Unleashed into both US and UK cinemas this weekend, Divergent sequel Insurgent is packing them in across the Pond, but estimates from its Friday grosses are slightly below what was expected.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Insurgent here
Opening to $21.3 millon yesterday (behind the $22.8million opening day for Divergent on the same weekend last year), the sequel is on course to open at around $50 million, but would still fall slightly short of the $54.6 million debut weekend haul of its predecessor, and early tracking estimates which had the follow-up opening higher at around $60 million.
Despite that, Insurgent is set for a strong international opening, with the film grossing around $18.3 million across the globe, with France the highest ($2.5 million) and the UK slightly behind with $1.6 million. It says a lot for the franchise and the popularity of the young adult books, as well as Shailene Woodley’s pulling-power, that it can still grab a huge share of the box office despite a lower-than-expected US return.
The weekend’s other big release is the Sean Penn actioner The Gunman, which failed to drive up much business against Insurgent. Distributed by Open Road Films, The Gunman opened in third place in the States yesterday, but fell well short of its more modest estimates, earning a mere $1.8 million which will lead to an opening weekend of around $5 million.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of The Gunman here
Cinderella slipped to second place in the States on Friday, dropping 49% to $9.5 million, and is looking at a second weekend of around $35million. Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service continues its excellent run by adding $1.3 million to its haul, which should see it end the weekend in fifth spot.
Meanwhile, Liam Neeson’s latest action-thriller Run All Night took fourth spot with a Friday gross of $1.4 million, and should en up with around $3 – $4 million for the weekend, and around $20 million in total thus far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5&v=ONsp_bmDYXc&feature=player_embedded
