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411 Box Office Report: Eternals Wins Second Weekend, Venom 2 Crosses $200 Million

November 14, 2021 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Marvel's Eternals Angelina Jolie

It was a second weekend in a row atop the box office for Marvel’s Eternals, which posted a fairly solid hold all things considered. The latest MCU film brought in $27.5 million in its second frame to win the weekend. That number is down 61% from its $71.3 million opening weekend.

While that drop may look high compared to your average blockbuster, it’s pretty good all things considered. After all, word of mouth for the divisive film was expected to be somewhat lower than normal for Marvel considering the relatively low critical buzz and the mediocre B CinemaScore. But audiences still came out to see it, giving it a hold that beats Black Widow (which dropped 68%) and both Spider-Man: Homecoming and Ant-Man and the Wasp (62%). In fact, the hold matches the one for Captain America: The First Avenger.

That all said, it must also be noted that those films all opened bigger or had smaller budgets than Eternals. Still, Marvel isn’t sweating this one at this point. Eternals has now grossed $118.8 million domestically and $281.4 million worldwide, performing pretty well overseas despite it not playing in some countries. We’re looking at a final domestic gross in the $175 million range or so, which will be decent enough with the overseas grosses pushing it higher toward profit. It’s not the breakaway hit of many MCU film, but this one is performing fine.

Clifford the Big Red Dog opened at #2 as it cornered the family market, bringing in a very decent $16.4 million. The Paramount production has a lower opening based on two factors: having opened on Wednesday and being available on Paramount+. The number is somewhat above the low teens most expected it to do and doesn’t make it a breakaway hit by any measure, but should make Paramount and eOne execs a little more relaxed.

Clifford is the latest attempt to farm a known children-targeted IP for film material, with pretty typical results. Critics were meh on it with a 48% Rotten Tomatoes score, while filmgoers loved it at an A CinemaScore. That’s about what you would expect from this film, which should have an okay run. The film was costlier than your typical kids film at a reported $64 million budget, but factoring in some of that Paramount+ revenue should smooth things out. The film should close out its domestic run around $70 million or so.

Dune was down a spot to #3 in its fourth weekend with $5.5 million. That’s a very nice hold, down just 29% from last weekend, and puts the film at $93.1 million domestically and $351.2 million worldwide. The move is trucking its way to $100 million domestically and will be profitable once all revenue streams are counted in, even on a $165 million budget plus marketing.

No Time to Die also held on well, down just 23% in its sixth weekend with $4.6 million. Daniel Craig’s last 007 film is now at $150.5 million domestically and a great $708.5 million worldwide, making it a hit even with a costly $250 million production budget plus marketing. Domestically it is now taking aim at around $160 million total.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage became the second pandemic film to cross $200 million domestically this weekend, as it grossed $4 million (down just 10%) in its seventh frame. The film now joins Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as the sold $200 million domestic grossers since the pandemic began. The film is at $202.7 million in the states and $441.5 million worldwide, a hit against its $100 million budget. $210 million still looks to be the final domestic endgame here.

Ron’s Gone Wrong was down one spot to #6 in its fourth weekend, shedding 38% to bring in $2.2 million. The 20th Century Studios animated film now has $20.8 million domestically and $49.7 million worldwide, and looks to end its stateside run at around $24 million. No word on its budget.

Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch held on decently, off just 29% in its second weekend of semi-wide release with $1.8 million. The arthouse film is now at $11.6 million domestically and $22.6 million worldwide, and is looking like around $15 million domestically. It had a $25 million budget.

Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast opened in limited release off to an acceptable start, taking in $1.8 million. The 1960s coming of age drama opened in just 580 theaters as Focus Features works to build award buzz for this piece. The movie is benefitting from great reviews (88% on RT) and is performing quite well considering older audiences are still slow to return to theaters. Its profit chances depends on how Focus handles the release from here.

Spencer was down 27% in its second weekend with $1.5 million. The Pablo Larrain-directed Princess Diana drama now has $4.7 million with its international rollout not yet begun. Much like Belfast, its box office potential depends on where it goes from here.

Antlers closed out the top 10, with the horror film bringing in $1.2 million (down 39%). The movie now has $9.6 million domestically and $14.6 million worldwide. It should finish off at around $12 million or so.

Next weekend will see a new #1 as Ghostbusters: Afterlife crashes into theaters. The revival of the horror comedy franchise is aiming for a $40 million-plus start. Also opening next weekend (plus day-and-date on HBO Max) is the Will Smith-starring King Richard about Serena and Venus Williams and their father, which should be in the mid to high single digits.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Eternals – $27.5 million ($118.8 million total)
2. Clifford the Big Red Dog – $16.4 million ($22 million total)
3. Dune – $5.5 million ($93.1 million total)
4. No Time to Die – $4.6 million ($105.5 million total)
5. Venom: Let There Be Carnage – $4 million ($202.7 million total)
6. Ron’s Gone Wrong – $2.2 million ($20.8 million total)
7. The French Dispatch – $1.8 million ($11.6 million total)
8. Belfast – $1.8 million ($1.8 million total)
9. Spenser – $1.5 million ($4.7 million total)
10. Antlers – $1.2 million ($9.6 million total)