STX’s Civil War drama Free State of Jones is also launching this weekend in wide release. “Jones” is expected to take in around $12 million at 2,815 locations, which will leave it in fourth behind the second weekend of New Line-Universal comedy “Central Intelligence.”
“Free State of Jones” stars Matthew McConaughey as the leader of an armed rebellion against the Confederacy. The film cost $50 million to make with STX bringing in partner IM Global to handle international rights.
Sony’s The Shallows follows Blake Lively’s character as she battles for survival against a shark. It carries a $17 million price tag and is looking at an opening of $7 million when it debuts on roughly 2,800 screens. The film is one of the first greenlit under Tom Rothman, Sony’s new film chief, after he took over the studio in 2015.
Broad Green is handling the release of horror film The Neon Demon for Amazon Studios in 783 locations with expectations for a debut in the $2 million to $3 million range. Nicolas Winding Refn’s dreamlike look at the world of fashion debuted to mixed reviews in Cannes.