Weekend Box Office Results: Ant-Man Holds at No. 1 but Suffers Giant Drop -

Audiences turned out in droves for a pair of new movies this weekend. Some were experiencing a revolution for their Lord and Savior. Others went to worship a bear high on cocaine. Even more continued to give Marvel money, but far less than the studio had hoped for this weekend. The three of them combined didn’t lead to one of the top three weekends of the year, but it’s another one where at least three movies grossed over $10 million, and we could see a lot more of them throughout March.

**King of the Crop: Ant man He holds on at #1 but suffers a Giant Drop**

Despite a stuck bear and hippies, the top movie at the box office this weekend was once again Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But do you hear that record zero? That’s because it just had the biggest second weekend drop of any film in the MCU. Universe had its share of 67% drop recently with Black Widow (67.8%), Thor: Love and Thunder (67.7%), Spider-Man: No Way Home (67.5%) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (67%). In fact, Marvel’s six biggest drops have all come from 2021 (incl Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Eternal ones). Now you can do it seven with Quantum mania leads with a drop from $105 million to $32.2 million (69.7%).

That $32.2 million is just a minimum price Ant-Man and the Wasp did in its second weekend ($29 million). Only six films in the MCU had a second frame lower than $30 million and Quantumania’The s take brings its 10-day total to $167.3 million, down from first Guardians of the Galaxy ($176.5 million) but still ahead Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($158.8 million). Both of these films earned over $41 million in their second weekend and over $25 million in their third. Quantum mania will surely fall further behind. For now, it’s hoping to maintain at least a similar pace to its predecessor, which it’s currently $34 million ahead of, and finish its run somewhere between $240-250 million. That means it will have to clear about $350 million to stay out of the red on Marvel’s ledger. Its international cargo currently stands at $196.3 million.

**Fresh surprise: Revolution of Jesus It emerges**

Lionsgate was hoping to get its first big cash cow since then Knives out never John Wick 4 open in a month, but they got a nice little boost this week from Revolution of Jesus. Based on the true story of California hippies who became Jesus freaks (as they were called at the time), the $15 million budget film earned $15.5 million over the weekend. It is on par with 2016 Miracles from heavenwhich had $14.8 million over the weekend after $3.5 million on Wed and Thurs. That’s definitely the best faith-based opening of 2018 I can only imagine, which grabbed $23 million from Sunday’s collection plate. We’ll see if it Revolution could be a repeat, though the film should find itself with a minimum of $36 million based on the history of these films pulling in audiences. It will take about $45 million to break even for the film.

**The Top 10 and beyond: Cocaine bear Scores constant opening, Puss in Boots and Avatar Keep making money**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOmJOTEbbqA

Have you heard of the bear that did cocaine? Apparently a lot of people did, like Cocaine bear grossed just over $23 million in its opening weekend. The average finish for a February release opening between $20-23 million is around $67.6 million with just one film (2006’s When a stranger calls remake) finishes under $50 million. Cocaine bear received the same B- Cinemascore as When a stranger calls, which had just a 2.21 multiple in its opening weekend. Other films from this group that also earned B- include; Note of EXCELLENCE, Fool’s Gold, Depreciationand Woman in blackand three of them finished above $70 million. Cocaine bear has a higher critical score than any of them (currently Fresh at 70%), and a low gross of $50 million would already be halfway to ensuring the film turns a profit. If international crowds are drawn to the high concept like we seem to be here, this will be another winner for Universal.

The good news continues for Universal as Puss In Boots: The Last Wish spent its 10th consecutive week in the top five. Another $4.1 million over the weekend brings its total to over $173 million. With more than $442 million worldwide, it’s on track to surpass the 2011 original’s margin. It’s struggling a bit to meet the threshold of M. Night Shyamalan’s A bump in the cabin, which has maintained a modicum of consistency after its initial big drop and is just under $34 million overall. If it still finds $10 million at the box office worldwide, it will keep the director’s winning streak going which he now hopes to continue at Warner Bros. the only film he made there. Lady in the waterit was the biggest waste of money of his career.

OFI Warner.’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance fell 50% to $2.7 million over the weekend, bringing its total to around $23 million. This will be the studio’s fifth consecutive theatrical loss (after House party, Black Adam, Do not worry darlingand DC League of Super Pets), which has not been fully successful since last summer Elvis. Tom Brady reportedly had his last dance in January, but 80 for Brady continues to limp along like his last season. After a 55% drop to $1.7 million this weekend, its total is just over $36 million. With no international cash to speak of yet, the cult film GOAT still needs $50 million to cross the profit target line.

Finally, of course, Avatar: The Way of Water continues to make money. It’s now in its 11th week in the top five, taking in $4.8 million to bring its total to over $665 million. This is just a starter on it Black panther made its 11th week ($4.73M) and remains $23M off the film’s pace, making it unlikely to reach $700M, especially as a slew of sequels will topple it throughout March. However, it should be found passable Avengers: Infinity War”grossing $678.8 million, it becomes the seventh-highest-grossing domestic release of all time and the third-highest worldwide.

**On the vine: Creed III It kicks off a month full of anticipated sequels**

Follow-up month begins next week as we enter March and wait Creed III to lead the box office. Michael B. Jordan steps into the director’s chair for the third entry in the Rocky spin-off that earned $109 million and $115 million in the first and second parts. The film currently enjoys a 90% approval rating from critics and hopes to better the second film’s $35 million opening. Guy Ritchie Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre It’s finally opening in theaters. Shot in 2021 and originally slated for an early 2022 release, the STX assignment has landed Lionsgate, who will bring the film to theaters before launching a quick turnaround on Amazon Prime Video on April 7.