Original comedies Night School and Smallfoot score hard at the box office

For the second time this year, two original films, no franchise, "Night School" (Universal) and "" (Warner Bros.), have opened more than 20 million dollars. The last time two originals dominated the box office, it was last spring, with "A Quiet Place" and "Blocker".

This allowed the first weekend since Labor Day to improve compared to the same dates last year (total gross of $ 102 million compared to $ 90 million in 2017). Gross Proceeds of the Year continue to grow strongly – just under nine per cent (six per cent increase in ticket sales), with weekends like this helping to ensure an increase for the full year .

openers

The two new films have both benefited from a vital appeal and a larger audience – this is exactly what is needed to boost movies that do not draw their appeal from previously sold items. They differ in that the "night school", with a modest budget, has more appeal in the domestic market, while the more expensive animated film, "Smallfoot", plays better on the international scene. But their presence with initial success will encourage more like them.

Screen capture

"Night School", which tells the story of a group of adults who are trying to graduate from GED after work, has exceeded all expectations, because this movie calls for of the working class featuring black-box lures Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish went through to a wider audience. Hart is well established, but some of his previous successes, including the recent "Jumanji" restart, have been shared with co-stars (Will Ferrell, Black Jack, Dwayne Johnson), while Haddish built his "Girls Trip" success. Last year on multiple platforms. . Together, they constitute a powerful force.

Because of a less lucrative fall date, the $ 28 million gross is lower than Hart's best movies and Girls Trip. The film A Cinemascore and a good increase of 18% on the second day herald a good performance.

Discover the general appeal of the film: the public of the night school (50/50 men / women) gathered 37% of Whites, 30% of African-Americans and 24% of Latino.

In a slim year for comedies, Friday's first opus, "Night School," beat the first installment on Wednesday's "Crazy Rich Asians" for opening the best comedy of the year. It is still early but "Night School" could have a multiple multiple and a chance of $ 100 million.

Warner Bros.

Warners Animation is best known for its LEGO-related titles; "Smallfoot" marks only its sixth outing, and the third non-LEGO entry, as well as the third consecutive release of Warner Animation at the end of September.

This opening of $ 23 million, even if it is not a high-end activity for animation, remains the best of the three films of the fall (in front of "Storks" and "The LEGO Ninjago Movie" of the last year), but was beaten by the first two "LEGO". releases.

The cause has been the absence of any new animated film since the end of July or a major event since "Hotel Transylvania: Summer Vacation". Comedy and animation remain a haven for the original material, in this case the reversal of roles between Yetis and humans. On the basis of this decent opening, this should prosper. The international tends to disproportionately increase animated titles (most territories have not yet been opened). Although it's not a low-budget movie, $ 80 million is relatively modest for a studio cartoon. It's a promising start.

Two other large versions had inferior results. "Hell Fest" (Lionsgate partner, CBS Films) made a profit below its budget of $ 5.5 million. Arriving early in the Halloween before-month, this is a slasher movie taking place in a haunted house. For the genus, a four percent drop on the second day is a slightly positive note.

"Little Women" (Pinnacle) is the last of many adaptations of the classic novel (ahead of the anticipated release of Greta Gerwig) with little notice, mediocre reviews and only $ 747,000 in 643 theaters.

Holdovers

Among the titles of the second week, the surprisingly strong title of "The house with a clock in its walls" (Universal) fell by 53%, which is not a stellar possession. To date, it is just under $ 45 million, with a total of about $ 75 million currently at best.

All the hopes left for Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 11/9" (Briarcliff), in addition to supporting a large city and university area, were shattered by his 63% drop this weekend. The problem for the film is not so much an outing, but a loss of interest in the director's films. A platform exit would probably have reflected a similar drop, the main difference being a much cheaper output in terms of marketing. It will still be about $ 6 million, or more than $ 2 million more than its latest film "Where to Invade Next".

The best catch in the Top Ten was "A simple favor" (Lionsgate), down 36% in the third week and $ 43 million. The female-themed thriller joins another woman's photo, "Crazy Rich Asians" (Warner Bros.), who, on her seventh weekend, dropped by just under 35% to reach 165 million dollars.

The top ten

1. night school (Universal) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 43; East. budget: $ 29 million

$ 28,000,000 in 3,010 movie theaters; PTA (per theater allowance): $ 9,302; Cumulative: $ 28,000,000

2. small foot (Warner Bros.) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 15; East. budget: $ 80 million

$ 23,020,000 in 4,131 theaters; PTA: $ 5,573; Cumulative: $ 23,020,000

3. The house with a clock in its walls (Universal) Week 2; Last Weekend # 1

$ 12,510,000 (-53%) in 3,592 movie theaters (no changes); PTA: $ 3,483; Cumulative: $ 44,765,000

4. A simple favor (Lionsgate) Week 3; Last Weekend # 2

$ 6,600,000 (-36%) in 3,073 movie theaters (-29); PTA: $ 2,148; Cumulative: $ 43,067,000

5. The nun (Warner Bros.) Week 4; Last Weekend # 3

$ 5,435,000 (-45%) in 3,331 movie theaters (-376); PTA: $ 1,632; Cumulative: $ 109,018,000

6. Hell Fest (Lionsgate) NEW – Cinemascore: C; Metacritic: 23; estimated budget: $ 5 million

$ 5,075,000 in 2,297 cinemas; PTA: $ 2,029; Cumulative: $ 5,075,000

7. Asian rich fools (Warner Bros.) Week 7; Last Weekend # 4

$ 4,150,000 (-35%) in 2,347 movie theaters (-455); PTA: $ 1,768; Cumulative: $ 165,682,000

8. The predator (20th Century Fox) Week 3; Last Weekend # 5

$ 3,700,000 (-60%) in 2,926 movie theaters (-1,114); PTA: $ 1,265; Cumulative: $ 47,634,000

9. white boy Rick (Sony) Week 3; Last Weekend # 6

$ 2,385,000 (-51%) in 2,017 cinemas (-487); PTA: $ 1,182; Cumulative: $ 21,715,000

10. peppermint (STX) week 4; Last Weekend # 7

$ 1,770,000 (-52%) in 2,002 movie theaters (-678); PTA: $ 884; Cumulative: $ 33,537,000

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