Estimates for “Solo: A Star Wars Story” are continuing to fly low.
Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” prequel is now looking to make $101 million in 4,381 North American theaters during its four-day holiday weekend debut. The Han Solo origin film’s three-day estimate currently hovers around $83 million. Internationally, it opened with a disappointing $65 million for a worldwide three-day weekend of $148 million.
Tracking earlier this week suggested “Solo” would lift off with $130 million to $150 million. The film, directed by Ron Howard, follows Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, who befriends his future co-pilot and Wookie companion Chewbacca, and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany, Joonas Suotamo, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge round out the cast.
“There’s a ton of momentum in the box office,” Dave Hollis, president of domestic distribution at Disney, said of the trio of recent openings — “Solo,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “ Deadpool 2.” “There’s a wide open landscape for the next handful of weeks.”
Early estimates predicted “Solo” could secure the best Memorial Day weekend opening, but it looks like “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” will continue to hold the crown with its $139.8 million in 2007.
“Solo,” the second standalone “Star Wars” anthology film, has fallen far behind 2016’s “Rogue One,” which landed a three-day weekend opening of $155 million. The most recent installment in the franchise — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — opened less than six months ago. The second film in “Star Wars’” sequel trilogy debuted with $220 million domestically.
With “Solo” as the only new release of the weekend, the rest of the North American box office will be bolstered by a number of holdovers.
“Deadpool 2” should easily score the second slot, heading for a $42 million three-day sophomore frame and a four-day total of around $54 million. As of Friday, the superhero sequel starring Ryan Reynolds has earned $176.8 million.
The fifth weekend of “Avengers: Infinity War” looks to land in third. The Marvel blockbuster is looking at a $16.9 million three-day estimate, along with a four-day number of $22.1 million.
(Excerpt) Read More @ Yahoo