EARLIER: An end of September hit enters the box office as fans were obviously hungry to see a movie on the big screen. That movie was “Hotel Transylvania 2” and it has posted the best opening for a September.
Sony’s “Hotel Transylvania 2” took in an impressive $47.5 million and it now has the crown for best ever opening for the month of September. So, it looks like Adam Sandler can count this as a win for himself as well. Earlier this year, his other Sony film, “Pixels,” tanked, for the most part.
Although it can be argued that the voice in an animated film really is not a attendance booster, since many who see them are younger and have no idea, or care, about that.
What “Hotel Transylvania 2′ also did was take down “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” and beat the newcomers. “The Intern,” starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, was second, while “Scorch Trials” dropped to third. Because of theater count, there was really no way “The Green Inferno” would win.
Weekend, domestically – updated 9.29.15 (actuals)
1. “Hotel Transylvania” – $47.5 million
2. “The Intern” – $18.2 million
3. “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” – $14.2 million
4. “Everest” – $13.2 million
5. “Black Mass” – $11.5 million
To say it was a surprising record for “Hotel Transylvania 2” may be a bit of a stretch, however. Thought not known for huge hits, September’s previous record holder was the first film, “Hotel Transylvania” with $42 million in 2012, noted The Wrap.
It was a family audience as well that ventured to see “Hotel.” It skewed that way, plus it was 59 percent female. Of that number, 60 percent were under the age of 25. Yes, families all the way.
With the month of October and Halloween approaching, a movie with that type of theme hitting a hone run. However, the other one, “The Green Inferno,” did not fare as well. As noted earlier, the theater count was much lower than the others, but at $3.5 million from 1,540 theaters, is still low.
The box office is very crowded right now with films in the first three weeks of release. As the year comes to a close, the jockeying for award season notice and getting the films qualified, come into focus. The film festivals help that process ass well, but they must get a release in the United States to qualify for Oscar glory. That usually happens with a small roll-out for many, and only in Los Angeles and New York.
