Weekend Box Office Report: September 21-23, 2018

The House with Cash in Its Walls!

Many moviegoers wanted magic and chills this weekend, putting THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS in first place with an estimated opening of $26.8 million!

Director Eli Roth's shift away from more hardcore violent subject matter proved to be his most successful opening so far — HOSTEL started with $19.5 million back in 2006, while his recent update of DEATH WISH opened to $13 million this past March.

The new PG-rated dark fantasy, an adaptation of John Bellairs' spooky childrens book, cost a reported $42 million. It gathered an extra $3.1 million from international territories for a $29.9 million worldwide weekend.

For star Jack Black (who shares billing with Cate Blanchett), its a notch above his last family-friendly horror-comedy — the adaptation of GOOSEBUMPS started with $23.6 million in October of 2015.

Critics were amused but not completely enthused with the Amblin-produced Halloween-season adventure, giving it an average of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Visit the JoBlo review HERE.

Moving up a spot to second place was the R-rated mystery A SIMPLE FAVOR with $10.4 million. The thriller with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively dropped by only 35% from its opening last weekend for a ten-day domestic total of $32.5 million (on a reported $20 million cost).

The adaptation of Darcey Bell's novel, directed by Paul Feig (GHOSTBUSTERS, BRIDESMAIDS), has also made $10 million from overseas for a $42.5 million worldwide total.

In third place was R-rated horror movie THE NUN with $10.2 million as THE CONJURING spinoff scared its way past $100 million domestic on its third weekend in theaters. 

With $292.6 million worldwide, the supernatural sister is also creeping up on the global totals of THE CONJURING ($319 million) and THE CONJURING 2 ($320 million), along with fellow prequel ANNABELLE: CREATION ($306 million).

Last week's champ THE PREDATOR was kicked down to fourth place with $8.7 million, severed by 65% from its first-place opening. The R-rated return of the titular trophy-hunting alien has a ten-day domestic total of $40.4 million. Director Shane Black's sequel has also gathered a worldwide total of $94.9 million (on a reported $88 million cost).

Clinging to fifth place was romantic comedy CRAZY RICH ASIANS with $6.5 million. On its sixth weekend in the top half of the chart, director Jon Chu's PG-13 adaptation of Kevin Kwan's bestseller has a domestic total of $159.4 million and a worldwide total of $206.4 million (on a reported cost of $30 million).

The R-rated Matthew McConaughey crime story WHITE BOY RICK was in sixth with $5 million, down by 43% from last weekend's opening. The $29 million fact-based drama has a ten-day domestic total of $17.4 million.

In seventh place was the revenge action-drama PEPPERMINT with $3.7 million, bringing it to $30.3 million on its third weekend. The R-rated Jennifer Garner thriller has $36.3 million worldwide on a reported cost of $25 million.

Opening in eighth place was Michael Moore's latest release FAHRENHEIT 11/9 with $3.1 million.

Most critics approved of the documentary filmmaker's new R-rated look at the current political landscape, giving it an average of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes (the JoBlo review is HERE).

In ninth place, Jason Statham continued his duel with prehistoric super-shark THE MEG with $2.3 million. After seven weeks, the PG-13 thriller adapted from Steve Alten's book has consumed $140.5 million domestic and $516 million worldwide.

Closing out the list was the thriller SEARCHING  with $2.1 million. The PG-13 John Cho mystery now has a domestic total of $23.1 million and a worldwide total of $54.2 million.

Outside the chart, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT finally made its departure after two months, taking $777 million worldwide. Sequel UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION also disappeared after one weekend in the Top 10.

The new Oscar Isaac/Olivia Wilde melodrama LIFE ITSELF was released on 2600 screens, but couldn't crack the list with a $2.1 million opening weekend.

Critics rolled their eyes at the movie from Dan Fogelman (creator of TV show "This Is Us"), giving it a dreary 13% average on Rotten Tomatoes. The JoBlo review can be found HERE.

In limited release, the John C. Reilly/Joaquin Phoenix Western THE SISTERS BROTHERS rode off with a $30k per-screen average, while the Keira Knightley period drama COLETTE started with a $39k per-screen average.

Next weekend has Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish going to NIGHT SCHOOL, there's a modern update of literary classic LITTLE WOMEN, and an animated Yeti ponders the existence of humans in SMALLFOOT.

What is your favorite movie directed by Eli Roth? VOTE HERE!