‘Transformers One’ Loses to ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ in Surprise Upset
The Paramount and Hasbro Entertainment movie was expected to easily top the domestic chart with $30 million or more. Instead, it came in at an estimated $25 million.
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In a surprise twist, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice again dominated the box-office.
Paramount and Hasbro Entertainment’s Transformers One was expected to open to at least $30 to $35 million in America, and to top the chart.
Instead, it came in at estimated $25 million from 3,978 theaters versus an estimated $26 million from 4,172 locations for Warner Bros.’ Beetlejuice sequel, which is now in is third weekend.
Transformers One had held a slight edge as of Saturday morning, but victory didn’t materialize, despite positive reviews, an A CinemaScore, and exceptional PostTrak exit scores.
Paramount and Hasbro always knew they were taking a risk by returning to the franchise’s roots and making a CGI-animated film with a family-friendly PG rating, versus a PG-13 live-action extravaganza targeting fanboys.
The modestly budgeted event pic, co-financed by Habro, cost $75 million to produce before marketing, which minimizes the sting of the weak domestic opening.
The hope now is that it can find its footing and enjoy a long run in theaters based on such strong exits and reviews, although the entry of DreamWorks Animation and Universal’s The Wild Robot next weekend could complicated matters, at least on the family front.
Wild Robot commenced its international rollout in eight markets over the weekend, earning $6.9 million, which includes a paltry $4 million from China.
Directed by Pixar alum Josh Cooley, Transformers One is an origin story, chronicling how two of the most iconic Transformers, Optimus Prime and Megatron, went from best friends to archnemeses.
Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry voice the two characters, with Keegan-Michael Key, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm also in the voice cast.
Beetlejuice continued to dazzle in America to finish Sunday with a domestic total of $226.8 million. The Tim Burton-directed movie hasn’t done nearly as well overseas, where it has earned $103 million for global cumulative of $329.7 million.
Marvel and Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine rounded out the top five in North America with $7.3 million from 2,450 theaters all the way in its ninth weekend for a domestic tally of $627.3 million and $1.316 billion globally, putting it at No. 23 on the list of the 25 top-grossing films of all time, not adjusted for inflation.
Conservative Matt Walsh’s documentary, Am I Racist? placed seventh in its second outing with $2.5 million from 1,600 locations for domestic tally of $9 million, the best showing for a political documentary in two decades.
