The “Now You See Me” franchise’s reappearing act is landing on the top of box office charts, debuting ahead of the weekend’s other new releases “The Running Man” and “Keeper.”
Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” heisted $8.4 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,403 locations. The PG-13-rated threequel is looking at a three-day opening between $21 million and $24 million — about in line with pre-weekend projections and in the ballpark of the prior 2016 entry, which opened to $22 million.
Critics turned in mediocre marks for “Now You Don’t,” but it is the best-reviewed of the trilogy. Meanwhile, audiences lean positive at a “B+” grade from moviegoer pollster CinemaScore (though lower than the “A-” grades for both prior entries). Lionsgate shelled out north of $90 million to revive the franchise, which is directed by Ruben Fleischer and sees Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco return as a quartet of Robin Hood-like illusionists. Both prior entries scored a majority of their grosses overseas and, notably, Lionsgate typically sells off international rights to limit its financial exposure, at the cost of capping upside.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s “The Running Man” starring Glen Powell will have to vie for second place against the sophomore weekend of “Predator: Badlands” (funnily, another stab at resurrecting a property that was first introduced to moviegoers via an Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle in the ’80s.) The R-rated “Running Man” racked up $6.4 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,534 locations. That puts the film on track to land behind projections for a debut north of $20 million, now forecast for the $17 million to $19 million range.
It’s an inauspicious kick-off for the Stephen King adaptation, which carries a hefty $110 million production budget co-financed by Domain Entertainment. Reviews have been lukewarm, though audiences are kinder with a B+ grade from CinemaScore. But with a crowded November slate ahead, including “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2,” “The Running Man” likely could’ve used some much stronger initial buzz to propel it through the coming weeks.
Also opening this weekend, Neon’s “Keeper,” the latest indie horror effort from writer-director Osgood Perkins, earned about $1 million from 1,950 locations across Friday and previews. It’s headed for a fifth-place debut. The opening doesn’t compare to the last two Perkins efforts — last year’s summer breakout “Longlegs” ($22 million) and this past spring’s “The Monkey” ($14 million). Reviews are worse than those last two movies too, and CinemaScore turned in a dismal “D+” grade.
Disney’s “Predator: Badlands” earned $3.5 million on its second Friday, down 68% from its opening day total a week ago. The science-fiction sequel’s domestic gross is now at $56 million and looks to go north of $66 million through Sunday. It’s gunning to pass “Alien vs. Predator,” which, though a crossover, is the biggest domestic box office hit ever for the franchise with $80.2 million in North America.
“Regretting You” will round out the top five, earning $1.2 million on Friday and projecting a 39% drop for a $4 million fourth weekend and another strong hold. Paramount’s release of the Colleen Hoover adaptation will hit a domestic total of $45 million through Sunday.
