Weekend Estimates (Page 92): Pets 103.2M (biggest OW ever for an original movie) | Tarzan 20.6M | Dory 20.3M | M&D 16.6M

[WrathOfHan]

http://deadline.com/2016/07/weekend-box-office-secret-life-of-pets-mike-and-dave-need-wedding-dates-zac-efron-finding-dory-1201784127/

[Chaz]

Huge. $80 million + is definitely happening.

[WrathOfHan]

Excellent numbers for both, Mike and Dave could hit high teens 

[mahnamahna]

$85-115 million OW on the way 

[Krissykins]

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates over performed. 

[WrathOfHan]

Key thing to keep in mind on SLOP: Previews started at 6 PM. That probably helped it cross 5M. 80M looks pretty likely.

[EmpireCity]

$4m for Tarzan

[Chaz]

I saw Mike and Dave last night. It was meh. Efron was not naked enough.

[MinaTakla]

Question:

- When IO scored a 3.7 m Thurs preview and Minions scored 6m, did screenings start 6 PM?

Also do we have any track record for animated films previews?

[MinaTakla]

Box Office Mojo just answered my question..

 

FRIDAY AM UPDATE: Thursday previews are in and both of this weekend's new releases are off to solid starts. Illumination and Universal's The Secret Life of Pets brought in a massive $5.33 million, the third largest Thursday preview session ever for an animated feature behind only Finding Dory ($9.2m) and Minions($6.2m) and ahead of Illumination's own Despicable Me 2 ($4.7m) which opened with $83.5 million back in 2013. The film is looking at a massive weekend that could push even higher than Mojo's forecasted $85 million. Previews began at 6PM in 3,009 theaters, the film begins playing in a record-breaking 4,369 theaters today, the largest opening ever for an animated feature.

[JohnnY]

i hate this previews bullshit, we don't know how to compare movies anymore, the showings don't even start at the same time

[WrathOfHan]

Just now, MinaTakla said:

Question:

- When IO scored a 3.7 m Thurs preview and Minions scored 6m, did screenings start 6 PM?

Also do we have any track record for animated films previews?

IO started at 7 and I believe Minions did as well

[Iron Man]

but minions previews also started at 6pm and that made $115m with $6.2m in previews so i say this is having a $90m+ weekend 

[Chaz]

3 minutes ago, MinaTakla said:

Question:

- When IO scored a 3.7 m Thurs preview and Minions scored 6m, did screenings start 6 PM?

Also do we have any track record for animated films previews?

IO opened in June. Minions in July. A lot of schools were still in session when IO opened.

 

I saw IO at 7:15 on Thursday night. There were earlier screenings.

 

As far as Thursday previews, SLOP is the biggest opening for an original animated film.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Chaz

[stripe]

An opening over 80M would be incredible for Pets. That previews could mean even a 90M opening. AMAZING

[K1stpierre]

Terrific start for pets!!!

[stripe]

7 minutes ago, nilephelan said:

$4m for Tarzan

 

Thursday number? That would be under 10% drop. Nice!

[Krissykins]

That is a great number for Secret Life of Pets. 

 

Still let down by the actual film though. What a huge waste. 

[FlashMaster659]

$5.93M Thurs. for Dory. Great hold!

[Ezen Baklattan]

Damn, that's impressive for Pets. Maybe this could hit $100m after all. Y'all haters corny with this Illumination mess. I can definitely see $40m+ for today, which would assure $100m easily. Animation is on crack this year.

 

Also pretty solid for Mike and Dave. Not sure how strong its weekend IM will be (teen comedies tend to crash and burn on Saturday in the summer) but it's promising so far.