Warner Bros./New Line’s “Rampage” stomped its way into movie theaters on Thursday night, making $2.4 million from preview screenings.
That amount is nearly double the $1.25 million made in previews by one of Dwayne Johnson’s 2017 releases, “Baywatch,” which opened to $18 million and became a rare domestic disappointment for the blockbuster star.
It’s also above the $2 million made in preview screenings by “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” though “Rampage” does not have the positive critical reviews that sequel had with a mixed Rotten Tomatoes score of 55 percent. It remains to be seen whether “Rampage” can resonate with Johnson’s audience enough to push the needle beyond the $35-40 million it is expected to make domestically this weekend.
The film stars Johnson as a biologist who must calm his companion albino gorilla when a strange contagion turns it, a wolf, and a crocodile into giant beasts that destroy Chicago. Based on the classic ’80s video game, “Rampage” is directed by Brad Peyton (“San Andreas”) and also stars Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Also releasing this weekend is Universal/Blumhouse’s “Truth Or Dare,” which made $750,000 in previews at 2,400 locations. That’s below the $1 million made by Blumhouse’s “Happy Death Day,” which came out last October and opened to $26 million. “Truth Or Dare” is expected to open to half that amount, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 18 percent and a production budget of $3.5 million.
“Truth Or Dare” stars Lucy Hale as a teenager who, along with her friends, is haunted by a malevolent spirit who forces them to play the titular game with deadly consequences. Jeff Wadlow (“Kick-Ass 2”) directed the film from a script by Michael Reisz, with Jason Blum producing.