As “Transformers: Age of Extinction” commences its first weekend at the box office, the focus turns to three distinct numbers.
$95.0 million, the first number, was the opening weekend total for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” It represents the best opening tally for a film released in 2014.
$97.9 million, the second number, was the opening weekend total for 2011’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.”
$100 million, the third number, serves as the symbolic line between a big opening weekend and a colossal opening weekend.
Those behind the latest “Transformers” are hopeful it can top at least one of those numbers. And early returns are not serving to discourage any optimism.
Multiple sources say that “Age of Extinction” will earn between $35 and $40 million in its opening day Friday.
If it makes good on that projection–and does not suffer a dramatic drop-off on Saturday and Sunday–it stands a chance of landing in its desired territory for the weekend.
And even if it does come up short of the three numbers mentioned above, it is clearly proving itself attractive to moviegoers.