‘The Woman in Black’ and ‘Chronicle’ lead better-than-expected box office numbers
The Super Bowl is this weekend, and many analysts predicted a pretty slow weekend at the box office. However, if Saturday is anything like Friday for Hollywood, this weekend will be a pleasant surprise. Daniel Radcliffe’s horror film The Woman in Black and Fox’s Chronicle had better-than-expected opening days, which could set up for a big weekend for both films.
According to The Wrap, CBS Films expected The Woman in Black to end the weekend with just $8 million, but it has already surpassed that total after one day. Deadline reports that the PG-13 horror film grossed $8.8 million Friday. The site also predicts that the film could finish the weekend with $20 million.
Fox expected Chronicle to also make under $10 million, and the PG-13 found-footage style film grossed $8.6 million. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, it is expected to make north of $19 million by the end of Sunday.
Critically, the two films have done pretty well. Rotten Tomatoes shows that The Woman in Black has received mixed criticism, but has a 63 percent rating from critics. Chronicle is looking even better, receiving a ‘certified fresh’ rating with 84 percent. However, the film’s disadvantage is that it is targeted towards young males, who will probably stay away from theaters on Sunday to catch the game. On the other hand, The Woman in Black is tracking better with young women.
The Grey with Liam Neeson finished Friday in a distant third, making just $3.1 million, so it will likely finish its second weekend with around $9 million.
Another new release, Universal’s Big Miracle made just $2.3 million. The Drew Barrymore-starring film could have a better Sunday since the studio targeted it towards mothers and their daughters, who are not likely to be interested in football. At least, that’s what Universal thinks, and since it worked for Disney last year when it released a Hannah Montana concert film on Super Bowl weekend, Universal might be right.
Underworld: Awakening made just $1.8 million, while Katherine Heigl’s One For The Money made just $1.7 million. Clearly, the success the film had last week, when it made $11.5 million, was a fluke.