Weekend estimates: The Little Things launches with $4.8 million
January 31, 2021
Although it will fall a little short of our weekend prediction, The Little Things will post a respectable-under-the-circumstances $4.8 million this weekend, according to Warner Bros.’ Sunday morning projection. If there wasn’t a pandemic going on, that would translate into something like a $21 million debut—in line with previous outings for Denzel Washington in action films and thrillers, such as Unstoppable ($22.7 million opening) and The Taking of Pelham 123 ($23.4 million opening), although behind the more recent The Equalizer, which started out with $34 million. It gives The Little Things bragging rights to the best opening of 2021, which everyone in the industry will be praying is a title it won’t hold for very long.
A couple of returning films beat expectations this weekend. The Croods: A New Age continued its remarkable run with a 2% improvement from last weekend to $1.84 million. Its performance is probably the best barometer of the overall health of the market right now, since it has been playing for 10 weeks and doesn’t have much in the way of competition. It’ll actually earn a little more this weekend than it did the weekend of January 8. Monster Hunter is also doing relatively well this weekend, with a projected decline of just 10% to $740,000, and a total of $11.1 million so far.
The top six will combine for $10.47 million, a bit behind our predicted $11.7 million, mainly due to The Little Things missing its target, but enough that this will be the second-best weekend of the year so far for the theatrical business, not far behind New Year's weekend. This is all far from great news, but sometimes, well, it’s the little things that matter.
The Little Things will also be the top studio film in international markets this weekend with $2.8 million from 17 small markets and Russia. Its Russian weekend will come in at $1.1 million from 770 screens, which is its biggest result, but its best performance is arguably in Saudi Arabia where it will earn a projected $871,000 from 40 screens. Overall, The Little Things will earn $7.6 million globally this weekend, and it will also be the most popular title on HBO Max, as one would expect.
Wonder Woman 1984 will add another $1.3 million internationally this weekend for a total of $112.8 million outside North America so far, and $152.0 million worldwide. Its biggest international territory will again be Australia, with $445,000 this weekend for $18.2 million in total.
The Croods: A New Age will pick up $1.332 million internationally this weekend for a total of $100.428 million overseas. Its global total is now $144.375 million, with its two top markets Australia, with $681,00 this weekend for a total of $15.239 million; and China with $143,000 for $53.396 million in total.
International Markets
Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Monster Hunter, The Croods: A New Age, The Little Things, Denzel Washington