Movies
[Box Office] ‘Alita’ Continues World Domination; Let’s Start Talking ‘Happy Death Day 2U’ Trilogy
Fox made a massive bet on producer James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez‘s live-action adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel (read our review) , which is fighting to recoup its bulky $175M-200M reported budget. Domestically, the film is a flop and took another hit this weekend with only $12M for a $60M total. What will decide the fate of the franchise are the international numbers, which have been strong. In fact, Alita just opened in Japan and China, which added to this weekend’s $92M estimated international take! Globally, the $263M gross inches the film closer to recoup. This is important for hardcore fans hoping for a sequel to the film that ended on a massive cliffhanger. We’ll continue to monitor the numbers over the next few weeks, although the $500M+ it needs seems highly unlikely.
Universal and Blumhouse’s Happy Death Day 2U (read our review) is already profitable, even though it’s not the massive hit early tracking had forecast. It would be great to get a sequel to the film, which added another $5M this weekend for a North American total of $21.6M (on just a $9M reported budget). I said that we can start discussing a trilogy when it tops $35M globally, and it currently has a worldwide take of $42M! Let’s hope Christopher Landon gets to make his “bonkers” third film in the franchise that would bring breakout star Jessica Rothe back for one more wild and crazy day.
Much like last weekend, Orion Pictures’ return to the big screen The Prodigy (read our review) continues to limp its way through a release. After a weak $6M opening, the film is currently sitting at $13.5M domestically. Thankfully, the budget is reported at only $6M, which means it needs $20M (give or take) globally to break even. We’re still waiting for international numbers.
Quick updates: Columbia Pictures’ Escape Room (review) is now sitting at $118M globally and M. Night Shyamalan‘s Split sequel, Glass (review), currently holds $240M. Both are massive hits.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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