Melissa McCarthy's 'Spy' heading for $32 million in first weekend
By: VARIETY
Melissa McCarthy's "Spy" is delivering a first-place finish for 20th Century Fox with a projected $32 million opening weekend at 3,711 locations, according to Saturday estimates.
The R-rated "Spy" grossed $10.3 million on Friday, edging out the first day of Gramercy's horror title "Insidious: Chapter 3″ at 3,002 locations.
Warner-New Line's second weekend of "San Andreas" will probably be the closest to "Spy" by the end of the weekend at about $26 million.
Recent forecasts for "Spy" had estimated the laffer would take in as much as $35 million for the weekend, thanks to strong reviews, an extensive marketing push and McCarthy's track record. Fox's "The Heat," starring McCarthy and Sandra Bullock, opened similarly in June 2013 to $39.1 million on its way to a $159 million domestic total.
Fox premiered "Spy" in March at SXSW and showed exhibitors the film at April's CinemaCon to build buzz. Chernin Entertainment produced "Spy," which also stars Rose Byrne, Jude Law and Jason Statham, for $65 million.
Gramercy's debut of "Insidious: Chapter 3" is expected to close out the weekend in the $23 million range — an impressive launch, given its $10 million price tag.
Dwayne Johnson's "San Andreas" looks likely to decline about 50% from its opening weekend. The disaster film has been anything but for the studio and Village Roadshow, which co-financed the $110 million movie.
"San Andreas" took in $7.7 million on Friday to lift its U.S. total past $80 million in its first eight days.
Warner Bros.' comedy "Entourage" looks like it is running out of steam after a $5.4 million start on Wednesday at 3,058 sites. It slid sharply on Thursday to $2 million, then grossed $3.7 million on Friday — less than a third of "Spy's" opening day haul.
"Entourage," which opened four years after the HBO series concluded, should take in around $11 million for the Friday-Sunday period.
