Hello everyone,
“Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1” didn’t meet predictions prior to its opening ($90 million 5 day was predicted) but did beat the predictions from the end of last week ($70 million 5 day). It made about $78 million over 5 days and about $54 million 3-day weekend. This is somewhat disappointing because the 3 day didn’t beat “The Flash” ($55 million) or “Indiana Jones” ($60 million) and didn’t beat the Fri-Tues 4th of July weekend 5 day for “Indiana Jones” ($83 million). Also, it JUST MISSED being the best opening 5 day weekend for the franchise. It made about $78.4 million 5 day and “Mission Impossible 2” made $78.8). However, the reviews for the movie were a lot better than “The Flash” or “Indiana Jones”, so the movie might make more money in the coming weeks (there will still be some people that see it instead of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”). It’s predicted it will be higher than $145 million (“Indiana Jones” current box office) after 3 weeks.
A surprise for this weekend is the relatively unknown “Sound of Freedom” which increases the number of theaters this past weekend (from 2850 to 3250) and MADE MORE MONEY this past weekend ($27 million – last weekend it was #3 with $19 million). Most people are saying this movie is doing very well in Republican areas due to some “QAnon conspiracy theories” referenced in the film. There’s even a rumor that last weekend some theater chains tried to suppress the box office for the movie.
Internationally, “Mission Impossible” did very well with a worldwide total of approx. $234 million which means $155 million in international markets. Although it didn’t do so well in China coming in 3rd after 2 Chinese movies. Meanwhile, “Elemental” and “Indiana Jones” both passed $300 million worldwide this past weekend (which some people say “Mission Impossible might pass by NEXT weekend).
Everyone is looking at this coming weekend to be the biggest weekend of the summer with the 1 (“Barbie”), 2 (“Oppenheimer”), 3 (“Mission Impossible” – 2nd weekend) punches some expect the total domestic box office to go over $250 million and the top 3 movies alone to make over $200 million. This summer so far, the top 10 movies have never reached more than $160 million combined even on the best opening weekend of the summer (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3” with $118 million).
Speaking of this coming weekend. I was checking out “Oppenheimer” tickets. At the Chinese IMAX in Hollywood – 1 of only 2 movies theaters in the Los Angeles area showing the movie on IMAX 70mm film (as I mentioned in my email last week – they’re BUILDING A PROJECTION BOOTH FOR IT) – not only is the movie sold out all weekend. EVERY SINGLE SEAT IS SOLD. Check out the photo from the Thursday night 9pm show.
Of course, the biggest news these days is the actors strike that started last week. The first problem from the strike is that actors are not allowed to promote their movies AT ALL which means that every movie and television show that comes out from now until the strike is over will have to figure out another way to promote. This could really hurt movie box office in August and September. In fact, Tom Cruise reportedly joined a negotiation meeting and one of the things he mentioned was about letting actors promote finished movies during the strike. The SAG turned him down, which means he had to stop promoting “Mission Impossible”
Also, several in productions movies immediately shut down including “Bettlejuice 2”, “Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 2”, and “Deadpool 3” (which Disney just adjusted the schedule so it would have been the first Marvel movie released in 2024). Some people are predicting that if the strikes continue until the fall, there might not be many movies that will be completed for 2024 release. Studios will have to consider postponing movies scheduled for the end of this year to next year so movie theaters won’t be empty.
Little bit of humor….
Imagine going to see “Barbie” this weekend and then this happens. It would bring a whole new group of people to see “Barbie”.
LOS ANGELES FILM REVIEW 