Minions, Elvis, and Phones… Oh My! - Weeks 8 & 9

Tik Tok teenagers, theater owners, and Pharrell Williams were all “Happy” about how well Minions: The Rise of Gru did in its opening weekend. For the actual minions, especially Bob, Stuart, and Kevin, I often feel like they’re living in their own version of The Truman Show. I don’t think Universal Studios lets them know they’re actually starring in a movie. Should we start a campaign to free them? Eh, maybe we’re safer keeping them right where they are. 

Minions: The Rise of Gru dominated the 4th of July holiday weekend with a $123.1 million four-day total ($107 million over the first three days). Their fart guns, freeze rays, and extensive use of goggles (never underestimate the importance of eye safety!) made America reconsider whether we should add yellow to our typically exclusive red, white, and blue celebrations. 

It also ended the notion that streaming had ended the ability for animation/family movies to open well post-pandemic. Up till now, Lightyear had been the highest opening for such a film and yet that seemed like a disappointment for such a “tentpole” movie to only open around $50 million. Sing 2 and Encanto earned around $40 million in their five-day holiday openings (Christmas and Thanksgiving, respectively) and the less said about Disney’s attempt to get families back in theaters during March 2021 with Raya and the Last Dragon the better (an $8.5 million opening… oof!). Now it looks like Minions is sending the same message that Spider-Man: No Way Home sent (and now Top Gun) with their huge numbers… Make a movie people want to see and they’ll show up. Make an Attack of the Killer Tomatoes remake and only I’ll be there.

That said, it’s interesting with all the “success” the media has been spinning about The Rise of Gru, it has still performed a little less than the first Minions movie. In 2015 that film had a $115.7 million three-day total and even with a non-holiday Monday had a four-day $128.7 million debut. Of course, that still puts in on track to top $300 million domestically and be a super successful release. Just don’t act like we’ve not been here before. It’s not our first movie pool! 

In Week 8, there were two very different films released that seemed to both find their audiences. 

Elvis was #1 on the charts again with a $31.2 million opening. It may not have been the Hunka Hunka opening of Bohemian Rhapsody’s $50 million, but well above other recent efforts like Get On Up and Respect. In fact, it may fall right in line with the Walk the Line Johnny Cash bio-pic which opened with $22.3 million in 2005 and finished with $120 million. In its second weekend, Elvis only fell 40% and is already at $71 million after July 4th. While this total may seem like more than what Pressley’s highest grossing film, Viva Las Vegas, did in 1964 with $9.8 millon, when adjusted for inflation that comes out to $132 million. This bio-pic’s going to have to do some work to out-perform peak Ann Margret!

Black Phone was the other wide release and horror/suspense fans answered the call with $23.6 million. The Stephen King-esque story (which I guess makes sense, as it was written by “literally” King’s son) connected with audiences and only dropped 48% in its second weekend (horror films typically have the biggest drop-offs of all film genres). 11 days later, people keep checking the Black Phone to a tune of $49.3 million. Pretty good for a film that only cost $16 million to make. Wish my cell plan only cost that much. 

As for the other films… 

Top Gun: Maverick continues to be THE film of the summer as it was the #2 movie over 4th of July weekend… more than a month after its release! Maverick, Rooster, and the rest have flown-in $570.7 million so far and this trip is definitely taking them past $600 million total. The only film with even an outside shot to soar over Top Gun is Thor: Love and Thunder, and it will need to be THE Spider-Man: No Way Home of that series to accomplish that. Not sure Love and Thunder will be enough. 

Jurassic World: Dominion hasn’t gone extinct yet with a $335.8 million total. While there may not be enough amber in the tank to clone past Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it has enough to potentially hold onto the #3 spot unless Minions or Thor have something to say about that. 

Lightyear looks likely to fall out of our Top 5 orbit after Thor debuts this week. With a $106.4 million three-week total, it might not even pass The Good Dinosaur’s $123.1 million for the lowest grossing Pixar film. To infinity and below?

In summary, it looks like the Minions not only brought about The Rise of Gru, they have also led to The Fall of Downton Abbey. Any poolers convincing themselves that that film was long for this list are certainly in for A New Era… A New Era of pain… and maybe fart guns.

The Top Five If Today Was Labor Day:

#1. Top Gun: Maverick - $570.7 million

#2. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - $410.6 million

#3. Jurassic World: Dominion - $335.8 million

#4. Minions: The Rise of Gru - $123.1 million

#5. Lightyear - $106.4 million