Retiring Guy's Digest: USA box office on 2nd weekend in July (2017-2023)

USA box office on the second weekend in July 2023 is down 41% compared to last year when "Thor: Love and Thunder" was the top-grossing movie.

Source: Box Office Mojo

Headline: Variety, 7/16/2023

In the past, “Mission” installments have demonstrated remarkable box office longevity even with smaller opening weekends. “Fallout,” for example, collected $61 million to start and ended up setting a series record with $791 million globally. Plus, “Mission” movies tend to earn roughly 70% of overall ticket sales at the international box office. That should help offset any potential shortcomings in North America.
That’s good news because Ethan Hunt is gearing up to face the phenomenon known as “Barbenheimer.” Next weekend, the latest “Mission” will compete for attention against Christopher Nolan’s dark historical drama “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s hot pink romp “Barbie,” both of which open on July 21. The unlikely showdown between the two very different films has become an online craze, one that has carried into the real world with tens of thousands of moviegoers booking double features of “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.”

Original 7/15/2023 post starts here

USA box office on the Friday of the second weekend in July 2023 is down 60% compared to last year when "Thor: Love and Thunder" was the top-grossing movie.

Source: Box Office Mojo

Headline: Variety, 7/15/2023

Raise your hand if you're tired of Hollywood retreads

Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” is defusing a bit at the domestic box office, readjusting for an estimated $78 million gross over its five-day opening. That’d be a substantial chunk behind projections headed into the weekend, which had the Tom Cruise action sequel hoping for $90 million.
Some in the industry were expecting a “Top Gun: Maverick” halo effect for “Dead Reckoning” after last year’s legacy sequel positively ignited movie theaters, rocketing through the summer to become the fifth-highest grossing domestic release of all-time. That doesn’t seem to be the case though, as “Mission” isn’t exactly transcending the numbers typical for its franchise.

Related posts:

2023

First weekend in July. (7/9)

Fourth weekend in June. (6/25)

Third weekend in June. (6/18)

Second weekend in June. (6/11)

First weekend in June. (6/5)

Memorial Day weekend. (5/29)

Third weekend in May. (5/21)

Second weekend in May. (5/14)

First weekend in May. (5/7)

Last weekend in April. (4/29)