Split wins with $40.2 million, Rogue One passes $1 billion
M. Night Shyamalan’s Split (Universal Pictures) exceeded industry and studio expectations this weekend to gross $40.19 million in first place from 3,038 theaters, an average of $13,227 per theater. Internationally, the thriller debuted in 20 territories and earned $5.8 million, for a worldwide total of $46 million on a budget of just $9 million. Receiving a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, Split is Shyamalan’s fourth-highest grossing opening of his career. As seen with 2015’s breakout hit The Visit — the most successful horror film of that year — writer/director/producer Shyamalan again teamed with Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions, following the same low-budget model to provide Shyamalan creative filmmaking freedom. Split stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, and Haley Lu Richardson.
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Vin Diesel sequel xXx: Return of Xander Cage (Paramount Pictures) opened $20 million in 3,651 theaters. The original film, xXx, opened to $44.5 million in 2002. Made for about $85 million, xXx: Return of Xander Cage has grossed $50.5 million internationally, for a worldwide sum of $70.5 million. It received an A- CinemaScore from audiences. Directed by D. J. Caruso, the action film co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, Conor McGregor, Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose, Toni Collette, Donnie Yen, Ariadna Gutierrez and Ice Cube.
20th Century Fox’s Hidden Figures dropped a spot to third domestically with $16.3 million. Made for $25 million, the film has earned $84.2 million in North America. Directed by Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell and Kevin Costner.
Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures‘ Sing earned $9 million in fourth place and has brought in $249.4 million domestically. Overseas, the animated film is up to $178.6 million, for a worldwide total of $428 million after five weeks. Directed by Garth Jennings, Sing was made for $75 million and features the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton and Tori Kelly.
Damien Chazelle’s record seven-time Golden Globe winner La La Land (Lionsgate) rounded out the top five with $8.4 million. The musical has earned $89.7 million so far. La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, was made for just $30 million.
Disney and Lucasfilm‘s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story added $7 million domestically and $9 million internationally for a global weekend of $16 million. That means the Star Wars film has now earned $512.2 million in North America and $499.1 million overseas, a worldwide total of $1.011 billion. It’s the 13th Disney release ever to reach the milestone and the third Star Wars movie to do so. It’s also Disney’s fourth 2016 release to cross the $1 billion mark. Rogue One is the #1 domestic release of 2016 and the #7 domestic release of all time, as well as the #4 global release of 2016. The film cost about $200 million to make.
Staying with Disney, Moana reached a major milestone this weekend as well, having passed $500 million globally. The animated hit has earned $236.8 million domestically and $272.5 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $509.3 million. It’s the fourth consecutive Walt Disney Animation Studios release to reach this milestone, following Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia. The film still has to open in Japan on March 10.
The Weinstein Company also debuted The Founder in 1,100 theaters, where it earned $3.8 million. John Lee Hancock’s film about the founding of McDonald’s stars Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Linda Cardellini, Patrick Wilson, B.J. Novak and Laura Dern.