Weekend Box Office Report: October 17-19, 2014

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Audiences feel the Fury!

Moviegoers were itching for some action this weekend, and having Brad Pitt in command certainly couldn't hurt, putting FURY on top of the box office this weekend with an estimated $23.5 million!

The R-rated WWII movie's opening was a bit soft compared to the last two times Pitt went to war (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS – $38 million; WORLD WAR Z – $66.4 million). But it was a career high opening for director David Ayer, whose last movie, the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led ensemble actioner SABOTAGE, only collected $10 million in its entire theatrical run.

Critics appreciated spending time in the titular tank with Pitt and his grungy crew, giving the war story an 80% average on Rotten Tomatoes, while paying crowds gave it an 'A-' CinemaScore. FURY carried a reported cost near $70 million, but Pitt's international appeal means the movie should see some action overseas.

Dropping to second place after two weeks on top was the thriller GONE GIRL with $17.8 million as it continued coasting on word-of-mouth right past the $100 million mark. Not far behind Ben Affleck was the new computer-animated release THE BOOK OF LIFE, opening with $17 million. The Guillermo del Toro-produced Day of the Dead celebration seemed to be enjoyed by both audiences ('A-' CinemaScore) and critics (79% on Rotten Tomatoes).

That was followed by another family feature, Disney's ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, which slipped a spot to fourth with $12 million (down only 34% from its opening).

The new romance THE BEST OF ME opened in fifth with $10.2 million, which is the lowest opening yet for adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels (SAFE HAVEN started with $21.4 million in February 2013). Critics jilted the James Marsden/Michelle Monaghan smoocher with a chilly 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, but moviegoers were more affectionate with a 'B+' CinemaScore.

Last weekend's runner-up DRACULA UNTOLD fell to sixth with $9.8 million, slashed by 57% from its opening. The retelling of the iconic master vampire has collected $135 million worldwide in ten days, but it may not be the blockbuster platform Universal hoped to relaunch all of their classic monsters.

Robert Downey, Jr.'s courtroom drama THE JUDGE was in seventh with $7.9 million, a drop of almost 40% from its opening. The creepy doll ANNABELLE was right behind in eighth, followed by THE EQUALIZER and THE MAZE RUNNER, which is still gasping to cross the $100 million finish line.

Outside the chart, THE BOXTROLLS departed the list, along with the documentary MEET THE MORMONS and the sexy thriller ADDICTED after they both enjoyed a single weekend in the Top 10. In limited release, Michael Keaton's BIRDMAN soared with an outstanding $103k per-screen average, while the comedy DEAR WHITE PEOPLE had a solid start with $31k per-screen.

Next weekend, teenagers unleash evil in OUIJA, Keanu Reeves is looking for a whole lotta revenge in JOHN WICK,  and the Bill Murray comedy ST. VINCENT expands nationwide.

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