Jordan Peele works his horror magic again with his latest film “Us,” and it pays back tenfold. Earning $71.1 million in its debut makes it “the second largest opening ever for a live-action, original picture” (Box Office Mojo) just behind James Cameron’s “Avatar,” which opened to $77 million back in 2009. In addition to that record, it has become the third highest debut for a horror film behind 2017’s “It” ($123.4 million) and last year’s “Halloween” ($76.2 million); however it is the highest grossing weekend for an original horror film, because those previously mentioned films are both sequels/ adaptations. Also, go ahead and add the largest opening for an original R-rated film, seeing as it topped 2012’s “Ted” ($54.4 million). Plus, with an average of $19,010 per 3,741 theaters, “Us” also grabbed the POPCORN AWARD for the weekend.
The only other new release landing on the List this week was the 20th Anniversary re-release of “Cruel Intentions.” With a production budget of $10.5 million back in 1999, the film would go on to make $75.9 million and become an iconic young adult movie of the ’90s. The re-release made $258,708 over the weekend and landed it at the #18 spot. Outside of their debuts, Focus Features’ “The Mustang” landed a second weekend up 26 spots to the #22 spot and China Lion’s “More Than Blue” nabbed the #25 spot in its second weekend. And, for the second straight weekend, the Julianne Moore drama “Gloria Bell” grabbed the GOLDEN PERCENTAGE AWARD with an increase of +352.7%.
Not fairing as well were the smaller titles on the List. The Vincent D’Onofrio western “The Kid” is looking to lose upwards for $35 million, falling off the List in its third weekend and still only having earned $1.3 million on an estimated production budget of $37 million. “Greta” and “Run The Races” both fell off in their fourth and fifth weekends, respectively. Plus, the Javier Bardem-Penelope Cruz film “Everybody Knows” fell off in its seventh weekend. Lastly, there was no information on Los Domirriqueños 2 in its second weekend. However, after falling off last weekend, “Glass” returned to the List with a finish at the #23 spot.
Next weekend, Tim Burton’s live-action remake of “Dumbo” should become king, aiming for a debut close to $60 million. Even with its impressive debut, “Us” doesn’t stand much of a chance against the latest Walt Disney Pictures release. Box Office Pro is expecting a debut of $1.5 million for the faith-based drama “Unplanned,” which takes a look at one of the most infamous Planned Parenthood clinic directors and her change of heart after being involved in over 22,000 abortions. Also, the Matthew McConaughey-Isla Fisher film “The Beach Bum” should make some impact on the List next weekend. Making room for those titles will likely be “More Than Blue,” which has little chance of hanging on for another weekend, “Glass” could be on the chopping block again, and I would imagine the “Cruel Intentions” re-release will not be seeing another week at the box office.
BOX OFFICE KING: “Us” (2019)
BOX OFFICE QUEEN: “Captain Marvel”
POPCORN AWARD*: “Us” (2019)
GOLDEN PERCENTAGE AWARD**: “Gloria Bell”
| # | Title | Weekend | Total | Budget | Week | LW | CH |
| 1 | Us (2019) (Uni) |
$71,117,625 | ($71,117,625) | $20m | 1st | N |  |
| 2 | Captain Marvel (BV) |
$34,271,793 | ($320,749,628) | $152m* | 3rd | #1 |  |
| 3 | Wonder Park (Par) |
$8,761,117 | ($15,853,646) | $100m* | 2nd | #2 | |
| 4 | Five Feet Apart (LGF) |
$8,547,539 | ($26,258,603) | $7m* | 2nd | #3 | |
| 5 | How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Uni) |
$6,520,065 | ($145,739,695) | $129m | 5th | #4 | |
| 6 | Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral (LGF) |
$4,402,750 | ($65,783,982) | $20m* | 4th | #5 | |
| 7 | No Manches Frida 2 (PNT) |
$1,770,786 | ($6,617,065) | ** | 2nd | #6 | |
| 8 | Gloria Bell (A24) |
$1,650,215 | ($2,346,200) | ** | 3rd | #19 |   |
| 9 | The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (WB) |
$1,161,098 | ($103,364,648) | $99m* | 7th | #8 | |
| 10 | Alita: Battle Angel (Fox) |
$1,081,328 | ($83,814,378) | $170m | 6th | #9 | |
| 11 | Captive State (Focus) |
$959,165 | ($5,269,825) | $25m* | 2nd | #7 | |
| 12 | Apollo 11 (Neon) |
$791,649 | ($6,857,086) | ** | 4th | #12 |  |
| 13 | Isn’t It Romantic (WB) |
$624,190 | ($47,501,280) | $5m* | 6th | #11 | |
| 14 | Green Book (Uni) | $605,670 | ($83,885,626) | $23m | 19th | #10 | |
| 15 | The Upside (STX) |
$549,271 | ($106,831,727) | $37.5m | 11th | #14 | |
| 16 | Fighting with My Family (MGM) |
$542,524 | ($21,962,501) | $99m* | 6th | #13 | |
| 17 | What Men Want (Par) |
$310,453 | ($54,051,616) | $20m | 7th | #15 | |
| 18 | Cruel Intentions (20th Anniversary) (Sony) |
$258,708 | ($258,708) | ** | 1st | N | |
| 19 | Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (Sony) | $255,377 | ($189,873,385) | $90m | 15th | #21 |  |
| 20 | Badla (Relbig.) |
$237,547 | ($1,712,624) | $3.5m* | 3rd | #18 | |
| 21 | Aquaman (WB) | $228,302 | ($334,776,596) | $200m* | 14th | #22 | |
| 22 | The Mustang (Focus) | $223,853 | ($317,842) | ** | 2nd | #48 | |
| 23 | Glass (Uni) |
$206,080 | ($110,817,480) | $20m | 8th | #18 | |
| 24 | Happy Death Day 2U (Uni) |
$197,560 | ($27,851,130) | $9m | 6th | #20 | |
| 25 | More Than Blue (CL) |
$175,970 | ($509,554) | $2m* | 2nd | #34 | |
<<<ALL DOMESTIC NUMBERS FROM BOX OFFICE MOJO>>>>
OFF THE CHARTS THIS WEEK
| Title | Dom / World | Budget | Weeks | Highest | NOTE |
| Everybody Knows (Focus) | $2,554,266 ($17,891,451) |
$15m* | 7th | #20 |
(-$12.4m) (+$2.9m) |
| Greta (Focus) | $10,418,510 ($11,118,510 ) |
** | 4th | #8 (x2) |
** |
| The Kid (2019) (LGF) | $1,339,671 |
$37m* | 3rd | #18 |
(-$35.7m) |
| Los Domirriqueños 2 (Span) | $484,453 | ** | 2nd | #20 |
** |
| Run the Race (RAtt.) | $6,196,031 |
$1.5m* | 5th | #10 |
(+$4.7m) |
(OFFICIALLY CLOSED)
*POPCORN AWARD goes to the highest per theater average within the Top 25 List
**GOLDEN PERCENTAGE AWARD goes to the highest increase within the Top 25 List
