'Don't Breathe' Winning with Huge $19M, But Plenty of Labor Day Casualties at Box Office

By Pamela McClintock

Sony’s horror entry Don’t Breathe is closing out summer 2016 in high style, earning $15.7 million from 3,051 theaters in its second weekend for an estimated four-day Labor Day gross of $19.4 million, one of the best numbers ever for the long holiday weekend.

That would put the movie’s 10-day domestic total at $54.8 million after costing under $10 million to make. Updated Labor Day numbers will be reported Monday. Holiday revenue is up significantly over last year, or more than 10 percent to 12 percent, thanks to Don’t Breathe and other holdovers, including STX Entertainment’s Bad Moms, which jumped the $100 million mark on Saturday to become the top R-rated comedy of the year to date.

Overall, summer 2016 domestic revenue is in a dead heat with last year’s $4.48 billion, which marked the second-best showing after 2013.

Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad is another strong holdover, claiming the No. 2 spot over the Labor Day holiday as it jumps the $300 million mark domestically in its fifth weekend. The anti-superhero film grossed $10 million for the three days, putting it on course for a four-day holiday take of $13.7 million. Overseas, the movie earned another $11.8 million from 65 territories as it winds down for a foreign total of $375.5 million.

However, the holiday’s new nationwide offerings didn’t feel the same late-summer glow. The adult drama The Light Between Oceans is struggling, while sci-fi thriller Morgan is DOA. (The Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez boxing film Hands of Stone, which is expanding into 2,011 theaters this weekend, is also bombing.)

Director Derek Cianfrance’s Light Between Oceans earned $4.5 million for the three days from 1,500 theaters — a relatively small footprint — for a projected four-day debut of $6 million, putting it in a close race with holdovers Bad Moms and War Dogs for the No. 6 or No. 7 spot.

Light Between Oceans, which made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last week, stars Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as a childless couple living in an isolated lighthouse who discover an infant. Rachel Weisz also stars in the movie, which earned a B+ CinemaScore. Almost half of ticket buyers were under the age of 50.

DreamWorks, Reliance and Participant Media partnered in producing and financing the $20 million specialty adult drama. Disney is distributing the film in North America. The filmmakers had hoped for a four-day opening closer to $8 million or $9 million.

Read More: ‘The Light Between Oceans’ Director Talks Living on an Island With Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender

Morgan, a sci-fi horror thriller targeting younger consumers, earned a dismal $2 million from 2,011 theaters for a projected four-day gross of $2.4 million, putting it at No. 18. If there’s any solace, the Fox movie, which received a C+ CinemaScore, cost $6 million to produce. Heading into the weekend, tracking had suggested $5 million-$6 million.

Fox made Morgan with first-time director Luke Scott (son of Ridley Scott). Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Giamatti star. The story follows a group of scientists who create Morgan (Taylor-Joy), a being with superhuman qualities.

Obama date movie Southside With You followed at No. 19 in its second outing, grossing a meek $1.8 million from 897 theaters (up from 813 locations) for a three day gross of $1.4 million, down more than 50 percent, and a four-day gross of $1.8 million.

The Weinstein Co.’s boxing drama Hands of Stone upped its theater count from 800 to 2,011 in its second weekend, but got knocked out. The movie earned $1.3 million for the three days and a projected $1.7 million for the four days.

There was good news for one specialty film — CBS Films and Lionsgate’s Hell or High Water, which moved into the top 10 as it became the top-grossing platform release of the summer. The modern-day Western earned $4.5 million for the three days as it moved into 1,030 theaters. Its expected to take in $5.8 million for the four-day Labor Day weekend, putting its domestic total at $16 million to pass up Love & Friendship ($14 million).

And Spanish-language offering No Manches Frida is expected to nab $4.7 million for the four-day holiday from 362 theaters for a stellar average of nearly $13,000, one of the best of the weekend. And $4.7 million would mark the second-best opening for Lionsgate and Televisa’s Pantellion Films label after Instructions Not Included. No Manches Frida earned an A CinemaScore.

Read More: 'Morgan’: Film Review