In a little bit of a surprise, none of the new releases this weekend were able to make much commotion at the box office. The cynical side of me thinks that it’s becauseThe Great Wall,Fist Fight, andGore Verbinski’sA Cure for Wellnesswere all originals and if the movie isn’t tied to an existing property, it’s doomed at the box office. And the box office tallies for the three-day total - the four-day total won’t be in until Tuesday - bear this thinking out, asThe LEGO Batman Moviewent two for two this weekend, topping the box office with a $35 million take.
The Great Wallslid into third place with $18 million, as compared toFifty Shades Darkerlanding in the second spot with $20.8 million. That’s all the more depressing when one considers how remarkably badFifty Shades Darkerended up being, especially consideringAt Close RangehelmerJames Foleydirected the film. In comparison,The Great Wallhas some breathless and beautiful sequences, thanks to fight choreographers, set designers, production designers, and directorZhang YimouofHeroandHouse of Flying Daggers. The plot ofThe Great Wallis almost impressively idiotic but for sheer visual dazzle, it was about as good a movie as was available in the big theaters this weekend.
John Wick: Chapter 2continued to do solid business with $16 million, and expectations for a $19 million four-day total, which pushes its full box office take over the total gross of the originalJohn Wickin just two weeks. Now that’s a story about a franchise that doesn’t make you want to gag. Meanwhile,Fist Fightrounded out the top five with an expected $14 million four-day total (three-day total: around $12 million), which makes the R-rated effort about on par withIce Cube’s belovedFridaymovies. As forA Cure for Wellness, the news is not great, as the movie is now looking at a little over $4 million in its opening frame. But then, you remember thatHidden Figures, one of the best dramas of 2016, only dropped 11% in its umpteenth frame as compared to the 35%LEGO Batmandropped in its second frame. So, things aren’t necessarily hopeless and cravenly…at least at the box office.
