Warner Bros horror movie IT dominates weekend box office
Horror movie IT made more than $7m across 548 screens in its first weekend at the Australian box office, grossing six times its nearest competitor, Hitman’s Bodyguard.
It also overtook 2011’s Paranormal Activity 3, as the largest opening day for a R-rated thriller in the US.
Based on the Stephen King novel, IT tells the story of seven young outcasts in Maine, who are faced with a shape-shifting evil clown, Pennywise, who emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on children.
In the week leading up to the local premiere, Village Roadshow Films and experiential agency Mr Glasses created hand-painted billboards and placed red balloons in front of drains across various cities.
Hitman’s Bodyguard, which made $2.330m in its opening weekend, earned $1.257m across 267 screens, slipping from first to second place. It has made $4.975m to date.
In third place was Girl’s Trip, which managed to make $954,165 at the weekend box office, bringing its total to $2.875m, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
Action film American Made fell from second to fourth over the weekend, earning $781,460 across 300 screens.
Warner Bros’ Dunkirk managed to scrape a spot in the top five, making $258,499. Since its premiere in July, Dunkirk has made $22.970m.
Title (Distributor) | Weekend B/O | Screens | Total B/O |
---|---|---|---|
It (Wb) | $7,467,255 | 548 | $7,467,255 |
The Hitman's Bodyguard (Roadshow) | $1,257,901 | 267 | $4,975,201 |
Girl's Trip (Universal) | $954,165 | 237 | $2,875,554 |
American Made (Universal) | $781,460 | 300 | $5,675,649 |
Dunkirk (Wb) | $258,499 | 163 | $22,970,394 |
The Emoji Movie (Sony) | $201,320 | 144 | $237,119 |
Ali's Wedding (Madman) | $191,836 | 55 | $591,337 |
Hampstead (Eone) | $183,031 | 225 | $2,606,361 |
Annabelle: Creation (Wb) | $163,405 | 173 | $7,065,911 |
Gifted (Roadshow) | $135,907 | 99 | $436,408 |
Celebrate Studio Gibili (Madman) | $127,869 | 53 | $670,923 |
The Dark Tower (Sony) | $104,601 | 149 | $3,110,387 |
The Dinner (Icon) | $103,431 | 58 | $118,429 |
The Big Sick (Roadshow) | $70,964 | 66 | $4,266,498 |
The King's Choice (Palace) | $58,933 | 22 | $466,430 |
Madame (Studiocanal) | $50,530 | 39 | $471,732 |
Maudie (Transmission) | $39,736 | 33 | $312,361 |
War For The Planet Of The Apes (Fox) | $38,400 | 57 | $10,377,877 |
Despicable Me 3 (Universal) | $37,702 | 79 | $32,901,598 |
47 Meters Down (Vendetta) | $34,501 | 51 | $481,913 |
In North America, “It” will take out the oldest record in the book —
Highest ever gross for a September release — Crocodile Dundee, 1986, US$174.8m .
Coincidentally, the novel “It” was first published in September, 1986.
User ID not verified.