The first animated Transformers movie in close to four decades, Transformers One, from Paramount and Hasbro Entertainment grossed $3.36M from Wednesday fan shows (7PM) and Thursday previews (5PM).
That figure beats out a slew of family movie previews including that of Paramount’s IF ($1.75M), The Garfield Movie ($2.3M), Trolls Band Together and even the live-action spinoff Transformers movie, Bumblebee which did $2.15M.
Transformers One opens today on 3,978 domestic locations, including IMAX and PLF screens, and the expectation was a start around $34M. Don’t be shocked if this hits $40M or more. Screen Engine/PostTrak exit polls are strong with 5 out of 5 stars and a 75% definite recommend.
The industry does need a new theatrical distributor and MUBI is making a splash with its acquisition of Universal/Working Title’s The Substance which minted $512K in previews comprised of Wednesday 7PM showtimes in 785 theaters and another $327K in previews from 1,455 theaters last night from 4PM showtimes. The Substance is booked at 1,949 theaters and was projected at a $3M start. It could do more especially with reviews at 88% certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and audience scores of 83%, PostTrak of 80% and 4 stars, for the 2 hour and 21 minute body swap genre movie starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. The Substance cost $17.5M when it was at Universal. Mubi bought worldwide on the movie for what I know hear is $12.5M.
Remember how Lionsgate had a dud last weekend in The Killer’s Game, which wound up being Dave Bautista’s lowest opening of his solo box office career? That movie did $300K previews last Thursday before posting a $2.68M 3-day and it looks like the Halle Berry horror film Never Let Go is also headed for the doldrums with $360K previews. The studio believes they have a $4M-$7M opening at 2,667 theaters. Not if you comp it to The Killer’s Game. Do note that before the weekend begins, Berry has the power to guarantee a certain sized opening: little distributor now very defunct Aviron saved her movie Kidnap and opened it to $10M in August 2017, which the industry commended at the time. The movie ended its run at close to $31M stateside. Never Let Go from The Crawl filmmaker Alexandra Aja was made for $20M I understand. Reviews are at 56% Rotten. PostTrak last night was 3 stars and 67%. Yikes.
Meanwhile…