The weekend after theThanksgiving holidayis traditionally one of the weakest frames of the year, where holdovers almost always reign supreme over new releases. This year, only one new movie was released, the horror-thrillerIncarnate, but, as expected, last weekend’s winnerMoanahad no trouble repeating atop the box office, taking in $28.3 million.Incarnatebarely cracked the top 10, opening in ninth place with $2.6 million, continuing a tradition of new releases failing to win this weekend.
Sincebox office statsbecame official in 1982, a new release has only took the top spot three times. The first time it happened was in 1988, with the release ofThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which won with $9.3 million. In 1991,Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Countrybecame the second new release to conquer this weekend with $18.1 million, withThe Last Samuraibecoming the last new release to do so in 2003, when it took the top spot with $24.2 million.
Box Office Mojoreports thatIncarnatedebuted in 1,737 theaters, a far cry from the 3,875 theaters thatMoanaopened in over the holiday weekend.Incarnateonly earned a $1,531 per-screen average in its opening weekend, and although it only earned $2.6 million, the film only cost $5 million to produce. It should have no problem generating a profit at some point throughout its box office run.
Moanais set the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, where a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.Dwayne Johnsonleads the voice cast asMaui, with newcomerAuli’i Cravalhovoicing the title character. The supporting voice cast is rounded out byAlan Tudykas Heihei,Nicole Scherzingeras Sina andJemaine Clementas Tamatoa.
Incarnatefollows a scientist with the ability to enter the subconscious minds of the possessed who must save a young boy from the grips of a demon with powers never seen before, while facing the horrors of his past. The horror-thriller starsAaron Eckhart,Carice Van Houten,Karolina Wydra,Matthew Nable,Keir O’Donnell,Catalina Sandido Moreno,David MazouzandEmjay Anthony. We’re projecting that it will barely crack the top 10, taking in $1.6 million in the 10th spot.
With only one new release this weekend, the top 10 will largely remain intact, withMoanarepeating at the top with $28.3 million, followed byFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themwith $18.5 million,Arrivalin third place with $7.3 million,Alliedin fourth place with $7 million andDoctor Strangein fifth place with $6.4 million. The top 10 is rounded out byTrolls($4.6 million),Hacksaw Ridge($3.4 million),Bad Santa 2($3.2 million),Incarnate($2.6 million) andAlmost Christmas($2.5 million). Despite the lack of newcomers in wide release, there are a number of limited release titles that could fare well in platform releases.
Fox Searchlight will roll out its potential awards season contenderJackiethis weekend, which earned an impressive $275,000 from just five theaters for a whopping $55,000 per-screen average and IFC’s dramaThings to Come, which earned $33,090 from three theaters for a $11,030 per-screen average. No box office data was released for Archstone’s dramaAnonymous, First Run’s documentaryBest and Most Beautiful Things, Magnolia’s horror-thrillerThe Eyes of My Mother, GVN Releasing’s dramaA Girl Like Graceand Distrib Films' dramaIn Her Name. It isn’t known if any of these films will be expanded nationwide in the weeks to come, but that will likely depend on how they fare in limited release this weekend.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount’sOffice Christmas Partyis the only movie opening in wide release, with a slew of limited release titles also arriving. Lionsgate will roll out its critically-acclaimed musicalLa La Land, starringEmma StoneandRyan Gosling, alongside Magnolia’s documentaryHarry Benson: Shoot First, Screen Media’s thrillerSugar Mountain, Viva Pictures Distribution’s romantic comedyThe Bounce Backand Yash Raj’s dramaBekfire. Take a look at the top 10 for the weekend of December 2, and check back on Tuesday for the next wave of predictions.
