Disney’s “Tron: Ares” will light up the top of the box office in its debut, though the sci-fi entry is coming in dimmer than its projections. Meanwhile, the Channing Tatum caper “Roofman” looks headed for a second place bow.
The “Tron” threequel earned $14.3 million across Friday and previews from 4,000 venues (that includes early access screenings on Wednesday ahead of the wider traditional Thursday rollout.) Pre-weekend tracking had forecast a debut north of $45 million — a range that’s now likely well out of reach. It’s also pacing behind the prior series entry “Tron: Legacy,” which nabbed a $17.5 million opening day in 2010 on its way to a $44 million first frame. Reviews have been mediocre for “Ares,” while audiences were slightly more positive. Survey firm Cinema Score polled a “B+” grade among moviegoers.
Disney spent a big $180 million to produce the franchise revival. Pegged as one of the few big-budget IP plays to release between the summer and Thanksgiving, “Ares” is banking on international audiences to hit a profit in theaters. “Tron” has always been something between retro cult object and commercial force. The original was only the 22nd-biggest North American release of 1982, while “Legacy” hit $400 million globally against a $170 million budget.
Franchise newcomers Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Evan Peters lead “Tron: Ares,” with the series’ original star Jeff Bridges returning as Kevin Flynn. Joachim Rønning directs, after serving as a steady hand for Disney on the final “Pirates of the Caribbean” entry, a “Maleficient” sequel and the Daisy Ridley drama “Young Woman and the Sea.” Disney marketing has also emphasized the original score by Nine Inch Nails, after Daft Punk was celebrated for its work on “Tron: Legacy.”
Paramount’s “Roofman” is also coming in on the lower side of tracking, after earning $3.25 million across Friday and previews from 3,362 locations. The ripped-from-the-headlines comedic thriller is hoping to meet its pre-weekend forecast for a debut of at least $8 million.
Miramax developed, produced and financed “Roofman” at a slim $19 million budget and Paramount put some promotional force behind it with a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film has enjoyed good critical buzz, while Cinema Score turned in a “B+” grade. The studio hopes that will translate into solid word-of-mouth after a modest debut.
“Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines” director Derek Cianfrance went for something sunnier with “Roofman,” which stars Tatum as a friendly criminal who robbed dozens of McDonald’s locations before escaping prison and living in a Toys “R” Us. The ensemble is a deep bench, with Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn and Uzo Aduba.
More to come…
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