Relativity’s “3 Days to Kill” and Sony’s “Pompeii” have launched with moderate U.S. returns from latenight Thursday screenings.
The Kevin Costner actioner “3 Days” took in an estimated $325,000 at 10 p.m. shows, while “Pompeii” delivered $235,000 at 1,785 locations.
Both numbers were in line with recent grosses from 10 p.m. Thursday showings of “The Family,” which did $375,000 on its way to a $14 million and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” which did $325,000 on its way to a $15.5 million.
Both new films are forecasted to finish the weekend in the same range, while Warner’s third frame of “The Lego Movie” will win its third weekend in the $34 million to $36 million range.
“Lego” took in $2.7 million on Thursday to lift its domestic cume to $151.7 million after 14 days.
The weekend box office is expected to slow down considerably since last week’s busy Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend saw four new entries, led by Sony-Screen Gems’ “About Last Night” bow nationwide. That film, which grossed a solid $27.8 million in four days, will compete for a heated runner-up title as it’s also expected land somewhere in the $11 million-$13 million range.
This time last year, Universal’s comedy holdover “Identity Thief” surged to first place in its third frame, though it won the weekend with just $14 million.
Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow’s “The Lego Movie” continues to benefit as the best option for families, as well as a crossover hit with adult auds. So far, the 3D toon, which could drop around 35% between Friday and Sunday, has grossed nearly $150 million domestically, with more than $60 million overseas. If “Lego” achieves the expected domestic three-peat, it’ll be the second film to do so this year after Universal’s “Ride Along.”
The male-skewing new entries likely will mean that Valentine’s Day holdovers “Endless Love” and “Winter’s Tale” will remain female-friendly choices. “Endless Love,” with $15.4 million through Wednesday, scored a solid ‘A-’ CinemaScore, however. “Winter’s Tale” (at $8.8 million) received a less-enthusiastic ‘B’ rating. Both netted a stinging 14% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sony and MGM’s soph-sesh holdover “RoboCop” also will vie for male attention. Though the $100 million-budgeted film may find it difficult to leg out domestically, its international prospects are more promising with worldwide expectations surpassing $200 million.
“Pompeii,” which Sony is distributing Stateside for financier Constantin Films, launches in 2D and 3D at 2,658 total locations. The now-defunct FilmDistrict (which consolidated with Focus Features) is footing the P&A bill.
The sword-and-sandals epic — the first of several due out this year — takes place in the doomed Roman city. Pic stars “Game of Thrones” actor Kit Harington, alongside a motley crew of supporting players, including Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Jared Harris and Kiefer Sutherland.
Meanwhile, the Kevin Costner actioner “3 Days to Kill” marks the second Relativity-EuropaCorp co-production to bow, with Relativity handling U.S. distribution and a few international territories.
“3 Days to Kill” follows a renowned international spy (Costner), who discovers he has a terminal illness that can be cured with a treatment purchased if he performs one last mission. The film, which was budgeted for $28 million, marks an important lead role during a recent career resurgence for Costner, who had a memorable supporting turn in Paramount’s “Jack Ryan” re-boot and who also won an Emmy for the TV miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys.”
The Relativity film is meant to give Costner cred as an action star the way “Taken” pushed Liam Neeson into the spotlight. (Coincidentally, Neeson’s lastest action vehicle “Non-Stop” looks to tread on Costner’s heels bowing next weekend.)
Bowing in an aggressive limited release on Friday, Roadside Attractions’ Elizabeth Olsen-Jessica Lange period potboiler “In Secret,” based on “Therese Raquin” by Emile Zola, launches at 266 locations.
