M. Night Shyamalan’s Old is the new weekend box office champ

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Shyamalan's latest wins the weekend!

An age-related mystery was the main attraction at the box office this weekend as M. Night Shyamalan's OLD took the top spot with an estimated opening of $16.5 million.

The new thriller, about a group of people trapped on a beach that causes them to rapidly age, is the lowest-grossing domestic opening for Shyamalan (previous low was LADY IN THE WATER's $18 million start back in 2006). Shyamalan's previous two movies, the UNBREAKABLE-related SPLIT and GLASS, each opened to $40 million.

The PG-13 Universal release, with an ensemble cast that includes Gael Garcia Bernal, Alex Wolff, Abbey Lee and Rufus Sewell, was originally planned to arrive in February before a delay to this weekend.

Shyamalan's latest unsettling horror tale, based on a graphic novel called "Sandcastle", had a reported production cost of $18 million. The movie also earned $6.5 million from international audiences for a worldwide total of $23 million.

Critics were split about their visit to the nightmare vacation destination, giving the movie a 52% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 53. Spend some quality time with the JoBlo review HERE.

Opening in second place was the new PG-13 action movie SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS with $13.3 million for the weekend.

The prequel, with Henry Golding (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) as the fan-favorite ninja of the title, was just a shadow of the openings for G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA ($54.7 million in 2009) and G.I. JOE: RETALIATION ($40.5 million in 2013).

Directed by Robert Schwentke (FLIGHTPLAN, RED) and also featuring Samara Weaving, Andrew Koji and Iko Uwais, the Paramount release reportedly cost $88 million (although that may have been as high as $110 million).

Critics weren't very interested in the history of the lethal soldier, giving the movie an average of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 43 on Metacritic. Sneak over to the JoBlo review HERE.

In third place was more special operative backstory as Marvel's BLACK WIDOW took in $11.6 million on its third weekend in theaters. Disney's PG-13 release (also on Disney+ for an extra cost) has a domestic total of $154.8 million and $314.9 million worldwide, on a reported $200 million cost.

The PG-rated animated/live-action sequel SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY was in fourth place with $9.5 million, plummeting 69% from its opening last weekend.

The $150 million Warner Bros. release (also on HBO Max), with LeBron James teaming with Bugs Bunny and friends, has a ten-day domestic total of $51.3 million and $93.9 million worldwide.

In fifth place was vehicular sequel F9: THE FAST SAGA with $4.6 million on its fifth domestic weekend. Universal's PG-13 action movie has cruised to a domestic total of $163.2 million and $621 million worldwide, currently placing both grosses right about in the middle for the overall franchise.

The PG-13 horror-thriller ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS was in sixth place with $3.4 million, losing 61% of business from its opening last weekend. The $15 million Sony sequel has a ten-day domestic total of $16 million and a worldwide total of $24 million.

In seventh place was the animated DreamWorks sequel THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS with $2.7 million, bringing the PG-rated Universal release to $50.1 million domestic and $61 million worldwide on a reported $82 million cost.

The R-rated sequel THE FOREVER PURGE was in eighth place with $2.3 million over its fourth weekend. Universal's $18 million horror-thriller has a domestic total of $40.3 million and $57.4 million worldwide.

In ninth place was the sci-fi/horror sequel A QUIET PLACE: PART II with $1.2 million. After nine weekends, the PG-13 Paramount release has a domestic total of $157.5 million and $290 million worldwide, on a reported $61 million cost.

At the bottom was the R-rated documentary ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN with $830,000, a drop of 58% from its opening last weekend for a ten-day domestic total of $3.7 million.

Outside the chart, the Disney live-action prequel CRUELLA left the Top 10 after two months, while the Nicolas Cage drama PIG went off in search of truffles.

The new Mark Wahlberg road trip JOE BELL opened on over 1000 screens but couldn't crack the list, making $707,000 for the weekend (with a lower per-screen average than THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD in its sixth weekend).

Based on a true story, the R-rated bullying drama (once thought to be an Oscar hopeful for Wahlberg) didn't leave a strong impression on critics with a 37% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 54 on Metacritic. Travel on over to the JoBlo review HERE.

Next weekend offers the long-delayed period fantasy THE GREEN KNIGHT, the Matt Damon thriller STILLWATER, and the Dwayne Johnson/Emily Blunt Disney adventure JUNGLE CRUISE (also premiering on Disney+ for a $30 charge).

What is your favorite movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan? VOTE HERE!