A Tim Burton film led a group of struggling newcomers at the box office this week.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children — based on a popular novel about children with strange abilities who live on a Welsh island during World War II — earned an estimated $28.5 million between Thursday and Sunday nights.
That was good enough to make it the first Tim Burton film to be #1 at the box office since Alice in Wonderland became a surprisingly huge hit six years ago.
Miss Peregrine is also the seventh Burton film to be #1 at the box office ever, and the first that did not feature Michael Keaton or Helena Bonham Carter in its cast.1
However, the film’s opening was only so-so for a major adaptation of a young-adult novel, opening behind such films as The Maze Runner and Lemony Snicket.
The film, which cost $110 million to make, will be counting on overseas audiences to help it break even — and on that front, it’s off to a decent start, with $36.5 million this weekend in 59 countries. The film’s worldwide total stands at $65 million.
Two other new films opened in wide release this week.
Deepwater Horizon, about the offshore-drilling-rig explosion that caused one of the largest oil spills ever back in 2010, earned an estimated $20.6 million. That’s one of the lower openings for a Mark Wahlberg film from the last several years.
And Masterminds, an eccentric comedy directed by Jared Hess and based on the Loomis Fargo bank robbery of 1997, flopped with an estimated $6.6 million.
One other film went into wide release after having a limited release last week.
Queen of Katwe, about a poor girl from Uganda who becomes an internationally recognized chess champion with the help of a Christian missionary, expanded to 1,242 theatres and earned $2.6 million, landing in seventh place for the weekend.
All of the other films in the top ten are playing in at least 1,653 theatres, and the top six — including the three new releases — are playing in over 3,000 theatres.
Meanwhile, in other box-office news…
The Magnificent Seven earned $15.7 million and ranked third in its second week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $61.6 million. The film has earned another $21.4 million overseas for a global total of $83 million.
Storks earned $13.8 million and ranked fourth in its second week, thereby raising its domestic total to $38.8 million. The film has earned another $38.8 million overseas for a global total of $77.6 million.
Sully earned $8.4 million and ranked fifth in its fourth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $105.4 million. The film has earned another $46.3 million overseas for a global total of $151.7 million.
Don’t Breathe earned $2.4 million and ranked eighth in its sixth week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $84.7 million. The film has earned another $38.7 million overseas for a global total of $123.5 million.
Bridget Jones’s Baby earned $2.3 million and ranked ninth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $20.9 million. The film has earned another $99.9 million overseas for a global total of $120.9 million.
And Snowden earned $2.03 million and ranked tenth in its third week, thereby raising its domestic cume to $18.7 million. The film has earned another $3.1 million overseas for a global total of $21.8 million.
Now for a bit of extra data on Ben-Hur’s place among “faith-based” and Bible films:
Ben-Hur still ranks 11th among recent Bible-themed films in North America:
- 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 million
- 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 million
- 2014 — Noah — $101.2 million
- 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65 million
- 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 million
- 2009 — Year One — $43.3 million
- 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 million
- 2016 — Risen — $36.9 million
- 1981 — History of the World, Part I — $31.7 million
- 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 million
- 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.4 million
- 2002 — Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — $25.6 million
- 1979 — Monty Python’s Life of Brian — $20 million
- 1980 — Wholly Moses! — $14.2 million
- 2006 — One Night with the King — $13.4 million
- 1988 — The Last Temptation of Christ — $8.4 million
- 2016 — The Young Messiah — $6.5 million
- 1985 — King David — $5.1 million
- 2003 — The Gospel of John — $4.1 million
It also still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years overseas (Box Office Mojo doesn’t have foreign figures for older Bible-themed films):
- 2014 — Noah — $261.4 million
- 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $241.1 million
- 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $203.2 million
- 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $117.2 million
- 2016 — Ben-Hur — $62.9 million
- 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $33.1 million
- 2009 — Year One — $19.0 million
- 2014 — Son of God — $11.1 million
- 2016 — Risen — $9.2 million
- 2006 — The Nativity Story — $8.8 million
And it still ranks fifth among Bible-themed films of the past 20 years worldwide:
- 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 + 241.1 = 611.9 million
- 2014 — Noah — $101.2 + 261.4 = 362.6 million
- 2014 — Exodus: Gods and Kings — $65.0 + 203.2 = 268.2 million
- 1998 — The Prince of Egypt — $101.4 + 117.2 = 218.6 million
- 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.4 + 62.9 = 89.3 million
- 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 + 11.1 = 70.8 million
- 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — $30.1 + 33.1 = 63.2 million
- 2009 — Year One — $43.3 + 19.0 = 62.4 million
- 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 + 8.8 = 46.4 million
- 2016 — Risen — $36.9 + 9.2 = 46.1 million
Ben-Hur also still ranks 13th among “faith-based” films in North America:
- 2004 — The Passion of the Christ — $370.8 million
- 2014 — Heaven Is for Real — $91.4 million
- 2015 — War Room — $67.8 million
- 2016 — Miracles from Heaven — $61.7 million
- 2014 — God’s Not Dead — $60.8 million
- 2014 — Son of God — $59.7 million
- 2011 — Soul Surfer — $43.9 million
- 2006 — The Nativity Story — $37.6 million
- 2016 — Risen — $36.9 million
- 2011 — Courageous — $34.5 million
- 2008 — Fireproof — $33.5 million
- 2014 — When the Game Stands Tall — $30.1 million
- 2016 — Ben-Hur — $26.4 million
- 2002 — Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — $25.6 million
- 2016 — God’s Not Dead 2 — $20.8 million
- 2005 — The Gospel — $15.8 million
And now for a bit of extra data on the year’s top-grossing animated films:
In North America, The Secret Life of Pets still ranks eighth among animated films:
- 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $484.4 million
- 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 million
- 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 million
- 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 million
- 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 million
- 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 million
- 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 million
- 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $364.9 million
- 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 million
- 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 million
Overseas, Finding Dory now ranks 13th and The Secret Life of Pets now ranks 18th:
- 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $875.7 million
- 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $823.4 million
- 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $715.9 million
- 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $690.1 million
- 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $682.3 million
- 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $648.2 million
- 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $602.7 million
- 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $559.5 million
- 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $545.7 million
- 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $530.5 million
- 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $513.9 million
- 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $501.1 million
- 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $500.8 million
- 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $500.4 million
- 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $478.6 million
- 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $476.2 million
- 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $475.7 million
- 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $468.8 million
- 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $465.6 million
- 2014 — How to Train Your Dragon 2 (DreamWorks) — $444.5 million
And worldwide, Finding Dory now ranks fifth, while The Secret Life of Pets still ranks 13th:
- 2013 — Frozen (Disney) — $400.7 + 875.7 = 1276.5 million
- 2015 — Minions (Universal) — $336.0 + 823.4 = 1159.4 million
- 2010 — Toy Story 3 (Pixar) — $415.0 + 648.2 = 1063.2 million
- 2016 — Zootopia (Disney) — $341.3 + 682.3 = 1023.6 million
- 2016 — Finding Dory (Pixar) — $484.4 + 500.8 = 985.2 million
- 2013 — Despicable Me 2 (Universal) — $368.1 + 602.7 = 970.8 million
- 1994 — The Lion King (Disney) — $422.8 + 545.7 = 968.5 million
- 2003 — Finding Nemo (Pixar) — $380.8 + 559.5 = 940.3 million
- 2004 — Shrek 2 (DreamWorks) — $441.2 + 478.6 = 919.8 million
- 2009 — Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox) — $196.6 + 690.1 = 886.7 million
- 2012 — Ice Age: Continental Drift (Fox) — $161.3 + 715.9 = 877.2 million
- 2015 — Inside Out (Pixar) — $356.5 + 501.1 = 857.6 million
- 2016 — The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) — $364.9 + 468.8 = 833.7 million
- 2007 — Shrek the Third (DreamWorks) — $322.7 + 476.2 = 799.0 million
- 2010 — Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks) — $238.7 + 513.9 = 752.6 million
- 2012 — Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (DreamWorks) — $216.4 + 530.5 = 746.9 million
- 2013 — Monsters University (Pixar) — $268.5 + 475.7 = 744.2 million
- 2009 — Up (Pixar) — $293.0 + 442.1 = 735.1 million
- 2011 — Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks) — $165.2 + 500.4 = 665.7 million
- 2006 — Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox) — $195.3 + 465.6 = 660.9 million
Next week brings us The Birth of a Nation, The Girl on the Train and Middle School.
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1. Previous Burton films that were #1 at the box office for at least one week include Beetlejuice, Batman and Batman Returns (all of which starred Michael Keaton), as well as Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland (all of which co-starred Helena Bonham Carter).
