While genre-leaning fans have their eyes onComic-Con 2016this weekend, audiences across the country are enjoying the latest release in theStar Trekfranchise. The third installment in the rebooted series,Star Trek Beyond, scored $22.5 million on Friday and is on track for a weekend total in the range of $56 million to $60 million. While that’s not a terrible start, it is well behind the opening weekends of the previous installments, as 2009’sStar Treklaunched to $75.2 million and the follow-upStar Trek Into Darknessopened to $70.1 million.
Justin Lin, the filmmaker behind everyFast & Furiousfilm fromTokyo DriftthroughFast & Furious 6, took the helm ofBeyondwhileJ.J. Abramswas busy withStar Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s no secret that Paramount is still waiting for this franchise to “pop” with numbers in the range of other franchises likeFast & Furiousor Marvel movies, and whileStar Trek Into Darknessscored a solid $467.3 million worldwide, it’ll be interesting to see howBeyondfares if it gets off to a so-so start. Paramount has alreadyannounced plans forStar Trek 4that will bringChris Hemsworthback to the series, andBeyondboasts an A- CinemaScore and positive reviews, so it’s possible this installment will have legs.
Therealsuccess story of the weekend thus far is the microbudget Warner Bros. horror filmLights Out, which has already doubled its budget with a $9.2 million Friday and is on track for a weekend total as high as $21 million.The ConjuringhelmerJames Wanproduced the horror pic, which is an adaptation of a short film and has been scaring up solid reviews.
The weekend’s other major new release,Ice Age: Collision Course, fared much worse, with a paltry $7.8 million on Friday—quite low for a family franchise film. The fifth installment in theIce Ageseries will end the weekend at around $21 million and is not being helped by scathing reviews, although it’s off to a strong start internationally with $127 million thus far. The non-domestic market could be its saving grace.
Ghostbusters, meanwhile, doesn’t have as strong of a hold as many were hoping, with an estimated $6.2 million on Friday for a weekend total around $21 million. DirectorPaul Feig’s films usually become big successes in subsequent weeks, butGhostbustershas serious competition ahead in the form ofStar Trek BeyondandSuicide Squad. Although the filmcertainlydeservesto be a big hit.
Check out Friday’s Top 5 below and check back tomorrow for the full weekend estimates.
Star Trek Beyond
$22,500,000
Lights Out
$9,150,000
$9,150,0003
The Secret Life of Pets
$8,650,000
$240,028,745
Ice Age: Collision Course
$7,800,000
Ghostbusters
$6,200,000
$71,456,739
