‘The Jungle Book’ Easily Repeats at #1 w/ $60M Sophomore Frame; ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’ Misfires w/ $19.5M

Saturday Update: Disney reports this morning that The Jungle Book easily retained first place to start the weekend on Friday with an estimated $16.38 million. That marks just a 48.8 percent decline from opening day last week, yet another encouraging sign that strong word of mouth will propel the film in the coming weeks. With $147.06 million in the domestic bank through eight days of release, the latest critical and commercial blockbuster from the Mouse House is pacing 29 percent ahead of their 2013 film, Oz the Great and Powerful. Based on Friday’s results, we’re projecting an excellent $60 million sophomore frame this weekend. If that holds, it would surpass Furious 7‘s $59.6 million as the best second weekend in April history.

Debuting in second place yesterday, The Huntsman: Winter’s War posted an underwhelming $7.27 million opening day — including Thursday night’s $1 million start. Unfortunately, poor word of mouth and reviews aren’t helping matters as the soft debut is likely to be followed by poor legs with such stiff competition in the market already (and more yet to come two weeks from now with Captain America: Civil War).  Boxoffice is projecting an opening weekend of $19.5 million.

Taking third place yesterday, Barbershop: The Next Cut was off just 56 percent from opening day last week to $3.105 million. The well-received comedy sequel has tallied $28.3 million through eight days of release as it continues to successfully counter-program the big-budget tentpole films in the market. Look for a second weekend total around $11 million.

Universal’s The Boss was off 39 percent from last Friday to $1.9 million yesterday, giving it a 15-day sum of $45.3 million. Boxoffice projects a $6.2 million weekend.

Meanwhile, Zootopia was down just 20 percent from last Friday as it added $1.772 million yesterday. With $311.6 million earned stateside thus far, it eyes a weekend around $6.6 million.

Current weekend estimates:

WIDE (1000+)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 The Jungle Book (2016) $60,000,000 -42% 4,028 0 $14,896 $190,674,426 2 Disney
2 The Huntsman: Winter’s War $19,500,000 3,791 $5,144 $19,500,000 1 Universal
3 Barbershop: The Next Cut $11,000,000 -46% 2,676 15 $4,111 $36,201,492 2 Warner Bros. / New Line
4 Zootopia $6,600,000 -19% 2,798 -411 $2,359 $316,424,606 8 Disney
5 The Boss $6,200,000 -38% 3,375 -120 $1,837 $49,628,205 3 Universal
6 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice $5,500,000 -39% 3,066 -439 $1,794 $319,481,603 5 Warner Bros.
7 Criminal (2016) $3,300,000 -43% 2,683 0 $1,230 $11,064,486 2 Lionsgate / Summit
8 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 $2,100,000 -36% 1,749 -548 $1,201 $55,374,740 5 Universal
9 God’s Not Dead 2 $1,200,000 -30% 1,168 -417 $1,027 $19,038,326 4 Pure Flix
10 Miracles from Heaven $1,100,000 -43% 1,264 -818 $870 $58,785,786 6 Sony / Columbia

LIMITED (100 — 999)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Compadres $1,500,000 368 $4,076 $1,500,000 1 Lionsgate / Pantelion
2 Eye in the Sky $1,150,000 -26% 838 -53 $1,372 $14,902,151 7 Bleecker Street
3 Everybody Wants Some!! $670,000 56% 454 320 $1,476 $2,363,247 4 Paramount
4 Deadpool $665,000 -32% 594 -197 $1,120 $361,116,943 11 Fox
5 The Divergent Series: Allegiant $650,000 -53% 852 -632 $763 $65,053,316 6 Lionsgate / Summit
6 10 Cloverfield Lane $570,000 -46% 595 -490 $958 $70,744,751 7 Paramount
7 Elvis & Nixon $440,000 381 $1,155 $440,000 1 Bleecker Street / Amazon
8 Hardcore Henry $295,000 -80% 519 -2496 $568 $9,026,805 3 STX Entertainment
9 Kung Fu Panda 3 $265,000 -3% 273 -20 $971 $141,645,195 13 Fox / DreamWorks Animation
10 The Revenant (2015) $105,000 -32% 170 -52 $618 $183,412,381 18 Fox

PLATFORM (1 — 99)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Sing Street $110,000 73% 25 20 $4,400 $194,958 2 Weinstein Company
2 Spotlight $30,000 -34% 91 -12 $330 $44,866,650 25 Open Road

Friday Update: Sources report that The Huntsman: Winter’s War grossed an estimated $1.0 million from Thursday evening shows beginning at 7pm. By comparison, Snow White and the Huntsman earned $1.4 million from midnight shows only with its mid-summer 2012 release. More apt comparisons are likely Gods of Egypt ($800,000 Thursday) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ($290,000) — the latter for its appeal to women, which Winter’s War is certainly aiming for as well.

Its nature as a sequel with a target audience that doesn’t always rush out on opening night makes projections tricky at this stage, but based on early reviews and word of mouth the prequel looks likely to unfortunately come in south of $20 million this weekend.

Meanwhile, Disney’s The Jungle Book will easily repeat in first place during its second weekend.

Official studio estimates for Friday and our weekend estimates will be published Saturday morning.