Weekend Actuals: 'Straight Outta Compton' Hits the Big Bucks, 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' Fails its Mission

     Universal's record-breaking year continues this weekend with 'Straight Outta Compton', which opened to a very impressive $60.2 million against its modest $28 million budget. On the other hand, Warner Bros.' 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' debuted below pre-release expectations, and doesn't look like it can make back its $75 million budget domestically.

     Rap biopic 'Straight Outta Compton' debuted to a more-than-excellent $60.2 million this weekend, averaging a stellar $21,835 per screen. Because of this opening, 'Compton' just had the fifth-biggest August debut ever (barely above 'Signs' with $60.1m). It started out with $24.1 million on Friday, dropped 20% on Saturday to earn $19.3 million, and declined 13.1% on Sunday to go on and make $16.8 million. That marks an initially front-loaded weekend (2.49-to-1 weekend-to-Friday ratio), which proves that the N.W.A.'s fanbase did rush out to see this on Friday. Still, its success is probably due in part to spectacular reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) and exceptional word-of-mouth ('A' on CinemaScore). 'Compton' opened stronger than 2002's '8 Mile' ($51.2m) and 2009's 'Notorious' ($20.5m). This is undeniably a hit, and with strong reviews and word-of-mouth 'Compton' will hope to hold up well in the following weeks against next weekend's 'American Ultra', 'Hitman: Agent 47', and 'Sinister 2'. A final tally of around $145 million should be a lock.

     'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' had to relinquish the box office throne this weekend, dropping down to second place and earning $17.2 million. That is off a solid 39.7% from last weekend, and with exceptional holding power thus far (due in part to strong reviews (93% on RT) and word-of-mouth ('A-' on CinemaScore)) and $138.3 million in the bank so far, 'Rogue Nation' could make it past $175 million total.
    
Fellow spy action flick 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' debuted to an underwhelming $13.4 million this weekend. That is way below the recent three-day starts of 'Rogue Nation' ($55.5m) and 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' ($36.2m). Opening to a modest $4.8 million on Friday, 'U.N.C.L.E.' increased 5.1% on Saturday to gross $5 million and slid 29.3% on Sunday to make $3.6 million, putting its weekend-to-Friday ratio to a promising 2.79-to-1, suggesting that this could save some face in the long run. Still, the weak $3,689 per-theater average is nothing to do cartwheels over, and decent reviews (67% on RT) guarantee that they won't be helping out in anyway. Word-of-mouth is also sort of mixed ('B' on CinemaScore), but the Flixster score is promising (80%). So if 'U.N.C.L.E.' does hold up well, it will wind up in the range of a disappointing $40 million to a decent $50 million, and if it manages to be front-loaded, it will wind up with an even worse $30 million. Either way, this is a domestic failure, and anywhere between those numbers is likely.

     Troubled superhero production 'Fantastic Four' continued to be not-so-fantastic this weekend, plummeting a ghastly 68.2% from last weekend to make $8.2 million. 'Fantastic' has so far been experiencing dismal holds, with a more front-loaded second weekend (3.28-to-1 weekend-to-Friday ratio) than recent superhero team-ups 'Marvel's The Avengers' (3.53-to-1) and 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' (3.47-to-1) and a current gross of just $42.1 million. With very terrible reviews (8% on RT) and poisonous word-of-mouth (22% on Flixster), it is becoming more and more likely that the 'Fantastic Four' franchise may have to retire from the big screen for good with this installment on track for a horrible $55 million finish.
     STX Entertainment's 'The Gift' grossed an extra $6.5 million this weekend, rounding out the Top 5 and down a respectable 45.1% from opening weekend. The $5 million psychological thriller directed by Joel Edgerton has had decent holds so far, but a solid final cume of $35 million is nothing to feel sorry about.
     Marvel's latest superhero flick 'Ant-Man' had a sixth-place take of $5.5 million, down just 30.6% from last weekend. With $157.5 million so far, the tiny superhero should be able to get past $165 million total.
     'Vacation' occupied seventh place this weekend with $5.2 million, down 42.1% from last weekend. With an underwhelming yet solid $46.7 million gross, 'Vacation' will eventually get past $60 million, which would be a solid final gross.
     Universal's 'Minions' slipped 30.9% this weekend to earn an estimated $5.1 million. The little creatures have earned $312.9 million thus far, and a total of around $335 million is still a lock.
     'Ricki and the Flash' eased just 31.1% from its opening, grossing $4.6 million. With $14.6 million already, a total cume over $20 million is likely.
     'Trainwreck' rounded out the Top 10 this weekend, declining 37.6% and making $3.8 million. The R-rated Judd Apatow directed comedy from Universal has so far made an impressive $97.96 million, and a total north of $110 million is very likely.

      Mid-July Sony sci-fi comedy flick 'Pixels' eased a light 38.1% and earned $3.4 million. Even with the solid hold, the $88 million disappointment has so far earned $64.5 million, and $70 million should be a lock.
     'Shaun the Sheep Movie' enjoyed a light decline this weekend, dropping just 28.7% from its three-day opening and going on to make $2.9 million. However, since opening on Wednesday, 'Shaun' has made an underwhelming $11.1 million, but getting over $15 million shouldn't be too hard.
     The Top 12 made an estimated $135.95 million this weekend, which is up an encouraging 5.4% from last year when surprise hits 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy' ruled against the new releases.