The “Now You See Me” franchise is making waves at the box office with the release of its third installment, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.” This heist-themed film debuted ahead of two other notable releases this weekend, including “The Running Man” and “Keeper.”
Box Office Performance of “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t”
Premiering across 3,403 theaters, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” earned $8.4 million from Friday and preview screenings. The film is projected to achieve a three-day opening weekend gross between $21 million and $24 million, aligning closely with earlier forecasts and the previous entry’s opening, which made $22 million in 2016.
- Director: Ruben Fleischer
- Main Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco
- Budget: Over $90 million
- Rating: PG-13
Critics have given the film mixed reviews; however, it stands as the best-rated of the trilogy. Cinema Score, a polling service for moviegoers, reports that audiences rated it a “B+,” slightly lower than the “A-” ratings for the previous films.
Competition: “The Running Man”
In its debut, Paramount’s “The Running Man,” featuring Glen Powell, secured $6.4 million across 3,534 locations. Early estimates suggest it will open with between $17 million and $19 million, falling short of initial expectations of over $20 million.
- Production Budget: $110 million
- Rating: R
The adaptation of Stephen King’s novel has received lukewarm reviews. Despite a Cinema Score audience grade of “B+,” it faces stiff competition in November from anticipated releases like “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2.”
Additional Releases This Weekend
Also debuting is Neon’s indie horror film “Keeper,” which generated about $1 million from 1,950 locations. This opening pales in comparison to the director’s previous films, “Longlegs” and “The Monkey,” which earned significantly more. The reviews for “Keeper” are underwhelming, resulting in a low Cinema Score of “D+.”
Meanwhile, Disney’s “Predator: Badlands” has continued its run, earning $3.5 million on its second Friday, bringing its domestic total to $56 million. It is projected to surpass $66 million by the end of the weekend.
Finally, “Regretting You,” a film adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, is expected to round out the top five with a domestic total of $45 million after this weekend.
