Hollywood is facing two consecutive slow weekends at the box office. After Focus won the box office last weekend with less than $20 million, Chappie is poised to do the same this weekend.
Chappie is the latest offering from Neill Blomkamp, who is looking to rebound after Elysium disappointed fans of District 9. This time, he goes back to South Africa to tell the story of a robot that learns to think and feel on its own. The human cast includes Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel. Thankfully for Sony, the movie was much cheaper to make than Elysium, reportedly costing just $49 million.
Variety reports that it got off to a modest start on Thursday night, taking in $750,000. That should put it on the road to at least $20 million.
The other new opener of the weekend is Fox’s Unfinished Business, a new R-rated comedy from Vince Vaughn. Deadline reports that the film only made $250,000 from its early showings. That movie is expected to struggle to get past $6 million.
Will Smith’s Focus is expected to hold on well this weekend, following a soft $18.7 million opening. It will probably drop to around $10 million.
Fox’s The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel also opens in theaters this weekend.
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