The teen romance, Paper Towns, opened solidly with $2 million on Thursday night, topping the Adam Sandler comedy Pixels, with $1.5 million.
Paper Towns screenings started at 9 p.m. with “very positive” reactions. About 500 of the 2,500 preview showings were preceded by a live-streaming event.
Fox’s “Paper Towns,” based on the John Green novel and starring Natt Wolff and Cara Delevingne, will also be in the mix as it opens at 3,031 locations. It has been pegged by analysts for a $20 million launch, but its female fanbase could push the film above forecasts. Fox saw a stunning $48 million opening weekend last summer for its adaptation of Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars.”
Universal’s second weekend of Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck” will also be a factor, with the well-reviewed R-rated comedy probably finishing around $20 million.
However, Thursday night’s tragic shooting at a Louisiana theater screening “Trainwreck” could hold down business during the weekend.
The Weinstein Co. is opening Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama Southpaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal,” at 2,772 locations. It’s expected to wind up the weekend at about $13 million.
“Minions” has totaled an impressive $234.7 million in its first 13 days. “Ant-Man” has cumed $76.6 million in six days, while “Trainwreck” has earned $41.1 million.