‘Dumbo’ Remake Flies to $2.6 Million at Thursday Box Office
Brian Welk
Disney’s “Dumbo” is off to a lukewarm start at the box office with a $45 million opening weekend from 4,259 screens. While some independent trackers projected a lower opening, Tim Burton’s remake is launching below the $50 million-plus start that Disney had hoped for.“Dumbo” opened day-and-date worldwide, adding $71 million from overseas markets for a $116 million global launch against a reported $170 million budget before marketing. Families comprised 54 percent of this weekend’s audience, who gave the film an A- on CinemaScore.But other barometers of reception aren’t as strong, with a 3.5 score from general audiences on Postrak and a 50 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This likely means trouble for “Dumbo” next weekend, when “Shazam,” a superhero film built as a four-quadrant crowd pleaser, could pull away both family and general moviegoers.Also Read: 'Dumbo' Film Review: Tim Burton Remake Trips Over Its Own EarsIn second this weekend is Universal’s “Us,” which held decently with $33.6 million for a drop off of 53 percent from its $71 million opening. While that is not as strong a hold for Jordan Peele as “Get Out,” which dropped 15 percent from a $33 million opening in 2017, it’s still better than the 60+ percent drop that is customary for horror films. The movie now has a 10-day domestic total of $128.2 million.Taking third is “Captain Marvel” with $20.5 million domestic and $46.9 million worldwide in its fourth weekend. That will push its domestic total past the $350 million mark, while taking its global cume to $990 million.Completing the top five are CBS Films/Lionsgate’s “Five Feet Apart” and Pure Flix newcomer “Unplanned,” both estimated to land in the $6 million range this weekend. “Five Feet Apart” will take fourth with $6.25 million in its third weekend for a domestic total of $35.8 million.Also Read: Let's Compare Jordan Peele's 'Us' and 'Get Out' (Podcast)“Unplanned,” meanwhile, has earned the second best opening of any Pure Flix release behind only the $7.2 million opening of “God’s Not Dead 2.” The anti-abortion true story film opened to $6.1 million from 1,059 screens. The film has mixed reviews from critics with a 50 percent RottenTomatoes score but has won over Christian audiences.Farther down the charts, Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” crossed $150 million domestic and $500 million worldwide in its sixth weekend in theaters, adding $4.2 million from North America to take the No. 7 spot and bring its domestic total to $153 million.Bleecker Street’s “Hotel Mumbai” expanded nationwide to 924 screens after its Los Angeles/New York limited opening, grossing $3.1 million. Finally, NEON’s “The Beach Bum” is flopping to a 10th place finish with just $1.8 million from 1,100 screens. It’s the lowest ever wide opening for lead star Matthew McConaughey, falling below the $3.4 million for The Weinstein Company’s “Gold.”Read original story ‘Dumbo’ Can’t Find High Altitude With $45 Million Opening At TheWrap
Disney’s live-action remake of its animated classic “Dumbo” spread its ears and soared to $2.6 million in its Thursday previews. It opens wide this weekend.
Tim Burton directs the children’s film about the flying baby elephant, and trackers have the film projected to earn between $40-50 million in its opening weekend, with Disney projecting around the $50 million mark.
The figure would be lower than other recent live-action remakes from Disney. “Cinderella” made $2.3 million in its Thursday previews and grossed $67.8 million in its opening weekend in March 2015. Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” earned an even higher $4.2 million ahead of a $103 million opening weekend. For some more recent examples, “Dumbo” is in the range of the third “How to Train Your Dragon” film, which made $3 million ahead of a $55 million opening weekend, and “The Lego Movie 2,” which did $2.1 million on Thursday before opening to $34 million.
“Dumbo” is loosely based on the original film from 1941 and follows a former circus star (Colin Farrell) and his two children (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins), who are tasked by struggling circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) to take care of a baby elephant with giant ears. But when the laughingstock elephant turns out to be able to fly, the ensuing resurgence in the circus’ popularity draws the attention of a shady businessman (Michael Keaton) who wants Dumbo to be the centerpiece of his new amusement park.
“Dumbo” also stars Eva Green and Alan Arkin, and is directed by Burton from a script by Ehren Kruger. It currently has a 55 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Dumbo” opens opposite “The Beach Bum” and “Unplanned,” which are on just over 1,000 screens this weekend, and “Hotel Mumbai,” which goes wider this weekend.
