LOS ANGELES (AP) β βTron: Aresβ powered up the box office grid in the top spot this weekend, but Disneyβs third entry in the sci-fi franchise fell short of expectations.
Despite some favorable reviews β including a three-out-of-four-star one from The Associated Press β the new βTronβ film starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges earned $33.5 million, according to Comscore estimates on Sunday. The big-budget project, reported to cost around $150 million, arrived 15 years after βTron: Legacyβ opened to $44 million before grossing more than $400 million globally.
The latest chapter follows a battle between two powerful technology firms, Emcom and Dillinger, who face off against the same artificial intelligence barrier. Both can generate physical creations using laser-based 3D printers β but each creation lasts only 29 minutes before collapsing into ash.
βTron: Aresβ was packed with action and nostalgia, but it wasn’t enough to draw big numbers across more than 4,000 theaters.
βIt’s been tough for that franchise to gain traction for it to become a big mega franchise,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. He noted that the original βTronβ movie in 1982 initially struggled at the box office, but it ultimately grew a cult following.
Dergarabedian said the international numbers could play a key role toward the film’s profitability.
βIt still topped the box office,β he said. “It picked a solid release date. All eyes are on a big Disney film that is a huge brand, known and has been around for decades.β
It wasn’t the only new release that struggled to connect.
βRoofman,β which starred Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst in the blue-collar dramedy about a construction worker trying to rebuild his life, opened in second place with a modest $8 million debut.
Paul Thomas Andersonβs βOne Battle After Anotherβ came in third with $6.6 million. β Gabbyβs Dollhouse: The Movieβ held steady in fourth place with $3.3 million. The Netflix and DreamWorks family release β based on the popular preschool series β continues to perform well with younger audiences in its third weekend.
In fifth, βSoul on Fireβ debuted with $3 million. The faith-based drama tells the true story of burn survivor and motivational speaker John OβLeary, featuring performances from Joel Courtney, William H. Macy and John Corbett.
“The Conjuring: Last Rites” followed with $2.9 million, marking another steady entry in Warner Bros.β long-running horror franchise.
In seventh, βDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba β Infinity Castleβ brought in $2.2 million, continuing the anime franchiseβs strong theatrical momentum worldwide.
βThe Smashing Machine,β starring Dwayne Johnson as UFC legend Mark Kerr, added $1.7 million in eighth place.
Rounding out the top 10 were βThe Strangers: Chapter 2β with $1.5 million and βGood Boyβ with $1.3 million.
After a couple big weekends last month, the box office has taken a hit in October β a month that Dergarabedian calls a bridge month between summer and holiday movie seasons. He said this month is perfect for films like βThe Smashing Machineβ and βAfter the Hunt,β which releases Oct. 17, to shine in their own way.
βIf you’re a movie fan, particularly in the indie, art house, award season types of film, this is a great month,β he said. βMoviegoers should embrace the eclectic offerings out there on the big screen.β
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. βTron: Aresβ $33.5 million
2. βRoofman,β $8 million.
3. βOne Battle After Another,β $6.6 million.
4. βGabbyβs Dollhouse: The Movie,β $3.3 million.
5. βSoul on Fire,β $3 million.
6. βThe Conjuring: Last Rites,β $2.9 million.
7. βDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba β Infinity Castle,β $2.2 million.
8. βThe Smashing Machine,β $1.7 million.
9. βThe Strangers: Chapter 2,β $1.5 million.
10. βGood Boy,β $1.3 million.
