WhileUsscored Universal Pictures the only #1 box office debut for an original film in earlier this year, the studio can now boast they’ve accomplished this feat twice in 2019. The original R-rated comedyGood Boysopened in first place at the box office this weekend with an impressive $21 million opening weekend, giving the comedy genre a much needed boost after films likeStuber,Long Shot, andLate Nightwere D.O.A. It also scored the second biggest opening weekend for a comedy in 2019 so far, right behindA Madea Family Funeral’s $27 million bow.
Comedies have been dying on the vine this year, both in terms of traditional two-handers and blockbuster comedy-actioners likeMen in Black: International. My gut tells meGood Boysjust enjoyed being the right movie at the right time—there’s not a ton out to see right now, and the marketing was pretty perfect in selling it as an earnest, pre-teenSuperbad. There’s not much left on the calendar this year in terms of traditional comedies, but perhapsJojo Rabbit,Zombieland: Double Tap, orSuper Intelligencewill continue theGood Boysstreak.
Universal also scored the second slot at the box office this weekend, as theFast & FuriousspinoffHobbs & Shawpulled in another $14.1 million and surpassed $400 million worldwide. Many analysts hadHobbs & Shawwinning the weekend, soGood Boys’s performance is a pleasant surprise all around.
Aside fromGood Boys, however, it was very bad news for new releases. The animated sequelThe Angry Birds Movie 2pulled in $10.5 million, which is significantly lower than the $38 million opening weekend of the first movie even though the sequel garnered far higher critical praise. New Line’s critically acclaimed (and genuinelygreat)Blinded by the Lightbombed with $4.1 million despite a stellar A- CinemaScore—so consider this your official suggestion to see this movie in theaters before you regret not taking the plunge. TheCate Blanchette-frontedWhere’d You Go Bernadette, meanwhile, pulled in a mere $3.5 million, making it one of the lowest grossing wide debuts ofRichard Linklater’s career.
The shark sequel47 Meters Down: Uncageddidn’t fare quite as terribly as some expected, pulling in $9 million versus the original film’s $11.2 million debut. The CinemaScore, however, was a C+, suggesting opening weekend audiences weren’t particular fond of the movie.
In terms of holdovers, Disney’sThe Lion Kingis officially one of the biggest movies ever made. Its worldwide total of $1.435 billion has now surpassedAvengers: Age of Ultronto secure the #9 slot on the all-time worldwide list, and it remains the highest grossing Disney Live Action movie ever made—with Disney Live Action referring to Disney-produced live-action films, and not Disney-owned live-action films like Marvel orStar Wars.
Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, meanwhile, continues to hold well, dropping only 34% from last weekend. The lengthy R-rated film’s international rollout is currently underway, and its worldwide total stands at $180.5 million.
Check out the full weekend estimates below.
$21,000,000
Hobbs & Shaw
$14,140,000
$133,741,600
The Lion King
$11,900,000
$496,107,985
The Angry Birds Movie 2
$10,500,000
$16,237,146
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
$10,050,000
$40,216,784
47 Meters Down: Uncaged
$9,000,000
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
$8,500,000
$33,909,724
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
$7,600,000
$114,348,212
Blinded by the Light
$4,450,000
The Art of Racing in the Rain
$4,403,000
$16,881,187
