Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands is now opening to $40M — a record domestic debut for the 20th Century Studios’ 38-year-old Predator franchise.
This comes after a great hold on Saturday of $14M, a mere -10% dip from Friday/previews of $15.6M. Predator: Badlands outstrips the previous series record held by Alien vs. Predator ($38.2M) which was a mid-August 2004 theatrical release. Here’s something we haven’t seen in a while at the box office (arguably going back to Conjuring: Last Rites and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in September)– a tentpole with an opening that grows throughout the weekend, while besting its tracking forecast. After a torturous October, finally some optimism at the box office.
While we saw the under 17 crowd at 6% yesterday morning, they jumped to 11% by EOD, a great sign that the audience is expanding. As such look for Badlands to continue to be good lands at the box office with Veterans Day on Tuesday and students off from school. 3D is also a big driver with 17% of the weekend. Given the older male skewing nature of the IP, business simply takes off at 7PM.
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