The House That Mickey Mouse Built began 2016 still raking in cash thanks to the worldwide success of Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Then January 29th rolled around and the release of The Finest Hours sank in theaters and actually cost the company money. But Disney is taking it in stride with a pair of blockbusters, Zootopia (with more than $900M worldwide!) and The Jungle Book, which repeats atop the box office with an estimated $60.8 million. With more than $191M grossed in the U.S., this latest live-action adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling novel is on pace to earn more than $275M and most likely in the area of $800M worldwide. The only thing stopping it is the upcoming release of Captain America: Civil War. But it also falls under the Disney banner so it’s a win-win for the studio. Thereafter, Disney’s 2016 line-up is pretty stout: Tim Burton’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, Pixar’s Finding Dory, Steven Spielberg’s The BFG, Pete’s Dragon, The Light Between Oceans, Marvel’s Doctor Strange, the animated Moana and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
So is it too early to say Disney will be the studio box office champ of 2016?
Jungle Book‘s repeat as No. 1 means newcomer The Huntsman: Winter’s War had to settle for silver. Universal’s prequel to Snow White and the Huntsman may have lost Snow White and gained Jessica Chastain and Emily Blunt, the film failed with critics and audiences. Opening to a paltry $20 million (versus the $56M opening posted by SWatH in June 2012), the fantasy epic will need help internationally to turn a profit. Obviously for studio Universal, unless it has the words “fast” or “furious” in the title, an April release will have problems making a splash in theaters.
This weekend saw Zootopia and The Boss flip-flop as Disney’s animated hit finishes at No. 4 with $6.6 million and Melissa McCarthy’s comedy earned an estimated $6M. Warner Bros.’ Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice continues to slip, but with more than than $850M worldwide the only one laughing are Zack Snyder and the rest of the jokers.
Popping into the top 10 is the Spanish-language release Compadres from Lionsgate’s Pantelion. Opening on 368 screens it made $1.35 million.
Elsewhere, the Tom Hanks and Tom Tyker collaboration A Hologram for the King debuted just outside of the top ten at No. 11 with $1.2 million from 401 locations. Bleecker Street’s Elvis & Nixon opened in limited release and made $456k. Now in super limited release, Sony Pictures Classics’ The Meddler dropped on four screens and collected $15k, while IFC Films’ Tale of Tales played on two screens this weekend to the tune of $9k. And of course there’s Drafthouse Films’ supremely offbeat comedy Men & Chicken with $2.5k from two locations.
Upcoming we have Key & Peele’s Keanu squaring off against Gary Marshall’s Mother’s Day and Ratchet & Clank. Considering this line-up and target audiences for each, it could be a case of The Jungle Book narrowly retaining or Garry Marshall’s latest holiday comedy exploding with moms and expecting mothers. Granted his 2010 release Valentine’s Day opened huge with $56M while his follow-up, New Year’s Eve, only debuted with $13M. Let’s see if the ladies are down for a new comedy where Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson all appear.
Top 10 below.
01. The Jungle Book – $60.8 Million ($191.4M)
02. The Huntsman: Winter’s War – $20 Million
03. Barbershop: The Next Cut – $10.8 Million ($36M)
04. Zootopia – $6.6 Million ($316.4M)
05. The Boss – $6 Million ($49.5M)
06. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – $5.5 Million ($319.5M)
07. Criminal – $3.1 Million ($10.8M)
08. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 – $2.1 Million ($55.3M)
09. Compadres – $1.35 Million
10. Eye in the Sky – $1.2 Million ($14.9M)
