The third installment in the 鈥淢agic Mike鈥� series danced its way to the top of the box office charts this weekend with a James Cameron double header, 鈥淎vatar: The Way of Water鈥� and 鈥淭itanic鈥� (yes that 鈥淭itanic鈥�), looming close behind.
鈥� 鈥� earned $8.2 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Cameron's 鈥淎vatar鈥� sequel brought in an additional $6.9 million while the 25th anniversary rerelease of 鈥淭itanic鈥� took in $6.4 million from Friday to Sunday.
North American moviegoing tends to come to a halt on Super Bowl Sunday and studios react strategically, often releasing films that are more 鈥渇emale-targeted.鈥� Star Channing Tatum has also had several films perform well in the Super Bowl/Valentine鈥檚 Day corridor, including 鈥淭he Vow,鈥� 鈥淒ear John鈥� and 鈥淒og.鈥�
鈥淭his is not known as a spike the football weekend for theaters. But there are people who want to go to theaters, even on Super Bowl weekend," said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. 鈥淎nd this is perfect counterprogramming."
鈥淢agic Mike鈥檚 Last Dance,鈥� which brought Steven Soderbergh back to the director鈥檚 chair, was given a modest theatrical release in only 1,500 theaters. The film starring Tatum as the lovable male stripper and introducing a wealthy benefactor played by Salma Hayek, was made to go straight to HBO Max. But like the 鈥� 鈥� reboot from several weeks ago, Warner Bros. pivoted and decided to go theatrical first with both in a company effort to refocus on the theatrical experience and give fresh fare to exhibitors.
The 鈥滿agic Mike鈥� franchise has been a profitable one. In 2012, the first film opened to some $39.1 million from just under 4,000 theaters, on its way to earning $167.3 million globally (against a $7 million production budget). The second, 鈥淴XL,鈥� was made for slightly more ($14 million) and took in slightly less ($122.5 million) in 2015. The success of the films also spawned a Las Vegas stage show that has since expanded to Miami and London 鈥� in the lead up to the release of 鈥淟ast Dance,鈥� ticket sales for 鈥淢agic Mike Live鈥� spiked too.
This latest installment reportly carried a much bigger production budget, around $40 million, according to entertainment trades.
鈥淎vatar: The Way of Water鈥� in its ninth weekend added $25.8 million globally, bringing its total earnings to $2.2 billion, holding its spot as the 4th biggest movie release ever but closing in on 鈥淭itanic.鈥�
鈥淭itanic鈥� was rereleased in 2,464 domestic locations this weekend, with Paramount handling the North American release and The Walt Disney Co. on the international rollout in 51 territories. All told the film earned $22.3 million globally, with $2 million of that from IMAX screens. 鈥淭itanic鈥� has now earned an estimated $2.2 billion globally, maintaining its title as the third biggest movie of all time.
In fourth place was the Super Bowl-themed 鈥�80 for Brady,鈥� in its second weekend, with $6 million. The Paramount release has made just under $25 million so far. M. Night Shyamalan's 鈥淜nock at the Cabin," a Universal release, rounded out the top five with $5.5 million.
鈥淪uper Bowl weekend is typically slow for theaters, and this one is no exception, but help is on the way with 鈥楢nt-Man,鈥欌�� Dergarabedian said. 鈥淚t'll start a chain reaction that should carry throughout the whole year.鈥�
The Marvel/Disney film 鈥淎nt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania鈥� opens in theaters on Feb. 17.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, with Wednesday through Sunday in parentheses. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淢agic Mike鈥檚 Last Dance,鈥� $8.2 million.
2. 鈥淎vatar: The Way of Water,鈥� $6.9 million.
3. 鈥淭itanic,鈥� $6.4 million.
4. 鈥�80 for Brady,鈥� $6 million.
5. 鈥淜nock at the Cabin,鈥� $5.5 million.
6. 鈥淧uss in Boots: The Last Wish,鈥� $5.5 million.
7. 鈥淎 Man Called Otto,鈥� $2.6 million.
8. 鈥淢issing,鈥� $2.6 million.
9. 鈥淢3GAN,鈥� $2.4 million.
10. 鈥淧lane,鈥� $1.2 million.
鈥�-
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
