Weekend Box Office: ‘The Mummy’ Entombed With $32M U.S. Debut

One of Hollywood’s most iconic monsters was no match for an Amazonian princess-turned-superhero at the North America box office over the weekend.

Universal’s The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, opened to a withering $32.2 million domestically from 4,035 theaters, a dismal start for a summer event film that launches Universal’s new Dark Universe of interconnected monster movies. The pic fared far better overseas with a winning $141.8 million from 63 markets, Cruise’s best international opening.

In the U.S., The Mummy was relegated to second place behind Warner Bros.’ box-office sensation Wonder Woman, which fell a scant 45 percent in its second weekend to $57.2 million from 4,165 theaters. That’s one of the lowest drops ever for a superhero tentpole. Generally speaking, a superhero film can fall 60 percent.

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, passed the $200 million mark domestically on Sunday, its tenth day in release. Overseas, it took in another $58.1 million for a foreign tally of $230 million and $435 million globally. The movie is a much-needed win for Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe of superhero titles.

Conversely, The Mummy, which cost $125 million to make after rebates, is a rough start for Universal’s monsters-themed Dark Universe.

Plagued by scathing reviews and a B- CinemaScore from audiences, The Mummy opened behind all of the bows for the Mummy films starring Brendan Fraser, as well as for spinoff The Scorpion King. Unlike those movies, the reboot decided to fashion itself as an action pic set in modern times.

Universal executives said on Sunday that each Dark Universal title will be its own entity. Up next is Bill Condon’s Bride of Frankenstein. They also said The Mummy‘s global launch was impressive overall.

“Kudos to the filmmakers. I myself have seen the movie five times. And kudos to the cast, especially Tom Cruise,” said Universal domestic distribution president Nick Carpou. “Unfortunately in the U.S., the critical acclaim wasn’t there to the degree that people use that as a guidepost.”

The Mummy‘s ultimate financial standing will largely depend on its foreign showing. Universal notes that the movie’s global debut of $174 million is also a best for Cruise. All told, it opened No. 1 in 46 markets. China led with $52.2 million, and the Middle Kingdom was one of 46 markets where The Mummy marked Cruise’s top showing to date.

Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the story follows an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella) who is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, threatening mankind. Cruise plays the man who discovers the tomb of Ahmanet and unleashes her powers. The film cost $125 million to make after tax rebates. Russell Crowe and Annabella Wallis also star.

Captain Underpants, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 rounded out the top five.

In its second weekend, DreamWorks Animation’s Captain Underpants slipped 48 percent to $12.3 million for a domestic total of $44.6 million.

Disney’s Pirates 5 topped the $600 million mark globally, collecting another $10.7 million domestically and $38.4 million overseas. (The movie has earned far more internationally, with a $464.4 million cume.)

Fellow Disney release Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 followed with $6.2 million domestically for a worldwide tally of $833.2 million.

Two other movies from a pair of indie distributors also opened nationwide this weekend: A24’s apocalyptic horror film It Comes at Night and Bleecker Street’s drama Megan Leavey, starring Kate Mara as a young Marine fighting in Iraq with her bomb-sniffing combat dog.

It Comes at Night, bowing in 2,500 theaters, grossed a solid $6 million from 2,253 theaters despite a D CinemaScore to come in at No. 6. Directed by Trey Edward Shults (Krisha), the $5 million film stars Joel Edgerton as a man trying to protect his family from an unnatural threat, only to find his plan go awry upon the arrival of another desperate family.

Meagan Leavey, which earned an A CinemaScore, debuted to $3.8 million from 1,956 cinemas, ahead of expectations.

June 11, 7:30 a.m. Updated with weekend estimates.