During this time last year, moviegoers flocked to theaters for the animated feature Minions, which scored a $115 million opening and secured the last $200 million-plus opening that summer. This year, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) dominated the box office with another animated flick, The Secret Life of Pets.
The Secret Life of Pets brought in roughly $40 million more than analysts predicted, nabbing the top spot with $103.17 million.
That total gives Pets the best opening of all-time for an animated feature when you back out sequels. Otherwise, it’s the sixth-best opening for an animated film. CMCSA stock popped at the end of last week on news that Pets had brought in $5.3 million in early Thursday showings.
Claiming the No. 2 spot was The Legend of Tarzan, holding second place for as many times in two weeks. This weekend, Tarzan swung to $20.6 million — a drop-off of 46% for a lifetime total of $81.4 million.
At this pace, Tarzan is projected to reach $125 million domestically, which means it needs to draw in foreign audiences to recoup its $180 million budget. Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX), too, gained at the end of last week, and the strength has so far held in early Monday trading.
Other Box Office Rankings
Finding Dory, which has brought in more than $422 million domestically to date, raked in an impressive $20.35 million in its fourth weekend. That’s a drop-off of 51%, but still, Finding Dory boasts the best domestic total this year, beating out superhero flicks Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War.
To put it another way, Dory is swimming its way to a better showing than fellow Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) movies Frozen, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
While animated features have become more surefire audience draws than superhero flicks in 2016, not all of them fared well. Just look at Disney imprint Buena Vista’s The BFG, which dropped to No. 8 in its second week (from fourth place last weekend). The BFG brought in $7.7 million for a cumulative $38.74 million. Steven Spielberg’s animated adventure still has a ways to go before recouping its $140 million budget. DIS stock is down a tenth of a percent in early Monday trading.
Other notable films this weekend include Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates ($16.6 million), The Purge: Election Day ($11.7 million), Central Intelligence ($8.12 million) and Independence Day: Resurgence ($7.7 million).
All said, the top ten films at the box office brought in a combined $203 million, about a million more than same weekend last year. For next weekend, all eyes are on the Ghostbusters reboot, which is scoring mixed reviews.
As of this writing, John Kilhefner did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
