#1 Movie Dark Fate Self-Terminates at the Box Office

In what looks to be the final nail in the coffin for the Terminator franchise, the sixth and latest installment in the series titled Terminator: Dark Fate has bombed with an estimated $29 million domestic pull, still good enough to give it the #1 slot. That poor performance comes after early opening tracking estimates around $40 million, which were already low for a movie that cost a reported $185 million to produce. According to The Hollywood Reporter, production partners Skydance Media, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox (Disney) (who each put up 30% of the budget) and China’s Tencent (a 10% stake) stand to collectively lose between $110 and $130 million depending on how the film performs overseas.

The international total for Dark Fate this weekend was $94.6 million, with worldwide at $123.6. million. This is also a big blow to director Tim Miller, who was riding high after the success of 2016’s Deadpool. Meanwhile, creator/producer/co-story writer James Cameron shouldn’t be too bruised considering his Lightstorm Entertainment banner was not involved, and a lot of the blame is being pointed at general Terminator franchise fatigue. Depending on private negotiations with Skydance, rights to the series may revert back to Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd in November 2020.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ Joker continues to overperform with $13.9 million to continue its hold at second place. It was assumed last weekend that it had retaken #1, but that was actually held by Maleficent 2 when actuals came out. The supervillain origin story now stands at $299.6 million, and $934 million worldwide. That places Todd Phillips’ movie ahead of Batman v Superman and on its way to potentially unseat Aquaman‘s $1.14 billion as the highest-grossing DC movie of all-time!

At #3 is Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil with $12.1 million for an $84.3 million domestic tally. It’s international gross is now a strong $298.9 million for a $383.2 million worldwide total, which means it will probably turn a profit on its $185 million budget even after P&A.

Focus Features’ slavery drama Harriet opened at #4 with $12 million, a solid opening for the moderately well-reviewed film starring Cynthia Erivo.

MGM’s The Addams Family continues to hold strong even in the post-Halloween frame, earning $8.49 million to take the #5 spot. The domestic take for the animated film is now at $85.2 million for a worldwide total of $129.2 million at only a $40 million budget.

Warner Bros.’ Motherless Brooklyn, a passion project from director/star Edward Norton, floundered at $3.65 million in 1342 theaters at #9. The film only received middling reviews and may not be the awards contender Warners had hoped for.

At #10 was the indie animated film Arctic Dogs, which bombed at $3.1 million in 2844 theaters, taking in only around $1000 per-theater.