The last weekend in April is normally rather quiet at the box office, since it represents the calm before the storm that is the summer movie season. Next weekend, Marvel’sCaptain America: Civil Warkicks off the summer movie season, but Disney’sThe Jungle Bookhas been dominating since opening earlier this month. The adaptation ofRudyard Kipling’s timeless classic has won for the third straight week in a row, taking in an impressive $42.4 million, beating three newcomers who all underperformed,Keanu,Mother’s DayandRatchet & Clank.Captain America: Civil Waralso postedimpressive box officenumbers in its international debut this weekend.
Last weekend,The Jungle Bookdropped just 41.1% to take in $60.8 million. According toBox Office Mojo, the Disney adventure only dropped an impressive 31% in its third weekend, earning $42.4 million from 4,041 for an impressive $10,502per-screen average. The movie has earned just over $252 million domestically and $684.7 million worldwide, from a hefty $175 million budget. WithCaptain America: Civil Warexpected to open huge next weekend, this will likely beThe Jungle Book’s last weekend atop the box office.The Huntsman: Winter’s Warstayed put in second place this weekend with $9.39 million, dropping 51.7% from its opening weekend.
While it doesn’t open domestically until May 6,Captain America: Civil Wardebuted in 37 international markets this weekend, posting an impressive $200.2 million in its international debut. The movie fell just short ofAvengers: Age of Ultron’s $202 million international debut, and it’s expected to take in between $175 million to $200 million during its domestic opening weekend. This weekend represented 63% of the movie’s global markets, with important openings in China, Russia, Italy and Argentina happening this week. WithThe Jungle Book($57.1M) andZootopia($8.3M), along withCaptain America: Civil War, Disney had the top 3 studio movies this weekend internationally, with all three movies pulling in $265.6M from foreign markets this weekend.
Keanuopened in 2,658 theaters this weekend, taking third place with $9.35 million. The movie earned a meager $3,518 per-screen average.Mother’s Dayopened in fourth place with $8.3 million, opening in 3,035 theaters but it only earned a paltry $2,736 per-screen average.Keanuis already a hit with the critics, with a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, whileMother’s Dayis certainly not a critical darling, dropping to an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, down from 20% earlier this week.Ratchet & Clankhas posted a 19% rating from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
KeanufollowsKeegan-Michael KeyandJordan Peele, a.k.a. the hugely popular comedy duoKey & Peele, who star as Clarence and Rell, two cousins who live in the city but are far from streetwise. When Rell’s beloved kitten,Keanu, is catnapped, the hopelessly straight-laced pair must impersonate ruthless killers in order to infiltrate a street gang and retrieve the purloined feline. But the incredibly adorable kitten becomes so coveted that the fight over his custody creates a gang war, forcing our two unwitting heroes to take the law into their own hands.
Mother’s Dayis the latest star studded ensemble comedy from directorGarry Marshall, who previously directedNew Year’s EveandValentine’s Day. Bringing togetherJennifer Aniston,Kate HudsonandJulia Robertsalong withJason Sudeikis, it’s a celebration of mothers everywhere. This big-hearted comedy invites us all to enjoy the laughter, tears and love as three generations come together in the week leading up toMother’s Day. The top 5 is rounded out byBarbershop: The Next Cutwith $6.1 million.
Ratchet & Clanktells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they’ll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.James Arnold TaylorandDavid Kayeprovide the voices forRatchet & Clank, withJim Ward,Kevin Michael Richardson,Armin ShimermanandMarc Grauerounding out the voice cast.
The top 10 is rounded out byZootopia($5 million),Ratchet & Clank($4.8 million),The Boss($4.2 million),Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice($3.8 million) andCriminal($1.3 million). Also opening in limited release is IFC’sThe Man Who Knew Infinity, which earned $88,134 from six theaters for a $14,689 per-screen average. Yari Film Group’sPapa Hemingway in Cubaearned $491,200 from 325 theaters for a horrid $1,511 per-screen average, while Starz Media’sThe Family Fangtook in $15,285 from just one theater. No box office data was given for Magnolia’sVivaand Focus World’sTerm Life.Term Life, which starsHailee SteinfeldandVince Vaughn, is slated to open in 50 theaters this weekend, but it isn’t clear if there are any plans for expansion.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Marvel will essentially have the weekend to itself to debutCaptain America: Civil War, which has been projected to take in between $175 million and $200 million in its opening weekend. While Cap will be the only wide release, there will be a slew of movies debuting in limited release on May 6 as well. Fox Searchlight’sA Bigger Splashactually opens on May 4, two days beforeCaptain America 3, with theStar WarsdocumentaryElstree 1976, Shout! Factor’s horror movieBite, Sony Classics' documentaryDark Horse, Paladin’sBeing Charlieand IFC’sPele: Birth of a Legendalso debuting on May 6. Take a look at the box office estimates for the weekend of April 29, and check back next week for our new predictions for the first weekend of the summer movie season.
