Box office: Denzel Washington has a Magnificent weekend

Box office: Denzel Washington has a Magnificent weekend September 25, 2016

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Denzel Washington scored one of the biggest openings of his career this week, with a film that proved remakes of classic movies don’t have to be flops.

The Magnificent Seven — based on the 1960 Western of the same name, which in turn was a remake of the 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai — earned an estimated $35 million between Thursday and Sunday nights.

That’s a career best for director Antoine Fuqua, beating the $34.1 million that The Equalizer opened to in 2014, and it ranks third among Denzel Washington openings, behind only 2007’s American Gangster and 2012’s Safe House.

It also marks the best opening ever for a regular Western (the film’s opening ranks third among Westerns overall, behind the animated Rango and the sci-fi Cowboys & Aliens), and it practically ties Sully for the fifth-best opening in September.

The Magnificent Seven’s success presumably comes as a relief to MGM, which had a huge flop last month with its remake of Ben-Hur. MGM co-produced the new Ben-Hur with Paramount and The Magnificent Seven with Sony.

The week’s other major wide release was Storks, an animated film that earned $21.8 million — one of the better openings for director Nicholas Stoller, who previously made live-action comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the Neighbors films, but a middling opening for an animated film released by a major studio.

Meanwhile, in other box-office news…

Sully earned $13.8 million and ranked third in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $92.4 million. The film has earned another $34.5 million overseas for a global total of $126.9 million.

Bridget Jones’s Baby earned $4.5 million and ranked fourth in its second week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $16.5 million. The film has earned another $67.1 million overseas for a global total of $83.6 million.

Snowden earned $4.1 million and ranked fifth in its second week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $15.1 million. The film has earned another $1.1 million overseas for a global total of $16.2 million.

Blair Witch earned $3.9 million and ranked sixth in its second week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $16.1 million. The film has earned another $4.9 million overseas for a global total of $21.1 million.

Don’t Breathe earned $3.8 million and ranked seventh in its fifth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $81.1 million. The film has earned another $39.2 million overseas for a global total of $120.3 million.

Suicide Squad earned $3.1 million and ranked eighth in its eighth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $318.1 million. The film has earned another $413.6 million overseas for a global total of $731.7 million.

When the Bough Breaks earned $2.5 million and ranked ninth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $26.6 million. The film has earned another $216,674 overseas for a global total of $26.8 million.

And Kubo and the Two Strings earned $1.1 million and ranked tenth in its sixth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $45.9 million. The film has earned another $12.6 million overseas for a global total of $58.6 million.

Now for a bit of extra data on Ben-Hur’s place among “faith-based” and Bible films:

Ben-Hur still ranks 11th among recent Bible-themed films in North America:

  • 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 million
  • 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 million
  • 2014 — Noah — $101.2 million
  • 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65 million
  • 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 million
  • 2009 — Year One — $43.3 million
  • 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 million
  • 2016 — Risen — $36.9 million
  • 1981 — History of the World, Part I — $31.7 million
  • 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 million
  • 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.3 million
  • 2002 — Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — $25.6 million
  • 1979 — Monty Python’s Life of Brian — $20 million
  • 1980 — Wholly Moses! — $14.2 million
  • 2006 — One Night with the King — $13.4 million
  • 1988 — The Last Temptation of Christ — $8.4 million
  • 2016 — The Young Messiah — $6.5 million
  • 1985 — King David — $5.1 million
  • 2003 — The Gospel of John — $4.1 million

It also still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years overseas (Box Office Mojo doesn’t have foreign figures for older Bible-themed films):

  • 2014 — Noah — $261.4 million
  • 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $241.1 million
  • 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $203.2 million
  • 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $117.2 million
  • 2016 — Ben-Hur — $60.2 million
  • 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $33.1 million
  • 2009 — Year One — $19.0 million
  • 2014 — Son of God — $11.1 million
  • 2016 — Risen — $9.2 million
  • 2006 — The Nativity Story — $8.8 million

And it still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years worldwide:

  • 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 + 241.1 = 611.9 million
  • 2014 — Noah — $101.2 + 261.4 = 362.6 million
  • 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65.0 + 203.2 = 268.2 million
  • 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 + 117.2 = 218.6 million
  • 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.3 + 60.2 = 86.5 million
  • 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 + 11.1 = 70.8 million
  • 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 + 33.1 = 63.2 million
  • 2009 — Year One — $43.3 + 19.0 = 62.4 million
  • 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 + 8.8 = 46.4 million
  • 2016 — Risen — $36.9 + 9.2 = 46.1 million

Ben-Hur also still ranks 13th among “faith-based” films in North America:

  • 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 million
  • 2014 — Heaven Is for Real — $91.4 million
  • 2015 — War Room — $67.8 million
  • 2016 — Miracles from Heaven — $61.7 million
  • 2014 — God’s Not Dead — $60.8 million
  • 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 million
  • 2011 — Soul Surfer — $43.9 million
  • 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 million
  • 2016 — Risen — $36.9 million
  • 2011 — Courageous — $34.5 million
  • 2008 — Fireproof — $33.5 million
  • 2014 — When the Game Stands Tall — $30.1 million
  • 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.3 million
  • 2002 — Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — $25.6 million
  • 2016 — God’s Not Dead 2 — $20.8 million
  • 2005 — The Gospel — $15.8 million

And now for a bit of extra data on the year’s top-grossing animated films:

In North America, The Secret Life of Pets still ranks eighth among animated films:

  • 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $484.2 million
  • 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 million
  • 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 million
  • 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 million
  • 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 million
  • 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 million
  • 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 million
  • 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $364.3 million
  • 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 million
  • 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 million

Overseas, Finding Dory now ranks 14th and The Secret Life of Pets now ranks 19th:

  • 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $875.7 million
  • 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $823.4 million
  • 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $715.9 million
  • 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $690.1 million
  • 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $682.3 million
  • 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $648.2 million
  • 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $602.7 million
  • 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $559.5 million
  • 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $545.7 million
  • 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $530.5 million
  • 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $513.9 million
  • 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $501.1 million
  • 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $500.4 million
  • 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $485.6 million
  • 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $478.6 million
  • 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $476.2 million
  • 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $475.7 million
  • 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $465.6 million
  • 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $456.6 million
  • 2014 — How to Train Your Dragon 2 (DreamWorks) — $444.5 million

And worldwide, Finding Dory now ranks sixth, while The Secret Life of Pets still ranks 13th:

  • 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 + 875.7 = 1276.5 million
  • 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $336.0 + 823.4 = 1159.4 million
  • 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 + 648.2 = 1063.2 million
  • 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 + 682.3 = 1023.6 million
  • 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 + 602.7 = 970.8 million
  • 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $484.2 + 485.6 = 969.8 million
  • 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 + 545.7 = 968.5 million
  • 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 + 559.5 = 940.3 million
  • 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 + 478.6 = 919.8 million
  • 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $196.6 + 690.1 = 886.7 million
  • 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $161.3 + 715.9 = 877.2 million
  • 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 + 501.1 = 857.6 million
  • 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $364.3 + 456.6 = 820.9 million
  • 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $322.7 + 476.2 = 799.0 million
  • 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $238.7 + 513.9 = 752.6 million
  • 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $216.4 + 530.5 = 746.9 million
  • 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $268.5 + 475.7 = 744.2 million
  • 2009 — Up (Pixar) — $293.0 + 442.1 = 735.1 million
  • 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $165.2 + 500.4 = 665.7 million
  • 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $195.3 + 465.6 = 660.9 million

Next week brings us Deepwater Horizon, Masterminds, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and the wide release of Queen of Katwe.


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