After finishing second place last weekend, DreamWorks’ Mr. Peabody & Sherman jumped to the top of the weekend box office with an estimated $21.2 million. The adaptation based on the shorts from Rocky and Bullwinkle has currently grossed over $63 million.
Last week’s leader, 300: Rise of an Empire dipped to second with a $19.1 million haul. The stylized film starring Sullivan Stapleton and Eva Green continues to trail the run of its 2007 predecessor. Opening in third place is Need for Speed starring Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). The action film chased a less than anticipated $17.8 million frame.
Liam Neeson’s hijacking film, Non-Stop pulled in an additional $10.6 million for fourth place. That left the latest Tyler Perry film, The Single Moms Club rounding out the Top 5 with a record-low $8.3 million for the director.
Note: These #’s are based on Sunday’s projections and can change with Monday’s actual #’s.
#1 – Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2)
$21.2 million / $63.2 million total
It was a given that Mr. Peabody & Sherman would leap over last week’s champ, 300: Rise of an Empire. But the big shocker this weekend was toppling newcomer Need for Speed. Mr. Peabody continues to play catch-up with other March DreamWorks Animation openers (How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, Monsters vs. Aliens). That won’t stop the studio from garnering its first animated hit since The Croods a year ago.
#2 – 300: Rise of an Empire (1)
$19.1 million / $78.3 million total
In 10 days of release, 300: Rise of an Empire has mustered little over what 300 did in its opening weekend. Rise of an Empire was never expected to match 300’s success. Finishing 40% below the 2007 film could slow down the rumored final chapter in this trilogy. By the end of its run, Rise of an Empire could potentially trail Mr. Peabody & Sherman domestically. A $125-130 million finish seems likely at this point.
#3 – Need for Speed (NR)
$17.8 million / $17.8 million total
Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul might need a new action vehicle to start his movie career. Opening in third place behind both last week’s openers was not a good omen for Need for Speed. With no Fast and Furious movie this year, Need for Speed could have been a brief substitute. It turns out the complete opposite. As previously stated in my box office predictions, Need for Speed looks for a heavily frontloaded run. The film has to face Divergent and Muppets Most Wanted in five days time.
#4 – Non-Stop (3)
$10.6 million / $68.8 million total
Non-Stop continues to hang on for another week in the Top 5. Already outgrossing Battleship and The Grey, the film chalks up another hit for Liam Neeson. The century mark is far out of reach at this point, but a finish around $80-85 million would still be respectable. That would place it in the same vicinity as 2005’s Flightplan starring Jodie Foster.
#5 – Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club (NR)
$8.3 million / $8.3 million total
Tyler Perry’s been on a downward spiral since mid-2013. Peeples and A Madea Christmas failed to click with moviegoers. It appears The Single Moms Club has made matters worse for the director, actor and producer. Moms is Perry’s weakest opener to date. After debuting in a low 1,800 theaters, there wasn’t much faith in a big box office return.
Opening Next Week: Divergent, Muppets Most Wanted, Bad Words (expanding), The Grand Budapest Hotel (expanding)
Source: Box Office Mojo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matt Marshall is a YouTube movie reviewer who hosts MNMreviews. He has a B.A. in Communications/Journalism from St. John Fisher College and resides in Rochester, NY.
