For five consecutive weekends, an animated movie has been #1 at the box office, with DESPICABLE ME 4 repeating in the top spot for the second weekend in a row with $44.7M. The surprise hit of the weekend was Neon’s horror film LONGLEGS, which earned $22.6M in its debut.
These two successes propelled the box office to $127.5M, compared with $140.5M for all films on this weekend last year when MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE earned $54.7M in its opening after a Wednesday debut.
This breaks the streak of four weekends with higher grosses than the corresponding weekend in 2023. However, it was an accomplishment to have a close finish this year when comparing results to MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE’s opening last year. Next weekend, TWISTERS will end animation’s winning streak and will almost certainly lift the weekend to a comparative victory over 2023.
DESPICABLE ME 4’s $44.7M was down by only 40% from its opening weekend total, bringing its 10-day gross to $211.1M domestic and $338.3M worldwide. This modest decline in weekend #2 establishes this sequel as one of the best in the six-picture DESPICABLE ME/MINIONS franchise.
With a 12-day total of $211.1M, DESPICABLE ME 4 is now in 3rd place behind franchise leader DESPICABLE ME 2 which brought in $228.4M domestic after 12 days, and MINONS which earned $215.8M after 10 days.
DESPICABLE ME/MINIONS FRANCHISE BOX OFFICE AFTER THE SECOND WEEKEND
- MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (7/1/22) – Domestic Opening $107.0M, Domestic 10-Day Total $210.7M, Domestic Total $370.2M, Worldwide Total $940.2M, Budget $80M
- DESPICABLE ME 2 (7/3/13) – Domestic Opening $83.5M, Domestic 12-Day Total $228.4M, Domestic Total $368.1M, Worldwide Total $368.1M, Budget $76M
- MINIONS (7/10/15) – Domestic Opening $115.7M, Domestic 10-Day Total $215.8M, Domestic Total $335.0M, Worldwide Total $1.2B, Budget $74M
- DESPICABLE ME 3 (6/30/17) – Domestic Opening $72.4M, Domestic 10-Day Total $148.8M, Domestic Total $264.6M, Worldwide Total $1.0B, Budget $80M
- DESPICABLE ME (7/9/10) – Domestic Opening $56.3M, Domestic 10-Day Total $118.4M, Domestic Total $251.6M, Worldwide Total $543.3M, Budget $69M
- DESPICABLE ME 4 (7/3/24) – Domestic Opening $75.0M, Domestic 10-Day Total $211.1M, Budget $100M
The total box office for all the franchise’s movies has passed $5B worldwide, and the earnings for the rest of the DESPICABLE ME 4 run in theatres will only add to that total.
Neon’s LONGLEGS had an unexpectedly strong opening and second-place finish by earning $22.6M. The crime horror thriller was written and directed by Osgood Perkins (GRETEL & HANSEL) and stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Blair Underwood.
During an FBI investigation into a series of murders, an agent uncovers occult clues that she must solve to end the terrifying murder spree. This is the biggest opening ever for a Neon feature, and it will certainly wind up among the top-grossing movies in the studio’s seven-year history.
NEON’S TOP 5 RELEASES
- PARASITE (10/11/19) – Domestic Opening $393K, Domestic Total $53.4M, Worldwide Total $262.6M, Budget $11.4M, RT Critics/Audience 99%/90%
- I, TONYA (12/8/17) – Domestic Opening $264K, Domestic Total $30.0M, Worldwide Total $53.9M, Budget $11.0M, RT Critics/Audience 90%/88%
- FERRARI (12/25/23) – Domestic Opening $3.9M, Domestic Total $18.6M, Worldwide Total $42.8M, Budget $95.0M, RT Critics/Audience 72%/74%
- IMMACULATE (3/22/24) – Domestic Opening $5.3M, Domestic Total $15.7M, Worldwide Total $27.2M, Budget $9.0M, RT Critics/Audience 70%/60%
- THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS (6/29/18) – Domestic Opening $172K, Domestic Total $12.3M, Worldwide Total $18.4M, Budget $4.0M, RT Critics/Audience 96%/88%
- LONGLEGS (7/12/24) – Domestic Opening $22.6M, Budget $9.0M, RT Critics/Audience 87%/66%
While PARASITE is safe in first place with a worldwide gross of $262.6M, this surprisingly strong start for LONGLEGS puts it on track to become Neon’s second highest-grossing movie. LONGLEGS has been well received by critics with an 87% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have been somewhat less excited with a 66% rating. With only $9M spent on its production, the project will be very profitable for Neon and the possibility of a sequel or prequel is most likely already under discussion.
Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 finished in third place, padding its record-breaking total by earning an additional $20.7M this weekend, a drop of 32% from last weekend. Its 31-day total stands at $572.6M domestic and $1.3B worldwide. It is by far the top movie of 2024 and is vying to pass INCREDIBLES 2 as the highest-grossing animated film in the domestic market of all time.
BATTLE FOR THE HIGHEST-GROSSING ANIMATED FILM OF ALL TIME – DOMESTIC GROSSES AFTER 31 DAYS
- INCREDIBLES 2 (6/15/18) – 3-Day Total $182.7M, 10-Day Total $349.8M, 17-Day Total $440.6M, 24-Day Total $503.8M, 31-Day Total $535.9M, Grand Total $608.6M
- INSIDE OUT 2 (6/14/24) – 3-Day Total $154.2M, 10-Day Total $355.2M, 17-Day Total $469.3M, 24-Day Total $533.8M, 31-Day Total $572.6M
After weathering a strong challenge from the first two weeks of DESPICABLE ME 4, it is only a matter of time before INSIDE OUT 2 passes INCREDIBLES 2 to become the top-grossing animated film ever in the domestic market. Globally, it will most likely finish in second place, behind Disney’s THE LION KING which earned $1.663M in its 2019 run in theatres.
A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE finished fourth this weekend with $11.8M, a drop of 43%. After 17 days, the horror sequel has brought in $116.2M domestic and $218.8M worldwide. By comparison, the original A QUIET PLACE had earned $131.3M domestically at this same point.
DAY ONE may finish ahead of A QUIET PLACE PART TWO, which earned $160.1M domestic in its run during 2022. DAY ONE has already surpassed the $168M in worldwide gross necessary to be profitable after the studio spent $67M on its production.
FLY ME TO THE MOON from Sony and Apple Studios finished in fifth place, with $10.0M in its opening weekend. The story of this high-profile romantic comedy takes place during the 1960s space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. A romantic relationship develops between the male NASA director in charge of the Apollo 11 mission and a female marketing specialist brought in to tune up NASA’s public image.
Sparks fly when she suggests a backup plan to film a fake moon landing in case something goes wrong with the actual mission. The film is directed by Greg Berlanti (LOVE SIMON) and an all-star cast led by Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, and Ray Romano. The movie has received a lukewarm response from critics, giving it a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have been more positive with an 88% rating.
FLY ME TO THE MOON had started production and was even completed under the plan that it would bypass theatres and be released directly on Apple TV+. However, after a very positive response from test screenings, plans for its release were changed to start with an exclusive theatrical run before its launch on streaming. The film cost $100M to produce, and Apple and Sony are hoping that a significant portion of that investment will be returned from the box office. Apple has released movies with a theatrical exclusive three times in the past year, with mixed results.
APPLE STUDIOS BOX OFFICE HISTORY WITH THEATRICAL EXCLUSIVE RELEASES
- KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (10/20/23 theatres, 1/12/24 Apple TV+) – Domestic Opening $25.3M, Domestic Total $68.0M, Worldwide Total $187.0M, Budget $200M, RT Critics/Audience 93%/84%
- NAPOLEON (11/22/23 theatres, 3/1/24 Apple TV+) – Domestic Opening $20.6M, Domestic Total $61.5M, Worldwide Total $221.4M, Budget $200M, RT Critics/Audience 58%/59%
- ARGYLLE (2/2/24 theatres, 4/12/24 Apple TV+) – Domestic Opening $17.5M, Domestic Total $45.2M, Worldwide Total $96.2M, Budget $200M, RT Critics/Audience 33%/72%
- FLY ME TO THE MOON (7/12/24 theatres) – Domestic Opening $10.0M, Budget $100M, RT Critics/Audience 67%/89%
One advantage FLY ME TO THE MOON has over Apple’s other studio releases is that it was produced on a smaller budget, only $100M. Therefore, it may come closer to profitability despite a lower opening. Apple has been living up to the commitment it made in March 2023 to spend $1B per year on making movies for exclusive theatrical release.
Since making that commitment, it has spent $700M on four films beginning with KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Its next movie for theatrical release will be the 7/20 release of WOLFS, an action comedy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Apple’s commitment benefits exhibitors, by providing theatres with a steady stream of high-profile, well-promoted movies, and we hope that these investments pay off for the studio as well.
WHERE ARE WE AS OF 7/11
After 27 weeks, the 2024 year-to-date box office stands at 82% compared to those same weeks in 2023 and 65% of the total at this time in 2019.
2024 VS. 2023 2024 VS. 2019