SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 opening | AMBULANCE opening | EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE opening | April 8 to 10, 2022 weekend
Opening weekend box office numbers, charts and commentary
The current weekend: April 8 to 10, 2022
1) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 opening
- This is an outstanding opening. The weekend figure smashes the average for a 2nd episode animation/live action hybrid, and it towers over video game-based follow-ups as well. Hybrids are a good idea — they make imaginative use of the big screen, and with the right elements, including Jim Carrey in a tailored role, they appeal to all five quadrants. That’s what’s happening here: This is a five-quadrant movie. The opening is around +19% better than the first Sonic (pending final numbers), and a new high for the genre.
- Animation/live action hybrids broke through in 1988 with Who Framed Roger Rabbit? As series, they are generally short-lived and fall apart after two episodes, when the visual novelty wears off. The exceptions are Alvin and the Chipmunks, which lasted four episodes, and Smurfs, which lasted three. With solid reviews and very good audience scores, Sonic is going to have a strong run, especially if it adds fresh hooks, original characters, and clever story turns as it develops:
2) Ambulance opening
- This is a soft opening, a bit below average for an original crime thriller. There used to be a lot of these movies at the theater, but today’s audiences want something special every time — the bar is set higher now. Ambulance is well-built: The set-pieces and special effects are state-of-the-art, the campaign looks good, and reviews are positive. But original crime thrillers were never huge performers at the box office, and that’s how this movie is performing: as an original crime thriller. At a cost of $40m plus marketing, the film is unlikely to be profitable, even with better numbers overseas and good ancillary value on Peacock:
3) Everything Everywhere All at Once opening
- This is a genre outlier. Studio sci-fi adventures are giant productions, but this is an indie sci-fi adventure at a reasonable cost (approx. $25m). Reviews are sensational. There aren't enough art films like this to calculate a fair opening weekend average, but give this movie enormous credit for successfully challenging the genre, for doing it on a reasonable budget, and for playing on over 1,200 screens: