Weekend Box Office Report: September 14-16, 2018

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The Predator hunts in first place!

The infamous intergalactic game hunter(s) returned to Earth this weekend and took the top spot at the box office as THE PREDATOR opened with an estimated $24 million!

The R-rated action-thriller, which finds a new gang of military misfits contending with the trophy-hunting visitor, came out a bit lower than the $24.7 million start of the Robert Rodriguez-produced sequel PREDATORS in 2010. For further comparison, the skull-collecting space beasts also grabbed a $38.2 million opening from clashing with the xenomorphs when ALIEN VS. PREDATOR came out in 2004.

The original PREDATOR opened with $12 million back in 1987, and went on to a $59 million domestic total and nearly $100 million worldwide (on a $15 million budget) before enjoying a long and lucrative life on home video.

Director Shane Black's second time tussling with the alien (after encountering the creature as part of Arnold Schwarzenegger's team in the original) cost a reported $88 million. The extraterrestrials' previous hunt in PREDATORS carried a $40 million price tag.

The new alien bloodbath (featuring Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown and Keegan-Michael Key) also snatched an additional $30.7 million from international audiences for a worldwide weekend of $54.7 million.

Critics didn't have much appreciation for the sci-fi slaughter, giving the sequel a 34% average on Rotten Tomatoes. You can target the JoBlo reviews HERE and HERE.

R-rated horror movie THE NUN moved to second place with $18.2 million, a ghastly drop of 66% from its opening last weekend. The $22 million spooky spinoff of THE CONJURING has a ten-day domestic total of $85 million, and has already amassed a frightening worldwide total of $228.6 million.

Opening in third place was the new mystery A SIMPLE FAVOR with $16 million.

The R-rated thriller, with Anna Kendrick investigating the disappearance of her friend (Blake Lively), cost a reported $20 million. The adaptation of Darcey Bell's book comes from director Paul Feig (BRIDESMAIDS, GHOSTBUSTERS).

Most critics were intrigued by the twisty melodrama, giving the movie an average of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In fourth place was the new R-rated crime drama WHITE BOY RICK with an opening of $8.8 million.

The 80s-set movie, with Matthew McConaughey as the father of a teenage druglord-turned-informant, cost a reported $29 million. (The account was also the subject of the documentary WHITE BOY, released earlier this year.)

Critical response to the fact-based story of young felony wasn't overwhelming, with an average of 63% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can check out the JoBlo review HERE.

Romantic comedy CRAZY RICH ASIANS was in fifth with $8.7 million, reaching a domestic total of $149.5 million on its fifth weekend in theaters. The PG-13 adaptation of the best-selling book has a worldwide total of $187.4 million (on a reported $30 million cost).

The R-rated thriller PEPPERMINT was in sixth place with $6 million, taking a hit of 55% from last weekend's opening. The Jennifer Garner revenge story (from TAKEN director Pierre Morel) has a ten-day domestic total of $24.2 million on a reported $25 million cost.

Jason Statham's aquatic conflict with THE MEG was in seventh place with $3.8 million as the monster shark has now devoured $137 million domestic andd more than $500 million worldwide.

The John Cho thriller SEARCHING was in eighth place with $3.2 million, bringing the PG-13 mystery to $19.6 million domestic and a worldwide total of $45.8 million worldwide.

Opening in ninth place was the new drama UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION with $2.3 million.

Also adapted from Laura Hillenbrand's book about WWII hero Louis Zamperini, this sequel to Angelina Jolie's fact-based 2014 film UNBROKEN (with none of that movie's cast returning) cost a reported $6 million. Critics found the faith-based follow-up largely unnecessary, giving it a 25% average on Rotten Tomatoes.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT was clinging to the bottom of the list with $2.3 million. The sixth Tom Cruise espionage thriller now has $216.1 million domestic (passing the $215 million total of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II) and $760.9 million worldwide.

Outside the chart, Disney's CHRISTOPHER ROBIN wandered off to the Hundred Acre Wood along with OPERATION FINALE, ALPHA and Spike Lee's BLACKKKLANSMAN.

Next weekend has horror director Eli Roth trying something slightly more family-friendly with THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, and Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde have a bit of drama in LIFE ITSELF, while limited releases include the John C. Reilly/Joaquin Phoenix Western THE SISTERS BROTHERS.

What is your favorite movie written or directed by Shane Black? VOTE HERE!