In its second frame,Blade Runner 2049is looking at a major tumble down the top five at thebox office. By the end of yesterday, theDenis Villeneuve-helmed sequel had picked up a relatively paltry $4.3 million, placing it in third place behind two new openers that have had next to no marketing in comparison to the would-be blockbuster. There are more than a few reasons for this but its failure to secure the number one spot in its second frame has almost nothing to do with the content or marketing for Villeneuve’s film.
For those who have not worshipped at the alter ofRidley Scott’s dazzlingBlade Runnerfor the last few decades,Blade Runner 2049must have looked a bit turgid, lacking the frivolity and humor that many audience members are enticed by in trailers. That’s whatHappy Death Day, the latest little-horror-movie-that-could from Blumhouse, had in spades and its likely why it now looks like a lock for the number one spot this weekend with $11.6 million coming in on Friday alone. It’s also a horror movie, which does well with the Friday night crowds, but the hook of the film is a clever take on theGroundhog Daypremise. Here, a young woman must relive the last day of her life until she reveals her killer, and that seemingly minor twist on the slasher-flick formula was likely what brought audiences into the theater.
One could blame little more than the star power ofJackie Chanin explaining howMartin Campbell’sThe Foreigneralso beat outBlade Runner 2049at the box office this Friday. To be fair, The Foreigner is currently in second place with $4.7 million, which is only $400,000 more than whatBlade Runner 2049has taken in so far this weekend. Depending on how today and tomorrow go, Villeneuve’s film may still be able to grab the second spot but its still surprising and disappointing that a movie with genuine vision is losing to a lousy, boring action movie only enlivened by Chan’s presence.ItandThe Mountain Between Ushave brought in $1.9 million and $1.6 million at the box office respectively to come in at fourth and fifth on Friday, which puts them in a run-off as well. Both races are still totally up for grabs but the major lesson here is one that we’ve seen twice already with Blumhouse this year: small budgets and clever premises are a safer, smarter bet than the $100 million-plus juggernauts that stride alongside them.
Here’s your top five for Friday:
Friday Domestic BO
Total Domestic BO
1. ‘Happy Death Day’
$11,600,000
2. ‘The Foreigner’
$4,750,000
3. ‘Blade Runner 2049’
$4,315,000
$49,793,387
$1,960,000
$310,839,521
5. ‘The Mountain Between Us’
$1,685,821
$16,537,922
