Seems is the word to use since a solid Sunday for “The Visit” may push it to the number one spot. had a battle and people started going back after a few dismal weekend.
“The Perfect Guy” stars Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan and Morris Chestnut, scored with the romantic, stalker thriller. It was M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Visit” that finished a tight second and is welcome news for him. He had been struggling of late with films but “the Visit” is a solid effort so far.
Last week’s surprise winner, “War Room” settles in at number three and is a hit since its budget was so low.
Weekend
1. “The Perfect Guy” – $25.6 million
2. “The Visit” – $26.7 million
3. “The War Room” – $8 million
4. “A Walk in the Woods” – $4.7 million
5. “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” – $4.3 million
One sidebar to the win by “The Perfect Guy” is that it in is far fewer theaters than “The Visit,” so the win is more impressive if it holds. Actually, even if it does not hold, it is solid. Speaking of theater counts, “90 Minutes in Heaven” took in only $2.2 million and finished ninth. But, it was in only 878 theaters.
Now is also time for those smaller releases that go wide as the year comes to a close. Many times that is for award season promotion and awareness. The festival circuit is front and center, too, and it from those where front-runners often emerge. They do not always hold on, but getting industry eyes in films is the key to Toronto and Venice.
“Sleeping With Other People” saw a nice $20,625 per screen average in five theaters. If one is wondering what films to track as award season kicks in, try “Trumbo,” “The Danish Girl,” “Joy,” “Carol,” “Bridge of Spies, “Black Mass” and “The Reverant.”
