Warner Bros./Village Roadshow’s “Joker” is going where no R-rated film has gone before, passing the rating record set by “Deadpool 2” this weekend as it heads for $800 million worldwide. Along the way, it might also take one more No. 1 on the domestic weekend charts.
Right now, “Joker” is in a virtual tie with Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” with both films currently projected by industry estimates to earn $19 million this weekend. “Joker” currently has the slight edge with $5.4 million grossed on Friday compared to $4.8 million for “Maleficent.” “Joker” is estimated to have a four-weekend total of $277 million while “Maleficent,” in its second weekend, is set to have a 10-day total of $65 million.
Sony/Columbia’s “Zombieland: Double Tap” is in third with $11 million, a 58% drop from its $26.8 million opening and pushing it to a $46 million 10-day total. United Artists/MGM’s “The Addams Family” is just behind with $10.8 million.
Completing the top five is Sony/Screen Gems’ new release “Black and Blue,” which is meeting tracker expectations with an $8.2 million opening. Produced on a reported $12 million budget, this police thriller starring Naomie Harris has received mixed reviews with a 46% Rotten Tomatoes score, but has been a hit with African American audiences with an A+ on CinemaScore and 4/5 on Postrak.
STX’s “Countdown” will take sixth with a $7.5 million opening, also meeting tracker expectations. The low-budget horror film has weak reception with a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score and a C+ on CinemaScore, but will turn a profit for STX with a thrifty $6.5 million net budget.