Paramount/18Hz’s Primate rang up $1.4M from both Thursday night showtimes and previous previews. Meanwhile, Lionsgate/STX’s Greenland: Migration did $900K. Triple note on that Gerard Butler movie, Canada isn’t going this weekend.
Despite the entry of two older male skewing titles, Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to hold onto No. 1 in its fourth weekend with $20M-$22M. The James Cameron directed threequel grossed $2.5M yesterday ending its third week at $55M for a running cume of $321.2M.
The Johannes Roberts’ directed Primate opens today in 2,964 locations. Internationally, the film opens this week in 26 markets including Mexico. That 90% fresh Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score has simmered down to 78% fresh, which is still notable for an R-rated horror movie. Oz Perkins’ The Monkey last year had a 77% certified fresh RT score in films reviews. Speaking of which, Primate‘s previews are about $500K shy of Monkey‘s $1.9M previews (which turned into a $5.8M Friday/previews and $14M opening).
Butler’s Lionsgate movie from a year ago, Den of Thieves: Pantera, did $1.35M in previews before a $5.7M Friday and $15M No. 1 debut. The first Greenland was 77% certified fresh with audiences during the pandemic (remember, it only got a PVOD play) and part 2 is lower at 59%.
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