Knock at the Cabin is No. 1, but it has an 80 box office score for Brady

February 5, 2023

Knocking “Avatar: The Way of Water” off the No. 1 spot after seven weeks are two original titles, and one is even a comedy.

Welcome to the strange world of cinema, the weekly scramble to find the formula that fills the seats. “Knock at the Cabin” returned Universal to No. 1 for the first time since October, despite a string of big hits including “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “M3GAN.”

“80 for Brady” followed closely behind, with most theaters (with Paramount’s encouragement) capping prices all day to matinee costs. Significantly exceeding expectations, it brought in $12.5 million in second place. After seven weeks at the top, “Avatar: The Way of Water” dropped to No. 3.

That made three films over $10 million and the first time that has happened this weekend since 2017. (This weekend in February is usually the Super Bowl, which we see next week.) In 2017, the #1 movie is another M. Night Shylamalan title: “Split.” It also opened to $14 million; at today’s higher ticket prices, it would be around $17 million.

The industry was hoping for a bigger “cabin” (studio projections say otherwise), but it helped push the weekend to $79 million. That’s 31 percent better than last year, and last year’s year-end total is more than 50 percent better than last year.

The box office is still below pre-Covid 2020 levels, but it represents an 83 percent improvement compared to recent weeks. Our comparison of four weeks, three years ago, now rises to 77 percent.

KNOCK ON THE CABIN, from left: Nikki Amuka-Bird, Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, 2023. © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

“Knock in the Cabin”

©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

Both “Knock” and “80” are cheaper films ($20 million and $28 million, respectively) that theaters constantly need to go along with genre blockbusters. While marketing often adds as much or more to their budgets, domestic theatrical play (“Knock” will have even more foreign; it’s limited to “80”) will need to adjust both for significant domestic appeal.

This is especially important for “80”. Although it stars four major actresses (and a total of nearly 240 years have passed since their film debuts—Rita Moreno first appeared in 1950!), older demographics would have suggested a streaming premiere for the film. Still, it’s critical that theaters attract a crowd — 68 percent female, 49 percent over 55 — to complement the usual younger audiences. It goes to show again that an original film – and even better, a comedy – is a major success.

How much did lower prices increase interest rates? (“80” plans to sell more tickets than “Knock”). It’s also unclear if this could extend to other titles or complicate future strategies. (Non-premium shows average around $12 nationally).

The six major distributors had just eight of the top 20 films, and event screenings contributed to the total. The concert film “BTS: Still in Theaters” (Trafalagar) grossed over $5 million in 1,111 theaters, taking fifth place. Faith-based series “The Chosen: Season 3” (Fathom) grossed $3.6 million. India’s ‘Pathaan’ (Yash Raj) was at No. 10 with a fall of 61 percent.

“The Way of Water” is still decent, falling 32 percent to under $11 million and now down to $636 million domestically. It will lose some of its premium screens next Friday when James Cameron’s own “Titanic” (Paramount) is re-released.

“Puss” was the best holdover, down just 24 percent, with concurrent PVOD play. It crossed the $150 million mark at No. 4 and now seems certain to top “Sing 2,” a real surprise and a sign of growing strength in the market.

Rounding out the top 10 is European animated film “The Great Maurice” (Viva), which is expected to earn about $1.5 million at No. 12. Crunchyroll also has another Japanese anime, “Sword Art Online: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night,” with about $800,000 in 892 theaters. These aren’t huge averages per theater, but these numbers ultimately add up to the total.

“Closure”

In the specialized world, Belgian Oscar nominee “Close” (A24) was a decent initial expansion for a subtitled film. The average in 20 theaters was $5,904. Low by pre-Covid standards, but top quality since then.

Outside of “The Way of Water” and “Puss,” the top Oscar nominee was again “Everything Everywhere Alla at Once” (A24), which added another $529,000. That said, with all the additional titles, the extra was under $2.5 million. “Women Talking” (United Artists) has yet to report, but looks to have brought in around $525,000, up from $970,000 last weekend.

Among the new platforms (including the acclaimed Icelandic “Godland”/Janus, not a reporter), the American premiere of the 1961 Italian “Una Vita Difficile” (Rialto) achieved the best result. It grossed $8,500 at the New York Film Festival.

The Top 10

1. Knock in the cabin (Universal) NEW – Cinemascore: C; Metacritic: 63; Evening. budget: $20 million

$14,200,000 in 3,643 theaters; PTA (theatrical average): $3,898; Total: $14,200,000

2. 80 for Brady (Paramount) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 54; Evening. budget: $28 million

$12,500,000 in 3,912 theaters; PTA (theatrical average): $3,195; Total: $12,500,000

3. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney) Week 8; #1 last weekend

$10,800,000 (-32%) in 3,310 (-290) theaters; PTA: $2,104; Total: $636,420,000

4. Puss in Boots: The last wish (Universal) Week 7; Last weekend #2; Also on PVOD

$7,950,000 (-24%) in 3,290 (-162) theaters; PTA: $2,303; Total: $151,293,000

5. BTS: Still in theaters (Trafalagar) NEW (note: this weekend only Friday-Saturday)

$4,996,000 in 1,125 theaters; PTA: $4,874; Total: $7,840,000

6. The finale of the selected 3rd season (Fathom) NEW

$3,462,000 in 1,975 theaters; PTA: $2,104; Total: $5,308,000

7. A man called Otto (Sony) Week 6; Last weekend #3

$4,175,000 (-37%) at 3,407 (-550) theaters; PTA: $1,225; Total: $53,003,000

8. M3GAN (Universal) Week 5; Last weekend #5; Also on PVOD

$3,800,000 (-39%) in 2,835 (-581) theaters; PTA: $1,340; Total: $87,597,000

9. I miss you (Sony) Week 3; Last weekend #6

$3,725,000 (-34%) in 2,565 (-460) theaters; PTA: $1,452; Total: $23,017,000

10. Pathan (Yash Raj) Week 2; Last weekend #3

(est.) 2,700,000 (-61%) $700 (+5) in theaters; PTA: $3,857; Total: $11,670,000

Other titles

Films (limited, extended, limited release, and award-oriented release) are listed by week of release, starting with those released that week; after the first two weeks, only films grossing over $5,000 are tracked.

The wonderful Maurice (Viva) NEW

(est.) $1,500,000 in 1,679 theaters; PTA: $893

Sword Art Online: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night (cruchy roll)

(estimated) $800,000 in 892 theaters; PTA: $897

Full time (Music Box) NEW – Metacritic: 83; The festivals are: Venice 2021, New directors/New films 2022

$2,139 in 1 theater; PTA: $2,139

Let it be morning (Cohen) NEW – Metacritic: 78; The festivals are: Cannes 2021

$6,023 at 2 theaters; PTA: $3,012

Una Vita Difficile (Rialto) (reissue)

$8,500 in 1 theater; PTA: $8,500

Infinity pool (Neon) Week 2

$900,000 in 1,750 theaters; PTA: $514; Total: $4,332,000