Countdown
Horror STX Entertainment PG-13 1h 30m Released Oct 25, 2019 Discussed 2019–2023
Opening weekend
$8.9M
2,675 theaters
Per-theater average
$3,314
opening weekend
Domestic total
$25.6M
2.9× its opening
Worldwide total
$42.2M
61% domestic
Production budget
$6.5M
6.5× worldwide
RT critics
26%
RT audience
72%
+46 vs critics
Metacritic
31
Where it turns up
Friday, October 25, 2019 Fourth weekend of October 2019
On the chart Countdown (opening): $8.9M
Expected 'For now 6 or 7': with the horror late-night surge flagged Actual: $8.9M, the surge came
In the note
Although weekends like this (where Halloween is later in the following week) used to be a great spot to place a substantial adult skewing film, it’s now a weekend that most studios steer clear of. That may have something to do with the shift towards more adults allowing their subconscious thoughts to manifest themselves in their choice of Halloween costumes (and in many cases, we wish they would have kept those thoughts private), and the social clutter of adult skewing Halloween events having an effect on the box office. I don’t really agree with that school of thought (I think this is a very normal weekend when Halloween is on the following Wed or Thurs), and both STX and Sony took advantage of the lack of competition and placed titles here. The lack of competition allowed both studios to release a genre film with a very efficient level of spend, so without knowing the details of each films break point, I wouldn't be surprised if it works out fairly well for both parties. So, based on something I heard from a woman screaming at a cardboard cutout of Harvey Weinstein, here’s my best take on the weekend box-office. #1 Joker - The drop looks pretty solid right now, figure down 35% for a 3 day in the very high teens with a shot at 20. #2 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil - Looks pretty standard for a 2nd weekend, figure down 55% for a 3 day in the mid high teens. #3 Zombieland 2 - Down 60% for about 11 or 12. #4 Addams Family - Looks solid today, down 35% for about 10. Black and Blue - Right now looks like 7 or 8, but could get a late surge. Countdown - Like most horror films they could also see a late night surge, but for now 6 or 7. The Current War - The recut of one of the TWC orphans, the went on about 1000 screens.
Friday, October 27, 2023 Fourth weekend of October 2023
In the note
We’ve got a seismic shift going on in the business this weekend, and because of that shift (and depending on how the rest of the weekend plays out), we’ll be way ahead of the same weekend last year (Prey for the Devil, Till) and a little ahead of 2019 (Countdown, Black and Blue). But we’ll be significantly ahead of the norm for the weekend.