in theaters for four weeks.
“Viewers in the summer want to try and be right, they want to be familiar,” Dergarabedian said.
They were also hit by different genres in the top 10, including two Indian films: The Telugu language sci-fi “Kalki 2898 AD” in fifth place with $5.4 million and the Punjabi language “Jatt & Juliet 3” in fourth place nine with $1.5 million.
“If you can’t find something that appeals to you in the multiplex now, you’re not looking hard enough,” Dergarabedian said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. The final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Inside Out 2,” $57.4 million.
2. “A Quiet Place: Day One,” $53 million.
3. “Horizon: The American Saga – Chapter 1,” $11 million.
4. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $10.3 million.
5. “Kalki 2898 AD,” $5.4 million.
6. “The Bikeriders,” $3.3 million.
7. “The Garfield Movie,” $2 million.
8. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” $168.1 million.
9. “Jatt & Juliet 3,” $1.5 million.
10. “Kinds of Kindness,” $1.5 million.