Creed III brings in $5.45 million in previews – Deadline

Eli Ade/MGM

UPDATE, Friday PM: Amazon, as it reconnects with theater with its acquisition of MGM, will easily see the company’s biggest box office opening with Creed IIIwhich is heading for a franchise-record debut of $45.5 million after a $20 million Friday (including $5.45M in preview). Creed IIIOpening day alone is bigger than any previous box office weekend for an Amazon title.

For the most part, Amazon’s previous theatrical releases (formerly, not the current day and date of Amazon Prime or truncated window titles) have seen the platform roll out, sometimes through distribution partners such than STX, Lionsgate or Roadside Attractions.

A notable previous long weekend for an Amazon title was the big break in the fourth weekend of The big sick with $7.56 million (in 2,597 theaters). Lionsgate handled this film in 2017.

RELATED: ‘Creed III’ review: A highly predictable film that’s still entertaining thanks to Jonathan Majors’ acting and Michael B. Jordan’s direction

RT’s viewership score for the trio directed and starring Michael B. Jordan, which also fronts Jonathan Majors and Tessa Thompson, is still high at 96% fresh. Creed III beasts the totals of three days of Creed ($29.6M) and Creed II ($35.5 million), both launching over five days during their respective Thanksgiving weekend openers.

Disney/Marvel Studios’ Third Weekend Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 3,825 theaters sees a third Friday estimated at $3.5 million and a total of 3 days of $13.3Mwhich will lead him to $187.6 million.

Universal’s second weekend cocaine bear at 3,571 sees a second Friday of $3.2M (-63% compared to last Friday), and a total of three days of $10.8 million, -54%, for a cumulative total of $41M by EOD on Sunday.

The fourth belongs to Crunchyroll Demon Slayer in the Blacksmith Village in 1,780 rooms. It looks $4.2 million with no preview included today and $10.75M on Friday-Saturday.

The fifth is Lionsgate’s second weekend jesus revolution in 2,575 theaters, see a second Friday of $2 million (-71%) and a total of three days of $6.55M (-59%) for a current cume by Sunday from $28.44M.

Lionsgate distribution deal for Miramax’s Guy Ritchie movie Operation Fortune: Cunning War at 2,168 (which was dated two weeks ago) sees $1 million today, including previews, for a $2.5M to $3M weekend. The photo is over a 17-day window, and the hope for the distributor is that the theater will set the stage for home entertainment. Critics aren’t impressed with 53% Rotten, but audiences are 100% for the action shot starring Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Cary Elwes, Josh Hartnett and Aubrey Plaza.

RELATED: ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre’ Review: Jason Statham vs. Hugh Grant in Guy Ritchie’s Stylish and Fun Spy Hug

FRIDAY AM: Directed by Michael B. Jordan Creed III drew $5.45M previews on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The trio is expected to gross between $38 million and $40 million from 4,007 theaters, which would be a three-day opening record for the Rocky spin-off franchise.

I hear that 74% of that number of previews for Creed III came from the Thursday sessions which started at 7 p.m. Wednesday previews were from Imax and PLF screenings only.

This easily beats the $3.6 million previews for Creed II and the $1.4M of Creed, both of which were previews from the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving races of these photos. Other compositions used for Creed III are from last year No ($6.4M in previews, $44.3M in opening) and Unexplored ($3.7 million previews, $44 million opening).

The movie is hot with 96% viewership on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews settled at 87% certified fresh, higher than Creed IIis 83%, but less than the 95% certified fresh produce in the first installment.

The MGM title represents a big return to the big screen for the Amazon streamer, with wide releases following a largely theatrical day-and-date business strategy with its Prime Video service.

Lionsgate/Miramax’s Guy Ritchie Action Movie Will Also Open This Weekend Operation Fortune: Cunning War in 2,168 theaters, should do in the single digits (read review). Thursday done $220,000. Ritchie’s previous previews for his action shots were man’s anger ($500,000, $8.3M opening in 2021) and pre-pandemic 2020s Gentlemen ($725,000, opening $10.6M). There’s also Crunchyroll’s Cinema Experience Demon Slayer in the Blacksmith Village in 1,722 cinemas, which has no Imax and PLF because they belong to Creed III This weekend.

Universal cocaine bear won Thursday with a $1.48M estimate (-5% from Wednesday) in 3,534 theaters and a $30.2M first week (read review). Disney/Marvel Studios Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 4,345 theaters it saw $1.4M (-8%) yesterday, a second week of $39.1M and a cumulative total of $174.2M (read review). lionsgate jesus revolution in 2,475 theaters, it grossed around $1.3M (+2%) and $21.8M in its first week (read review). 20th/Disney/Lightstorm Avatar: The Way of the Water at 2,495 made $361,000 yesterday, +2%, an 11th week of $6.3M and a cumulative total of $667M (read review). Oscar nominee for Universal/DreamWorks Animation Puss in Boots: the last wish booked in 2,840 locations saw a Thursday estimate of $235,000, up 2%, and week 10 of $5.1M and a running total of $174.4M. As we have already told you, this domestic total is higher than that of Illumination/Universal Sing 2 last holiday season ($162.7M) and original Puss in Boots ($149.2 million in 2011).