Whether one looks at the $80 million conservative expectations or the lofty $120 million expectations, the industry had high hopes for “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
And that was when its release was only scheduled for the three days between May 17 and May 19.
The sequel to JJ Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot ultimately opened Thursday, May 16, but its four-day debut total might barely make the bottom portion of that range. And its three-day weekend tally will almost definitely not make it.
After two days of release, “Into Darkness,” despite an A CinemaScore, has grossed just $35.5 million. $22 million of that came on Friday, which marks a decline from the $26.9 million opening haul for “Star Trek.”
And even if one argues that “Into Darkness” would have outperformed its predecessor yesterday had Friday been the actual debut date, that argument is a fairly futile one. Due to the first film’s rave reviews and positive fan reception, excitement for “Into Darkness” should have pushed its opening day total dramatically higher.
In this case, staying on pace is a bad thing.
With $35.5 million in the bag, estimates suggest “Into Darkness” will earn just over $80 million across its first four days. The traditional Friday-Sunday total will be less than $70 million.
2009’s “Star Trek” earned $79.2 million in its three day weekend and $86.7 million in its first four days. And that fourth day was a Monday, which is considerably less attractive to moviegoers than Thursday.
“Iron Man 3” trailed with $9.5 million Friday, while “The Great Gatsby” delivered $7.7 million. Nothing else even cracked $1 million.
