Weekend Box Office Report: October 6-8, 2017

Blade Runner 2049 shoots to #1!

Ryan Gosling went after replicants this weekend and put BLADE RUNNER 2049 on top with an estimated opening of $31.5 million!

Fans of director Ridley Scott's influential 1982 sci-fi film were anticipating the follow-up from filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (ARRIVAL, SICARIO), but that fascination didn't seem to extend to general audiences, leading to an opening short of expectations.

The sequel's first weekend figures probably weren't helped by the considerable running time of two hours and 45 minutes, which could have intimidated casual moviegoers and also resulted in fewer daily showings.

The R-rated new chapter to the 35-year-old cult favorite, with Gosling now "retiring" bioengineered humans alongside original BLADE RUNNER star Harrison Ford, cost a reported $155 million (although some claims put that figure $20-30 million higher).

Critics approved of this latest glimpse at a bleak future, giving the sequel an 89% average on Rotten Tomatoes. The JoBlo reviews are HERE and HERE.

In second place was the new drama THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US with an opening of $10.1 million.

The tale of survival and romance with Idris Elba and Kate Winslet cost a reported $35 million. Critics gave it the cold shoulder with a 46% average on Rotten Tomatoes (the JoBlo review is HERE).

The adaptation of Stephen King's IT was in third as it earned $9.6 million to float past $300 million domestic. The R-rated terror-clown has now snatched up $603 million worldwide (on a cost of $35 million).

Opening in fourth place was the new animated feature MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE with $8.8 million.

The colorful cartoon's theatrical start seemed on the low side considering the seeming popularity and omnipresence of the property. Critics who were presumably not the target audience gave the movie an average of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In fifth place was KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE with $8.1 million, bringing it to nearly $80 million domestic after three weekends.

The R-rated spy sequel from director Matthew Vaughn now has a worldwide total of $253.5 million (on a reported cost of $104 million).

The fact-based Tom Cruise thriller AMERICAN MADE was in sixth place with $8 million, descending 52% from its opening last weekend.

The $50 million R-rated crime-drama directed by Doug Liman has a ten-day domestic total of $30.4 million, adding to a worldwide total of $98.5 million.

THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE followed in seventh place with $6.7 million for a domestic total of $43.8 million after three weeks.

The period drama VICTORIA AND ABDUL expanded to 732 screens this weekend and jumped on the list in eighth place with $4.1 million.

The fact-based story of Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) and her clerk (Ali Fazal) has collected $5.9 million after its limited release run.

In ninth place was the remake of FLATLINERS with $3.8 million, losing 42% of business from its weak start for a ten-day domestic total of $12.3 million. The Emma Stone/Steve Carell tennis rivalry BATTLE OF THE SEXES closed out the Top 10 with $2.4 million.

Outside the chart, AMERICAN ASSASSIN departed with TIL DEATH DO US PART, HOME AGAIN and Darren Aronofsky's MOTHER! In limited release, the Willem Dafoe drama THE FLORIDA PROJECT had a strong $38k per-screen average.

Next weekend has Jackie Chan in action from CASINO ROYALE director Martin Campbell with THE FOREIGNER, a girl repeats her demise in the horror movie HAPPY DEATH DAY, we get a look at the mind behind Wonder Woman in PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN, and Chadwick Boseman practices law in MARSHALL.

What is your favorite dystopian future sci-fi movie? VOTE HERE!