Finding Dory holds off Tarzan, The Purge and The BFG
Despite three new wide releases, Disney•Pixar‘s Finding Dory held onto first place its third weekend with another $41.9 million domestically and an estimated $50.5 million for the four-day Fourth of July box office. Internationally, the blockbuster sequel added another $34.4 million for a global three-day weekend of $76.3 million. The domestic total is now up to $372.2 million (through Sunday) and overseas total to $166 million, for a worldwide sum of $538.2 million. The estimated $380.8 million the film will have made through Monday in North America makes it the fifth highest-grossing animated movie of all-time already domestically. When comparing the film to Finding Nemo, the 2003 release earned $380.8 million domestically and $555.9 million internationally for a worldwide total of $936.7 million. Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton returned to the directors chair for the animated film, which features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Michael Sheen, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton.
Opening in second place was Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Legend of Tarzan with $38.1 million over the three-day period from 3,561 theaters, an average of $10,709 per theater. The four-day total for the David Yates-directed film could reach $45 million. Debuting in 19 international markets this weekend, The Legend of Tarzan grossed $18.8 million overseas on about 6,700 screens for a worldwide total of $56.9 million through Sunday. $5.9 million of the film’s four-day worldwide box office is coming from 454 IMAX screens, with 332 domestic screens contributing $4.7 million. Made for a hefty $180 million, the film received an A- CinemaScore from audiences. The Legend of Tarzan stars Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Djimon Hounsou.
Performing better than expected, The Purge: Election Year (Universal Pictures, Blumhouse) debuted in third place in North America with $30.9 million through Sunday from 2,796 theaters, an average of $11,041 per theater. Made for just $10 million, the James DeMonaco-directed film is expected to gross $34 million over the four-day holiday weekend. Starring Frank Grillo and Elizabeth Mitchell, The Purge: Election Year received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences.
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG opened in the fourth spot with a surprisingly low $19.6 million from 3,357 theaters, an average of $5,834 per theater. Starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Bill Hader, the Disney release received an A- CinemaScore from audiences and should earn $23.6 million over the four days. In the international territories Disney holds distribution rights, The BFG earned $3.9 million for the three days. The film cost about $140 million to make.
Dropping three spots to fifth was Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day: Resurgence, which added $16.5 million its second weekend, about a 60% in ticket sales from its opening weekend. The 20th Century Fox release is expected to gross about $20.1 million for the four-day frame and reach $76.3 million domestically through Monday. Internationally, “Resurgence” earned $40.2 million this weekend from 17,792 screens in 64 markets to take its overseas total to $177 million and worldwide total to $249.7 million. Starring Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Brent Spiner, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Maika Monroe and Jessie Usher, the sequel cost $165 million to produce.
Sixth place belonged to Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s action-comedy Central Intelligence (New Line/Warner Bros.), which earned $12.5 million its third weekend through Sunday for a three-week total of $91.8 million. Internationally, the film has earned $30.3 million and the movie has a worldwide sum of $124.8 million so far. It is expected to earn about $15 million in North America over the four-day holiday.
Also, Blake Lively’s shark thriller The Shallows (Sony) added $9 million its second weekend in the seventh spot and has earned $35.3 million through Sunday. The film cost just $17 million to make.