Retiring Guy's Digest: USA box office on 4th weekend of August (2017-2023)

USA box office on the 4th weekend in August 2023 is up 78% compared to last year when "The Invitation" was the top-grossing movie.

But it's down 15% compared to the 2019 peak when "Angel Has Fallen" was the top-grossing movie.

Source: Box Office Mojo

Headline: Variety, 8/27/2023

Sony’s “Gran Turismo” is projected to narrowly outrace the competition with $17.3 million at the box office. But “Barbie” is close behind with $17.1 million, so it’s possible that when the final tally is revealed, the summer blockbuster will have reclaimed its crown and “Gran Turismo” will have to settle for second place.
“We call these estimates for a reason,” says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst. “Only $200,000 separates these two movies, so we’ll have to see how things shake out on Monday.”
As for “Gran Turismo,” its opening figure includes a sizable $5.3 million from preview screenings and fan events that the studio hosted over recent weeks.

In other words, "Gran Turismo" grossed $12 million this week, which means it actually finished in 3rd place behind "Barbie" ($17,100,000) and "Blue Beetle" ($12,765,000).

Sony Pictures Entertainment rips a page from the GOP playbook: "How to Cheat to Win".

Original 8/26/2023 post starts here

USA box office on the Friday of the 4th weekend in August 2023 is up 90% compared to last year when "The Invitation" was the top-grossing movie.

But it's down 13% compared to the 2019 peak when "Angel Has Fallen" was the top-grossing movie.

Source: Box Office Mojo

Headline: Variety, 8/26/2023

The summer box office wind-down is in action as Columbia Pictures’ “Gran Turismo” looks to outrun a slew of holdovers. The racing feature got off to a head start with an $8.5 million opening day from 3,856 screens, a figure that includes a sizable $5.3 million from preview screenings over recent weeks.

In late July, Sony swerved with its release plans for “Gran Turismo,” bumping the formal opening two weeks later than its initial Aug. 11 release date, but organizing several days of special screenings for the film in hopes to build up word-of-mouth.

Related posts:

2023

Third weekend of August. (8/19)

Second weekend of August. (8/12)

First weekend of August. (8/5)

Fourth weekend of July. (7/30)

Third weekend of July. (7/23)

Secind weekend of July. (7/16)

First weekend of July. (7/9)

Fourth weekend of June. (6/25)

Third weekend of June. (6/18)

Second weekend of June. (6/11)