The Expendables 2 & The Bourne Legacy Box office

The Expendables 2.

The Expendables 2 box office: Far behind predecessor

Aug. 19: Directed by Simon West and featuring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme and about a half-dozen other veteran action stars, The Expendables 2 was easily the most successful movie at the North American box office this weekend, Aug. 17–19, scoring an estimated $28.8 million at 3,316 locations according to studio figures found at boxofficemojo.com.

At a distant second was Tony Gilroy’s holdover The Bourne Legacy, starring Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz, with $17 million.

So, does that mean The Expendables 2 opened with a bang?

Well, not exactly.

Two years ago, The Expendables collected $34.8 million at 3,270 locations on its opening weekend. In other words, at 10 percent more theaters, the sequel grossed nearly 20 percent less than the original film. The sequel’s per-theater average was $8,670 vs. the original’s $10,650.

And though higher than the $27 million expected yesterday following a less-than-stellar Friday opening, The Expendables 2‘s box office take was around $10 million less than pundits such as Box Office Mojo’s Ray Subers had predicted late last week. And remember, the $28.8 million figure is a studio estimate; box office actuals will come out Monday.

The Expendables 2 budget

Lionsgate reportedly acquired the North American and U.K. rights to The Expendables 2 for $35 million. The sequel’s budget has been pegged at either $80 million (originally) or $100 million (more recent reports). The original cost a reported $80 million.

A relatively modest success in the U.S. and Canada – $103.1 million cume – The Expendables turned out to be a solid grosser overseas, reaching $171.4 million. As to be expected for an action flick, the film’s top international market was China ($31.8 million), followed by – somewhat surprisingly – the United Kingdom ($16 million), Russia/CIS ($14 million), and France ($13.5 million). On the downside, The Expendables underperformed in a few major territories, including Brazil ($4.7 million), Mexico ($5.3 million), Italy ($4.1 million), and South Korea ($2.5 million).

In North America, Lionsgate will probably get its (reported) $35 million investment back (not including marketing/distribution expenses). But The Expendables 2‘s only hope to recover its budget at the box office is the international market. Bear in mind that as a rule of thumb, studios get 50 percent of the domestic gross and 40 percent of the overseas gross. But considering that The Expendables 2 is an “independent” production (via Millennium Films and Nu Image Films), revenue share agreements may vary widely.

International grosses

Universal opened The Expendables 2 in Russia and Italy, where the action flick grossed, respectively, $7.9 million and $2 million. As per Universal, the sequel debuted much more strongly than the original: 45 percent higher in Russia; 58 percent higher in Italy. Now, it’s unclear what sort of box office basis Universal is using for its claims, as The Expendables opened with $6.4 million in Russia. It’s also unclear whether the sequel was screened at more – or fewer – locations than the original.

Lionsgate’s U.K. figure for The Expendables 2 was quite modest: $2.8 million, especially when compared to The Expendables’ $6.1 million debut two years ago.

The Expendables 2 cast

In addition to the aforementioned names, The Expendables 2 cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Nan Yu, and Charisma Carpenter.

Simon West, whose previous release was the Jason Statham box office flop The Mechanic, directed from a screenplay credited to Stallone and Richard Wenk. Stallone himself directed the original film. A few weeks ago, his son Sage Stallone died while the actor/screenwriter was promoting The Expendables 2 at San Diego’s ComicCon.

The Expendables 2 international box office figures: The Hollywood Reporter.

Jean-Claude Van Damme The Expendables 2 photo: Frank Masi | Lionsgate.

Aug. 18

The Expendables 2 box office: Trailing The Expendables by nearly 25 percent?

The Expendables 2 was by far the most successful movie at the North American box office on Friday, August 17, collecting an estimated $10.5 million according to studio figures found at Box Office Mojo. Next in line was Tony Gilroy / Jeremy Renner’s holdover The Bourne Legacy, with nearly half that figure: $5.3 million. So, does that mean The Expendables 2 had a strong debut? Hardly.

Back in August 2010, The Expendables, featuring Sylvester Stallone and about a dozen other aging action stars, earned $13.3 million on its first Friday out. That’s close to 30 percent more than the sequel, even though the original played at about 10 percent fewer theaters.

And whereas The Expendables scored $34.82 million at 3,270 locations on its opening weekend, The Expendables 2 is expected to gross a considerably more modest $27 million at 3,316 locations. That’s nearly 25 percent below the original film’s box office take and approximately $10 million less than pundits such as Box Office Mojo’s Ray Subers had predicted.

The Expendables 2 budget

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate acquired the North American and U.K. rights to The Expendables 2 for $35 million. The sequel’s budget has been pegged at either $80 million (originally) or $100 million (more recent reports). The original cost a reported $80 million.

A modest “hit” in North America – $103.06 million cume – The Expendables turned out to be a solid grosser overseas, totaling $171.4 million. As to be expected for an action flick, its top international market was China ($31.77 million), followed by – somewhat surprisingly – the United Kingdom ($15.96 million), Russia/CIS ($13.95 million), and France ($13.54m). On the downside, the film underperformed in several major territories, including Brazil ($5.66 million), Mexico ($5.34 million), Italy ($4.1 million), and South Korea ($2.54m).

In North America, Lionsgate will quite probably get its $35 million investment back (not including marketing / distribution expenses). But The Expendables 2‘s only hope to recover its budget at the box office is the international market. Remember: as a rule of thumb, studios get 50 percent of the domestic box office take, 40 percent of the international take. But since The Expendables 2 is an “independent” production (via Millennium Films and Nu Image Films), revenue share agreements may vary widely.

Jean-Claude Van Damme The Expendables 2 photo: Frank Masi | Lionsgate.

Aug. 17

Sylvester Stallone The Expendables 2 box office: Apparently trailing The Expendables

Not every sequel outgrosses the original film. The Expendables 2 may be a case in point if early, rough estimates found in The Hollywood Reporter are accurate. Whereas The Expendables, featuring Sylvester Stallone and about a dozen other aging action stars in roles of various sizes and shapes, collected $34.82 million at 3,270 sites on its opening weekend in North America, The Expendables 2 is expected to gross a more modest $28-29 million at 3,316 locations. That’s also nearly $10 million less than pundits such as Box Office Mojo’s Ray Subers had predicted.

Back in August 2010, The Expendables earned $13.3 million on its first Friday out. Barring a late-show attendance surge, the sequel should take in $11 million.

As per the Reporter, Lionsgate acquired for $35 million North American and U.K. rights to The Expendables 2, whose budget has been pegged at $80m-$100m, depending on the source. For comparison’s sake, the original film cost a reported $80 million.

A modest “hit” in North America – $103.06 million cume – The Expendables turned out to be a solid grosser internationally, reaching $171.4 million. Its top market by far was, unsurprisingly, China ($31.77 million), followed by – somewhat surprisingly – the United Kingdom ($15.96 million), Russia/CIS ($13.95 million), and France ($13.54 million). On the other hand, the film was a disappointment in several major territories, including Brazil ($5.7 million), Mexico ($5.3 million), Italy ($4.1 million), and South Korea ($2.5 million).

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Terry Crews The Expendables 2 photo: Frank Masi / Lionsgate.

‘The Bourne Legacy’ with Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross.

The Bourne Legacy box office: Jeremy Renner thriller tops chart, but below expectations

Aug. 13 update: Directed by regular Bourne franchise screenwriter Tony Gilroy and starring Jeremy Renner, The Bourne Legacy ended up performing more modestly than Universal expected. According to weekend (Aug. 10–12) box office actuals found at boxofficemojo.com, The Bourne Legacy took in $38.1 million at 3,745 U.S. and Canada sites; that’s about $7 million less than early Friday estimates indicated (see further below) and about $2 million less than official studio estimates released on Sunday.

Why the lower-than-expected performance? Well, the London Olympic Games, reportedly the most widely watched in U.S. history, have been blamed for the domestic box office downturn on Sunday. Whether or not that’s indeed the case is debatable. After all, the top twelve movies on the domestic box office chart had Saturday-to-Sunday drop-off rates ranging from 26–37 percent. That’s hardly unheard of.

Though nothing to sniff at, The Bourne Legacy‘s opening-weekend box-office take is only slightly higher than the inflation-adjusted gross ($37 million) of Doug Liman-Matt Damon’s The Bourne Identity ten years ago. Bear in mind than The Bourne Identity was screened at 1,000+ fewer locations than The Bourne Legacy.

The Bourne Legacy Rotten Tomatoes score

The Bourne Legacy has a mediocre 57 percent approval rating and 6.6/10 average among Rotten Tomatoes‘ top critics. That’s by far the worst score for a Bourne movie. For comparison’s sake: The Bourne Identity had an 81 percent approval rating and 6.9/10 average; Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy (2004) had a 74 percent approval rating and 7/10 average; and Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) a 98 percent approval rating and 8.1/10 average. For all it’s worth, audiences gave The Bourne Legacy a “B” CinemaScore.

Co-written by Tony Gilroy and his brother, Dan Gilroy, The Bourne Legacy was inspired by Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series. As mentioned in my previous piece, in a rare instance of a public figure actually speaking their minds about behind-closed-doors issues, earlier this year Matt Damon publicly derided Tony Gilroy for his The Bourne Ultimatum screenplay. Damon later retracted his statements.

The best-reviewed movie in the Bourne series, The Bourne Ultimatum was rewritten by George Nolfi and Scott Z. Burns, with the assistance of director Paul Greengrass.

The Bourne Legacy movie cast

Besides Jeremy Renner, The Bourne Legacy features Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), Edward Norton, Scott Glenn, Stacy Keach, Albert Finney, Oscar Isaac, Donna Murphy, Michael Chernus, Corey Stoll, Zeljko Ivanek, Corey Johnson, Jennifer Kim, Shane Jacobson, David Strathairn, and Joan Allen.

Jeremy Renner The Bourne Legacy movie image: Universal Pictures.

Jeremy Renner Bourne Legacy vs. Matt Damon Jason Bourne movies

The Bourne Legacy is enjoying a solid initial run – even if below expectations – on North American screens. That’s remarkable, considering that Tony Gilroy’s movie features not only a new lead actor, but also a new lead character: Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross, replacing Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne. (Image: Jeremy Renner Bourne Legacy; Aaron Cross and his trademark jacket.)

Having said that, The Bourne Legacy is lagging behind the two previous Bourne movies when it comes to first-weekend box office grosses – even without taking inflation into account. It’s also badly trailing its three predecessors in per-theater averages, especially once inflation is factored in.

Bourne to Bourne box office comparisons

Below are box office figures and per-theater averages for the first three Bourne movies on their debut weekend. Keep in mind that all three entries opened at fewer locations than The Bourne Legacy, which grossed $38.14 million at 3,745 locations, averaging $10,185 per site.

• Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity scored $27.1 million at 2,638 locations ($10,280 average) in June 2002 (approximately $37 million / $14,200 average today – or about 40 percent above The Bourne Legacy‘s average).
• Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy brought in $52.5 million at 3,165 sites ($16,594 average) in July 2004 (approx. $68 million / $21,400 average today).
• Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum took in $69.3 million at 3,660 venues ($18,929 average) in August 2007 (approx. $81 million / $22,100 average today).

Additionally, The Bourne Legacy brought in $7.8 million from a handful of international territories, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, and India. The Bourne Legacy will be opening in most major markets later in August and September.

Bourne movies: Production budgets

The Bourne Legacy was budgeted at a reported $125 million, which makes it the most expensive Bourne movie to date – even factoring in inflation. For comparison’s sake: The Bourne Identity had its production budget pegged at $60 million (approx. $76 million today), The Bourne Supremacy at $75 million (approx. $91 million today), and The Bourne Ultimatum at $110 million (approx. $122 million today).

Whether or not The Bourne Legacy will at least match its production budget at the domestic box office remains to be seen. (It’s impossible for the Tony Gilroy / Jeremy Renner collaboration to recover it; approx. $250 million would be needed.) Next weekend, The Bourne Legacy will be facing strong competition from The Expendables 2 for the same target demographic group. The movie’s future depends on how it holds up.

The Bourne Legacy cast

Besides Jeremy Renner, The Bourne Legacy features Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Scott Glenn, Stacy Keach, Albert Finney, Oscar Isaac, Donna Murphy, David Strathairn, and Joan Allen.

Jeremy Renner Bourne Legacy jacket picture: Universal Pictures.

Aug. 12

The Bourne Legacy box office: No. 1, but trailing previous Bourne movies

The Bourne Legacy collected an estimated $40.3 million at 3,745 North American theaters this weekend according to studio figures found at Box Office Mojo. Directed by regular Bourne series screenwriter Tony Gilroy and starring two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner in his first high-profile starring role, The Bourne Legacy didn’t disappoint, but it was no runaway hit, either. (Image: The Bourne Legacy, Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross, Rachel Weisz as Dr. Marta Shearing.)

As per early estimates posted on Friday, The Bourne Legacy was expected to gross $45 million over the weekend. Due to the thriller’s slightly lower-than-anticipated Friday take (circa $14 million), on Saturday morning weekend estimates were slashed to close to $41 million. If studio figures hold (box-office actuals come out Monday), those estimates should have been slashed to close to $40 million.

The Bourne Legacy Rotten Tomatoes score

The Bourne Legacy has a mediocre 57 percent approval rating and 6.6/10 average among Rotten Tomatoes’ top critics. That’s by far the worst among the Bourne movies. For comparison’s sake: The Bourne Identity boasted an 81 percent approval rating and 6.9/10 average; The Bourne Supremacy 74 percent approval rating and 7/10 average; and The Bourne Ultimatum 98 percent approval rating and 8.1/10 average.

For all it’s worth, audiences gave the movie a “B” CinemaScore. Whether those scores truly reflect upcoming word of mouth is debatable.

Co-written by Tony Gilroy and his brother, Dan Gilroy, The Bourne Legacy was inspired by Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series. In a rare instance of a public figure actually speaking their minds about behind-the-scenes affairs, earlier this year Matt Damon publicly accused Tony Gilroy of writing subpar material for The Bourne Ultimatum. Damon later retracted his statements. The best-reviewed movie in the Bourne series, The Bourne Ultimatum was rewritten by George Nolfi and Scott Z. Burns, with the assistance of director Paul Greengrass.

Aug. 11 p.m.

Jeremy Renner Bourne Legacy weekend box office: No. 1 in North America

Directed by Bourne series screenwriter Tony Gilroy and starring two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner, The Bourne Legacy collected $14 million at 3,745 North American locations on Friday, Aug. 10, according to studio estimates. (Image: Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy.)

As per early estimates posted last night, The Bourne Legacy was expected to gross $45 million over the weekend after taking in $15 million on Friday. As a result of the thriller’s slightly lower-than-anticipated Friday take, weekend estimates have been slashed to close to $41 million.

Aug. 11 early a.m.

The Bourne Legacy box office: Jeremy Renner Bourne spin-off no. 1

After three weekends at the top of the North American box office, The Dark Knight Rises has forcibly ceded its spot to Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Identity spin-off, The Bourne Legacy. Instead of Matt Damon, the latest Bourne thriller features two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town), in his first “major” (i.e., high profile) starring role. Will Renner, The Avengers’ Hawkeye, become a bona fide box office draw as a result of The Bourne Legacy?

Well, by Sunday evening the fourth Bourne movie is expected to earn approximately $45 million at 3,745 venues according to early, rough estimates found at Deadline.com. Friday grosses should be hovering around $15 million. Now, as per Deadline, the Tony Gilroy / Jeremy Renner collaboration has received a “B-” CinemaScore; whether that’ll translate into fewer tickets sold on Saturday and Sunday remains to be seen.

The Bourne Legacy Jeremy Renner picture: Universal Pictures.