Weekend Estimates: Harley Quinn Can’t Lead Her Film to Box Office Success

February 9, 2020

Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey is missing even the very low end of expectations with an estimated opening weekend of $33.25 million. The film is earning good reviews and a decent B plus rating from CinemaScore, and it is also the cheapest installment in the D.C.E.U., so this start isn’t disastrous. On the other hand, it is struggling more internationally with just $48 million on 22,362 screens in 78 markets. Part of this has to do with the coronavirus, which has caused major disruptions in many Asian countries. And I’m not just talking about the entertainment industry. So far close to 1,000 people have died, which is a major disaster. Although to put this into perspective, this flu season, about 10,000 people have died in the United States alone.

Bad Boys for Life was able to bounce back on Saturday better than expected and it is earning an estimated $12.01 million over the weekend. If this holds, it will have earned $166 million by the end of the weekend, which means it has a real shot at $200 million domestically, if next week’s holiday gives the film a bounce at the box office. Internationally, the film is pulling in $15.8 million on 9,000 screens in 63 markets for a running tally of $170 million. It had no major market openings this past weekend, but it has yet to open in China, so isn’t quite done yet.

1917 is next with $9.0 million over the weekend, which would be a mere 5% drop-off from last weekend. I can’t imagine what will happen next weekend if this film is the big winner at the Oscars tonight. The film is earning $8.71 million in 64 international markets for a running tally of $154.8 million thus far. It had no major market openings this weekend; in fact, it ends its international run with its debut in Japan this coming week.

Dolittle is currently in fourth place with an estimated $6.66 million over the weekend giving it a running tally of $63.96 million. It is doing even better internationally with $18.8 million in 65 markets for a running tally $94.7 million. This includes a strong of $6.47 million in 605 theaters during its debut in the U.K, which is about the same as a $35 million opening here, given the relative size of the two markets. Had it opened that well here and had the same legs, then the film would have crossed $100 million domestically by now. That would have been more than enough to save face and perhaps even enough to break even, eventually.

Jumanji: The Next Level will round out the top five with an estimated $5.53 million over the weekend for a total of $298.46 million after two months of release. It will get to $300 million very shortly, which will be its last major milestone. It is pulling in $3.3 million on 3,700 screens in 58 markets internationally for a running tally of $470 million. It’s not going to be able to push that total to $500 million, nor will it be able to lift its worldwide total, which is currently $768 million, to $800 million. Although it will come close.

Little Women got to $100 million domestically just before the weekend, and has $177 million worldwide, which is more than enough to be profitable.

As for limited releases, there is only one film that should enter the $10,000 club, The Lodge, which is earning an average of $13,017 in six theaters according to estimates. It is very rare for a horror film to lead the way in limited release.

- Weekend Box Office Chart
- Friday Box Office Chart
- Thursday Box Office Chart

- Friday Estimates: Are We Witnessing 2020’s First Loss?
- Thursday Night Previews: Harley Hardly Sets the Box Office on Fire
- Weekend Predictions: Can Quinn Capture Audience’s Attention
- Weekend Theater Counts: Birds of Prey Lands as the Weeks Widest Release

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Bad Boys For Life, Dolittle, Jumanji: The Next Level, 1917, Little Women, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), The Lodge, DC Extended Universe