April 19, 2014 by Vinnie Leduc
Video game adaptation Need For Speed, an honorable mention for one of our most anticipated movies of the year, needed more support over the weekend at the domestic box office. It opened in a close three-horse 3D race against holdovers 300: Rise of an Empire and Mr. Peabody & Sherman, but Need For Speed ultimately slowed down behind both movies.
Dreamworks Animations’ family flick Mr. Peabody & Sherman and action sequel 300: Rise of an Empire switched places in their second weekend. The former, the previous weekend’s runner-up, warped into first place with $21.8 million and left fallen Greek and Persian warriors behind in a close second place with $19.2 million.
Trailing by only $1.4 million was Need For Speed with a debut of $17.8 million, which is lower than that of any of the six Fast & Furious films. Its consolation prize is a stronger finish at the international box office, where it opened with more than double its stateside take.
Falling to fourth was Liam Neeson thriller Non-Stop in its third weekend, and rounding out the top five was Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club. Its weak opening was the lowest ever for a movie directed by Tyler Perry. So please stop.
After breaking the record for highest opening average for a live-action film (with $200,000 at four locations) last weekend, Wes Anderson’s ensemble comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel expanded a little bit and set another record, highest location average ever for a film playing in 50+ theaters.
Frozen, which comes out on video this week, won’t “let it go.” The Disney 3D hit musical continued its white-hot box office run and cracked the all-time top 15 international chart, where it will likely move up a few more spots once it’s all said and done.
The upcoming weekend brings YA sci-fi adaptation Divergent, another honorable mention on our list of most anticipated movies this year, and comedy sequel The Muppets Most Wanted.
Here are the numbers for the top five of the domestic box office over the weekend via BOM:
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman — Weekend Gross: $21.8 million — Total Gross: $63.8 million (#2 last week)
- 300: Rise of an Empire — Weekend Gross: $19.2 million — Total Gross: $78.4 million (#1 last week)
- Need For Speed — Weekend Gross: $17.8 million — Total Gross: $17.8 million (new)
- Non-Stop — Weekend Gross: $10.6 million — Total Gross: $68.8 million (#3 last week)
- Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club — Weekend Gross: $8.1 million — Total Gross: $8.1 million (new)
