Before we get to the weekend preview it needs to be shared that this particular weekend was circled as soon as the picks were published. Our buddy Mike really went out on a limb with this selection, and it wasn’t long before multiple custom movie posters hit my Inbox. This particular SMP back-and-forth by BFFs has gone on for 20+ years… all for our enjoyment. The details in that second poster are exquisite.
And I really hope this Preview’s featured image gets the traction it deserves 🙂
Weekend Preview
Three new Wide releases, including two that just recently increased theater counts evidently due to the lack of larger studio options. The most recognizable of the trio is The Bikeriders (selected by 2 players). Originally scheduled for a December 2023 release, it became a victim of the 2023 strike and was ultimately shopped to a new studio (Focus Features). And now it headlines a filler weekend in the summer. A $9M projection isn’t surprising seeing that it’s only playing in 2,600 theaters. It should get decent holds with 80%/76% RT scores, but its starting number will be too low to make a difference.
This should be good news to all holdovers, as the drops for all of the ones in this weekend’s forecast are below 50%. Inside Out 2 is on track to cross $300M in only its second weekend(!), while Bad Boys might approach $150M.
The Numbers forecast for this weekend:
| # | Wknd (M) | % Change | Theater Counts | |
| 1 | Inside Out 2 | 87.2 | -43% | 4,440 |
| 2 | Bad Boys: Ride or Die | 28.1 | -17% | 3,781 |
| 3 | The Bikeriders | 9.1 | – | 2,641 |
| 4 | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | 4.4 | -21% | 2,410 |
| 5 | The Garfield Movie | 3.2 | -32% | 3,013 |
| 6 | IF | 2.3 | -35% | 2,504 |
| 7 | The Watchers | 2.0 | -42% | 2,423 |
| 8 | Furiosa: A Max Max Saga | 1.4 | -46% | 1,371 |
| 9 | The Fall Guy | 0.9 | -45% | 1,107 |
Rotten Tomatoes freshness ratings:
| All Critics Score | Top Critics Score | Audience Score | |
| The Bikeriders | 80% | 82% | 76% |
| The Exorcism | 30% | 27% | 50% |
| Thelma | 99% | 100% | 80% |
CinemaScore ratings:
| Score | |
| The Bikeriders | B |
| The Exorcism | D |
| Thelma | n/a |