Maybe ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’ should have been the ‘Final Chapter’ because American audiences are dead tired of this 15 year-old franchise based on the Capcom video games. ‘The Final Chapter’ took in $13.8M, the lowest opening in the entire series in the U.S.
‘Resident Evil”s performance echos that of ‘Underworld: Blood Wars’, also from Sony, less than a month ago. Of course, both are long-running action/horror franchises, fronted by butt-kicking females, Milla Jovovich as Alice in ‘Resident Evil’ and Kate Beckinsale as Selene in ‘Underworld’. And both do much better overseas than in the U.S.
‘The Final Chapter’ made $28.3M internationally, which takes the series as a whole over the $1 billion mark. In fact, globally, ‘The Final Chapter’ could be the franchise’s top performer and may even hit $200M once it completes its theatrical run.
But in the U.S., ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ only landed at #4, behind repeaters ‘Split’ which came it at #1 with $26.3M and ‘Hidden Figures’ with $14M at #3.
The one new entry to slot higher was ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, which despite protests from PETA and animal lovers over a leaked TMZ video which showed a German Shepherd star being forced to perform in a turbulent pool, simulating rapids. But the film did so well in “the heartland” that some theaters are requesting additional copies to screen. This newcomer landed at #2 with $18.38M.
Awards-winner ‘La La Land’ continues to hover at #5, taking in $12.05M.
- Split (Universal) – $26.3M
- A Dog’s Purpose (Universal) – $18.38M
- Hidden Figures (20th Century Fox) – $14M
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Sony) – $13.8M
- La La Land (Lionsgate) – $12.05M
As per usual, the movies nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture have all seen a surge in attendance, including ‘Lion’, ‘Manchester By The Sea’, ‘Arrival’, ‘Moonlight’, ‘Fences’, and ‘Hacksaw Ridge’.
Next week is a bit of a lull. YA-skewing sci-fi flick ‘The Space Between Us’ opens along with horror sequel ‘Rings’. The week after should really shake things up as several big movies open, including ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’, ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’.
Did you hit the theater this weekend? If so, what did you see and what did you think? What movies are you most looking forward to in the coming weeks?
Source: Deadline
