The Wild Robot
Animation & Family Universal PG 1h 42m Released Sep 27, 2024 Discussed 2024
Opening weekend
$35.8M
3,962 theaters
Per-theater average
$9,033
opening weekend
Domestic total
$144.6M
4.0× its opening
Worldwide total
$335.2M
43% domestic
Production budget
$78.0M
4.3× worldwide
RT critics
97%
RT audience
98%
+1 vs critics
Metacritic
85
Where it turns up
Friday, September 27, 2024 Fourth weekend of September 2024
On the chart The Wild Robot (opening): $35.8M
Expected 'As of now, this looks like a weekend in the mid 30's' Actual: $35.8M
In the note
The good news is that we were almost 20% behind 2023 back before we went on this run we’re on now, and it’s a little below 12% now, so we really carved a lot off the deficit during the summer. Anyway, with the expected accuracy of an Eric Adams expense account, here are some thoughts on the weekend box-office. The Wild Robot - A little over 2 years ago, DreamWorks Animation got back into the original Family IP game with The Bad Guys.
Friday, October 4, 2024 First weekend of October 2024
On the chart The Wild Robot (wk 2): $18.9M, -47%
Expected 'Will only drop about 40% [pure 3-day]... a weekend in the high teens' Actual: $18.9M, -47% raw
In the note
But if the movie had delivered what the campaign promised, this gross would be considerably higher. The Wild Robot - The quality here is showing in week 2, looks like the pure 3 day vs this weekend will only drop about 40%.
Friday, October 11, 2024 Second weekend of October 2024
On the chart The Wild Robot (wk 3): $14.0M, -26%
Expected 'Down only about 25% for a weekend of about $14 million' Actual: $14.0M, -26%
In the note
It’s a pretty staggering achievement considering what they spent. The Wild Robot - The quality is showing again this weekend, and they’ll get a nice bonus this Monday with the east coast holiday.
Friday, October 18, 2024 Third weekend of October 2024
On the chart The Wild Robot (wk 4): $10.1M, -28%
Friday, November 1, 2024 First weekend of November 2024
On the chart The Wild Robot (wk 6): $7.4M, UP 9%
In the note
Had something like The Wild Robot had brand IP (like Disney, Pixar or Illumination) it probably would have opened to a much higher gross than it did with the DWA brand. So what does this mean going forward? Well, if we want to do something about it, it all comes down to two issues; the (underappreciated) folks in Business Affairs and the culture of Studio fiefdoms.