Aardman Animations’ family-friendly Shaun the Sheep Movie opened to a muted $850,000 from 2,200 theaters at the North American box office Wednesday, coming in No. 9 or No. 10.
Shaun the Sheep is being distributed and marketed domestically by Lionsgate. The critically acclaimed British film opened midweek to get a jump on the three other movies opening this weekend, and it will be playing in a total of 2,320 locations by Friday. Shaun never was expected to be a big earner, and it’s expected to gross $5 million to $6 million for the five days.
The movie, which played at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in January, is a spinoff of the hugely successful, dialogue-free British TV series and sees the core farmyard characters on an urban adventure. Mark Burton and Richard Starzak co-directed and co-wrote the feature.
Josh Trank‘s Fantastic Four reboot, which begins rolling out Thursday night, is expected to win the weekend with a debut of $40 million or more from more than 3,800 theaters, although that amount would be well behind the launch of the two films of the previous franchise, Fantastic Four ($56.1 million) and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer ($58.1 million). Director Trank (Chronicle) was tasked with rebooting the franchise and giving it a new feel. Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell star as the four superheroes.
Making a play for adults is Jonathan Demme‘s Ricki and the Flash, starring Meryl Streep as an aging rock star opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer, Kevin Kline and Rick Springfield.
Just as Ricki and the Flash marks Tom Rothman‘s first box-office test as Sony’s film chairman, The Gift is the first test for Robert Simonds‘ flush STX Entertainment. The psychological thriller also marks the feature directorial debut of Australian actor Joel Edgerton and is a throwback to adult thrillers like Fatal Attraction.
The Gift likewise is expected to open in the single digits. STX is releasing the film in the U.S., while Blumhouse has international rights.
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Aug. 6, 11:20 a.m. Updated with final estimates.
