Three years after Sony’s animated hitHotel Transylvaniaset a new September record with its $42.5 million opening, the sequel has arrived. And unlikelast weekend’s box officeheadlines, which highlighted the inability ofMaze Runner: The Scorch Trialsto match its predecessor’s debut,Hotel Transylvania 2is one sequel with the potential to match or even surpass its progenitor.
Like the first film,Hotel Transylvania 2stars the voices ofAdam SandlerandAndy Sambergand carries a family-friendly PG rating. From 3,754 locations, the sequel earned an estimated $13.25 million on Friday. That’s 20% more thanHotel Transylvaniaearned on its own opening day and indicates a weekend gross of at least $46 million. That would not only beat most early predictions, which ranged from $35 to $38 million, it would also set a new box office record for September. There could be no happier outcome for Sandler and Sony – both buried under the avalanche of negative press thatPixelsgenerated in July. There is even a chance thatHotelTransylvania 2will give Sandler a new career-high debut, assuming it tops the $47.6 million of 2006’sThe Longest Yard.
Opening in second place is Warner Bros.’The Intern, which earned an estimated $6.22 million from 3,305 locations. That’s just slightly lower than the $7.1 million that directorNancy Meyerslast feature film,It’s Complicated, earned on its first day (Christmas) in 2009. StarringAnne HathawayandRobert DeNiro,The Internwas projected to open with $15 million this weekend. It now looks like the comedy will beat expectations and come in closer to $18 million through Sunday.
Friday’s third new release did not make it into the top five, nor was it expected to. The long-delayed cannibal horror picThe Green Inferno, directed byEli Rothand released byJason Blum’s BH Tilt and High Top Releasing, earned an estimated $1.47 million from 1,540 screens yesterday. That indicates a weekend gross of $4 million, or on the low end of pre-release expectations.
Last weekend Universal made news by premieringEverestin 545 IMAX and premium large format locations. The disaster epic earned $47.2 million for an excellent per-screen average of $13,251. On the film’s first official day in nationwide release, the outcome was a little less impressive. From 3,006 locations,Everestearned an estimated $4 million – compared to the $2.3 million it claimed in its limited run one week ago. Through Sunday, Universal is expecting to add another $13 million to the film’s total.
Here’s Friday’s top five, based on studio estimates. We’ll have complete details on the weekend box office tomorrow.
Hotel Transylvania 2
$13,250,000
The Intern
$6,220,000
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
$4,115,000
$4,010,000
Black Mass
$3,515,000
