How Big Will 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' Be?
by EG
Disney's Ant-Man and the Wasp heads into theaters just after the July 4 holiday, and it's looking to win the weekend. It will face competition from a horror franchise installment and some holdover blockbusters that are still doing very well in terms of ticket sales. Read on for predictions for the weekend.
Dystopian horror pic The First Purge hopes to set off fireworks when hitting theaters on July 4 in advance of Friday's debut of the summer's latest superhero tentpole, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Independence Day is a mixed bag when it comes to moviegoing since many consumers are tied up with other activities.
Marking the fourth installment in Universal and Blumhouse's successful horror franchise, The First Purge is targeting a $25 million-$30 million Wednesday-Sunday launch, including previews on Tuesday night. Platinum Dunes is also a producer on the series.
Real heroes. Not actual size. Watch the Marvel Studios' "#AntMan and #TheWasp" red carpet coverage LIVE from Hollywood, in partnership with @MarvelStrikeF! Stay tuned for interviews, games, and more with the cast. https://t.co/AVE80u6Oj9 #AntManAndTheWasp
— Ant-Man and The Wasp (@AntMan) June 26, 2018
First Purge won't have much time to itself before Disney and Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp opens everywhere Friday following Thursday-evening previews. If tracking is correct, the follow-up should buzz to $75 million or more in its domestic debut, ahead of the $57.2 million launch of Ant-Man summer 2015.
To date, The Purge franchise has grossed more than $320 million against a relatively tiny production cost.
Don't miss the @RealD3D opening night fan event, where they will be showing Marvel Studios' #AntMan and #AntManAndTheWasp! Get tickets now: https://t.co/sDdbJI0Iiz pic.twitter.com/fq1nFnj4rk
— Ant-Man and The Wasp (@AntMan) July 2, 2018
The First Purge is a prequel explaining the origins of the annual "Purge," a 12-hour period during which it's legal to commit any crime, including murder. Tracking shows the movie appealing to younger, perse moviegoers.
Gerard McMurray directed The First Purge from a script by James DeMonaco, who wrote and helmed the first three films. Y'Lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Jovian Wade, Luna Lauren Velez and Marisa Tomei star in the prequel, which also launches this week in its first 27 international markets.
In July 2016, The Purge: Election Year debuted to $31.5 million domestically.
Ant-Man and the Wasp is the 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and flies into theaters following the staggering success of Avengers: Infinity War earlier this summer and Black Panther in February. Currently, the Ant-Man sequel boasts an 84 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes (reviews haven't yet hit for The First Purge.)
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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