“Blade Runner 2049” has topped the weekend box office, as “It” has finally been decisively defeated after taking the top sport three of the last four weeks. The record-breaking film finished in third place, adding another $9.97 million to its total domestic haul. There were also two other new films that finished in the top four for the weekend.
Weak showing by 'Blade Runner 2049' despite first place
Warner Brothers Studio's “Blade Runner 2049” easily topped the domestic box office this weekend, taking in $32.75 million from 4,075 theaters according to Box Office Mojo. However, this was a poor opening weekend for a movie that had a big budget, as it cost at least an estimated $150 million to make. According to IndieWire, the movie was expected to earn at least $40 million domestically.
The long-anticipated sequel to 1982s “Blade Runner”, which is considered a sci-fi classic, also had star power behind it in Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto and Robin Wright.
It also received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a certified fresh score of 88 percent from 253 critic reviews. Audiences on the site have given it an 83 percent score from 35,564 user ratings.
According to USA Today, the reason why “Blade Runner 2049” underperformed can be seen in the opening-weekend data of who saw the movie. The audience was mostly male (71%) and overwhelming older than 25 (86%). This likely means that the film struggled to attract moviegoers outside of fans of the original movie.
How other new films did at the box office
“The Mountain Between Us” came in second place in its opening weekend, taking in $10.55 million from 3,088 theaters.
The adventure/romance movie starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba as two strangers whose survive their charter plane crash landing has an estimated production budget of $35 million. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a rotten score of 44 percent from 111 reviews.
Coming in fourth place right behind “It” was “My Litte Pony: The Movie”, which made $8.88 million at the box office from 2,528 theaters. The feature film to the hit children's TV show stars the voice work of Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, and Uzo Aduba. Ironically enough, USA Today pointed out that this movie drew a broader audience (59% female) than “Blade Runner 2049” did. The movie has received a 56 percent rotten rating from 32 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ironically enough, USA Today pointed out that this movie drew a broader audience (59% female) than “Blade Runner 2049” did. The movie has received a 56 percent rotten rating from 32 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.