Yesterday, we reported there was a chance that the newMelissa McCarthyfilm,The Boss, might make enough to dethroneBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceat the domestic box office, and now it looks like the broad comedy has done just that. It wasn’t by a huge margin—in fact, when the final numbers come in, it could easily switch. Right now,DeadlinehasThe Bossat $23.48 million whileBatman v Supermanpulled in $23.435 million. However, Deadline also notes “rivals are projecting thatBosswill have the better Saturday to Sunday hold overBvS,-35% to -40%.”
As forBatman v Superman, the movie fell 54 percent in its third weekend as its total domestic tally rose to $296.7 million according toTHR. That’s still impressive, but nowhere near what Warner Bros. wanted for what was arguably the biggest film of the year. It makes sense that the movie has lacked staying power because while it was a film that everyone wanted to see at least once to get an opinion on it, it’s not a fun film to revisit. Credit toZack Snyder—he’s up front with his audience that this will not be a fun film to sit through, but there’s a reason that serious dramas don’t tear up the box office. Modern cinema is escapist entertainment, andBatman v Supermandoesn’t offer much of an escape.
The weekend’s other new wide release,Hardcore Henryperformed quite poorly pulling in “just $5.1 million for a fifth place showing from 3,015 locations.” Granted, it’s a movie where the biggest star is Sharlto Copley, but the film’s lack of success should provide interesting fodder on the state of the relationship between video games and movies sinceHardcore Henryis a movie that desperately wants to use the visual language and narrative devices of first person shooters.
Here’s this weekend’s top ten, based on studio estimates:
$23,480,000
Batman v Superman
$23,430,000
$14,300,000
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
$6,400,000
Hardcore Henry
$5,100,000
Miracles from Heaven
$4,800,000
God’s Not Dead 2
$4,300,000
The Divergent Series: Allegiant
$3,600,000
10 Cloverfield Lane
$3,000,000
Eye in the Sky
$2,830,000
