Last weekend,Straight Outta Comptoncontinued Universal Pictures' banner year at thebox office, taking in an estimated $56.1 million, which was actually adjusted up to $60.2 million after the final numbers were tallied. With all of the major blockbusters either out of theaters or ending their runs, thisN.W.A.biopic is looking to cruise through the competition throughout the rest of August and possibly into September, although this weekend, there will be three new movies debuting in wide release that will attempt to dethrone the current champ: 20th Century Fox’sHitman: Agent 47, Focus Features’Sinister 2and Lionsgate’sAmerican Ultra. Do any of these newcomers have a shot at taking downStraight Outta Compton? In short, no.
It isn’t known yet if Universal plans on expandingStraight Outta Comptonfrom its 2,757 theater count last weekend, but given its early success, that wouldn’t be too surprising. We don’t have final theater counts yet forHitman: Agent 47,Sinister 2and Lionsgate’sAmerican Ultra, butHitman: Agent 47is expected to debut in approximately 3,100 theaters, with the latter two arriving in an estimated 2,600 theaters apiece, according toBox Office Mojo. Even ifHitman: Agent 47does screen in 3,100 theaters or more, it likely won’t matter, since there isn’t nearly the buzz surrounding that project as there was withStraight Outta Compton.American Ultradoes have star-power on its side, withJesse EisenbergandKristen Stewartleading a diverse and talented cast, but that won’t seem to matter much when it opens in theaters this weekend.
It’s also worth noting that no reviews have been posted on RottenTomatoes.com for any of the new releases yet, so we’re not sure yet if the critical response will result in higher or lower yields for this trio of new releases. Of course,Straight Outta Comptonwill surely suffer a drop, as do all movies in their second weekend, but I don’t think it will be nearly significant enough to bump this biopic out of the top spot. We’re peggingStraight Outta Comptonto take first place with an additional $29.8 million, a respectable drop-off for a film in its second weekend, and this trio of new releases won’t even come close.
Sinister 2will likely take the second place spot with a predicted gross of $17.1 million, withMission: Impossible Rogue Nationtaking in $9.9 million in its fourth weekend in theaters.Mission: Impossible Rogue Nationhas earned $138.3 million at the domestic box office, putting it on par withMission: Impossible Ghost Protocol’s $141.1 million take after three weekends in theaters, back in 2011. Rounding out the top 5 will beAmerican Ultrawith a predicted opening weekend take of $9.5 million, andThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.with $7.1 million.
The weekend’s widest new release will most likely fare the worst, withHitman: Agent 47expected to open in sixth place with $6.5 million.Fantastic Fourwill likely have its last weekend in the top 10, dropping to seventh place with $3.7 million,The Gifttaking eighth place with $3.5 million,Ant-Mandropping to ninth place with $2.8 million andVacationtaking the 10th place spot with $2.2 million. The weekend also brings a slew of films in limited release, but none are expected to crack the top 10.
The Orchard’s Digging for Fire, Sony Pictures Classics’Grandma, Broad Green Pictures' Learning to Drive and Lionsgate Premiere’sShe’s Funny That Waywill also be vying for your box office dollars in limited release, but we don’t have any specific theater counts at this time. The end of August normally means a slide in box office receipts, a trend which will surely continue this year, if the lack of buzz around these projects are any indication.
As we head into the film’s second weekend, many believeStraight Outta Comptonis a true Oscar contender. One day after the film hit theaters, theN.W.A.biopic was screened for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members at the 1012-seat Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills. Most of these screenings draw small crowds, especially before Oscar contenders start hitting theaters in the fall.Straight Outta Compton’s screening was between 80 to 85% full. And a different screening last week brought in approximately 200 members. A Universal Pictures rep, who was monitoring attendance, said the screening drew well over 700 viewers.
Oscar voters were reportedly so taken by the movie that the N.W.A. biopic was actually met with applause, a rare occurrence that, according to one member, has only happened a few times over the past few years. Several members spoke after the screening and all said they were all very impressed. About the post-screening Q&A with producersIce Cubeand Scott Bernstein, producer-directorF. Gary Grayand actorsO’Shea Jackson Jr.,Corey Antonio HawkinsandJason Mitchell, this was said by one member of the Academy.
“They handled the crowd expertly.Ice Cubesaid to the crowd, ‘I’m not anti-police,’ even though there’s a lot of police brutality portrayed in the film. He said, ‘I support the police.'”
DoesStraight Outta Comptonhave a shot at Oscar? While the biopic succeeds on a number of levels, it’s still very early in the awards season race.Straight Outta Comptonalso comes along at a time when the Academy is trying to increase diversity among its membership. The Academy came under fire for their controversial Oscar snub ofDavid Oyelowofor his critically-acclaimed performance inSelmalast year. The film itself was nominated for Best Picture but lost toBirdman. We’ll have to wait and see ifStraight Outta Comptoncan buck this trend. As it stands right now,Straight Outta Comptonwill have no problem winning for a second weekend in a row. Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Let us know what you think, after checking out our projected top 10 for this weekend.
