WBD Delays Magic Mike’s Last Dance Movie Even Though It’s First

February 12, 2023

In a sign of shifting priorities, the studio took its time to release the numbers showing that Channing Tatum’s striptease sequel was the best.

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” (Warner Bros. Discovery) takes first place on historically weak Super Bowl weekend. With distributors shying away from top releases and avoiding the debut of “Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania” (Disney) next week, the $51 million total for all films is a 2023 low.

It’s the first weekend this year to fall below the 2022 date ($54 million). The year has progressed a lot so far and it should be back to the freedom of the new Marvel movie next weekend.

The third season of the male strip franchise, again starring Channing Tatum and the return of original director Steven Soderbergh, grossed $8.2 million. Like last month’s “House Party,” this is the theatrical debut of a title originally slated for HBO Max. It opened in 1,500 theaters in the best locations—less than a wide release, but enough to capture 80-90 percent of its potential.

Without much competition, it achieved a high theater average of around $5,500. That’s a steep drop from 2015’s “Magic Mike XXLL” sequel, which brought in $28 million in five days (more than $35 million at current ticket prices).

WBD has been very, very slow to release results: no advance estimate for Thursday, and no advance estimate for Saturday morning — unprecedented for a wide studio release. And to the continued irritation of rival studios and other industry insiders, the studio blocked initial reports on Comscore — as it did for “House Party,” another title that primarily used theaters to promote its future with streaming. .

Why? We reached out to WBD, which did not respond to a request for comment, but one assessment (looking at it from the studios’ perspective) might be: Why bother? The results of the weekend are nothing to brag about; last year, two films aimed at older audiences opened against the Super Bowl, with “Death on the Nile” bringing in nearly $13 million, while Marry Me — even with the Peacock simulcast — brought in $8 million. And when a studio releases a movie in what’s known as Wide-Release Lite — “Magic Mike” opened in 1,500 theaters in the best locations, enough to capture 80 to 90 percent of its potential — there’s no need to rush the data by sharing. compared to more robust release strategies.

Counterprogramming took three of the top four spots. The 25th anniversary re-release of “Titanic” (Paramount) came in at No. 3, adding $6.4 million for an (adjusted) domestic total of more than $1.5 billion. That’s more than double James Cameron’s other film in the top 10: “Avatar: The Way of Water” at #2. It fell by 39 percent, which means a total domestic value of 647 million dollars.

Credit last September’s ‘Avatar’ re-release; benefited from 3D screenings and grossed $10.5 million. “Titanic” has been available on every platform imaginable for over two decades.

“80 for Brady”

Paramount Pictures

The No. 4 title, “80 for Brady” (Paramount), grossed $6 million, with prices steadily slashed at most theaters. Its 53 percent decrease was slightly higher than expected. Last week’s strong weekday made it the No. 1 film of the week (it was No. 2 last weekend) with more than $19 million. Still, it’s still stronger than expected.

Every movie has to face significant additional costs of marketing. “Magic Mike” has a production budget of about $45 million and is reported to have a “modest” marketing budget of about $20 million. If “House Party” follows the strategy, “Magic” should hit PVOD after two weekends. “80” is also a popular entry at home, with both films bringing streaming value to the studios’ sites.

Last week’s No. 1, “Knock at the Cabin” (Universal) will be No. 5 at best, down 61 percent. (It is estimated to be related to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, also Universal.

With it sure to advance to 2023 next weekend, the $763 million in annual revenue is still impressive, up 47 percent from last year. Note that it took until March 2022 to really kick into high gear.

“Dedication”

ANTHONY ELLISON

The good news about specialty films remains limited at best. “Consecration” (IFC), another genre project with Shudder, took 12th overall with $365,000 from 762 theaters ($479 PTA). Of the many new limited editions, only two others have been reported. “iMordecai” (Greenwich) earned $12,500 at two South Florida theaters, while “The Civil Dead” (Utopia) played in 24 mostly limited runs for $16,790.

International Oscar nominee “Close” (A24) is now in 61 theaters and added $150,000. Dino Risi’s 1961 “Una Vida Difficile” (Rialto) rose 14 percent in its second New York weekend.

Among the special contenders, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24) topped again with another $329,000. After weeks of wide release, “Living” (Sony Pictures Classics) is now over $2 million.

The Top 10

1. Magic Mike’s Last Dance (WBD) NEW – Metacritic: 52; Evening. budget: $45 million

$8,200,000 in 1,500 theaters; PTA (per-theater average) $5,467; Total: $8,200,000

2. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney) Week 9; Last weekend #3

$6,800,000 (-39%) in 3,065 (-945) theaters; PTA: $2,246; Total: $646,920,000

3. Titanic (Outstanding) RE-RELEASE

$6,400,000 in 2,464 theaters; PTA: $2,597; Total: $(adjusted estimate) 1,506,000,000

4. 80 for Brady (Paramount) Week 2; #2 last weekend

$6,000,000 (-53%) in 3,939 (+27) theaters; PTA: $1,523; Total: $24,970,000

5. (tie) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) Week 8; Last weekend #4; Also on PVOD

$5,500,000 (-30%) in 3,227 (-63) theaters; PTA: $1,704; Total: $158,495,000

5. (tie) Knocking in the cabin (Universal) Week 2; #1 last weekend

$5,500,000 (-61%) in 3,657 (+14) theaters; PTA: $1,504; Total: $22,336,000

7. A man called Otto (Sony) Week 7; #7 last weekend

$2,625,000 (-38%) in 2,824 (-583) theaters; PTA: $930; Total: $57,405,000

8. I miss you (Sony) Week 4; #8 last weekend

$2,600,000 (-30%) in 2,315 (-250) theaters; PTA: $1,123; Total: $26,626,000

9. M3GAN (Universal) Week 6; Last weekend #7; Also on PVOD

$2,370,000 (-38%) in 2,508 (-327) theaters; PTA: $945; Total: $90,928,000

10. Aircraft (Lionsgate) Week 5; #11 last weekend

$1,185,000 (-46%) at 1,679 (-524) theaters; PTA: $706; Total: $30,770,000

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.

Dedication (IFC) NEW – Metacritic: 40

$365,000 in 762 theaters; PTA: $479; Total: $365,000

iMoredai (Greenwich) NEW – Festivals include: Miami Jewish 2023

$12,500 at 2 theaters; PTA: $6,250

The civilian dead (Utopia) NEW – Festivals include: Slamdance 2022

$16,790 at 2 theaters: PTA: $700

Full time (Music Box) Week 2

$6,465 at 4 (+3) theaters; PTA: $1,616; Total: $10,571

Una Vita Difficile (Rialto) (Reissue) Week 2

$10,500 at 1 (no change) theater; PTA: $10.5oo; Total: $27,227

Infinity pool (Neon) Week 3

$205,000 at 415 (-1,335) theaters; Total: $4,879,000