Lionsgate and Kingdom Story’s I Can Only Imagine 2 is off to a solid start for a faith-based movie with $1.8M previews; note that $1.3M of that came from Feb. 14 early access screenings with another $475K from last night.
That all-in preview figure is higher than the $1.3M previews of the first 2018 title, which was originally forecasted in the single digits and wowed with a $17.1M opening and a great 4.9x multiple for a final $83.4M domestic off a great A+. No reviews or Rotten Tomatoes audience scores yet for part two here which stars Milo Ventimiglia. Forecast is $8M-$10M in 3,105 theaters, but it won’t be a surprise if the picture does more. In the Andrew Erwin and Brent Mccorkle directed sequel, the lead singer of MercyMe, Bart Millard, faces a personal crisis at the peak of his success. As his world unravels, he struggles with his beliefs and inner demons while seeking a path through adversity
Posting a great number last night was Trafalgar’s release of the Prime Original, Man on the Run, which is the Morgan Neville directed documentary about Paul and Linda McCartney post Beatles during the Wings era. The pic posted $501K at 421 sites.
Psycho Killer
Post the busy Presidents Day weekend, I Can Only Imagine 2 is the only major studio release bowing which can do any substantial business. A24 has the 1,600-theater release of the StudioCanal financed How to Make a Killing with Glen Powell and Disney is releasing New Regency’s Psycho Killer from director Gavin Polone in 1,100 theaters. Both of those titles are expected to file in the low single digits. Psycho Killer‘s previews, we hear, were around $250K. No audience or critic scores yet on RT for Psycho Killer. Reviews are sour on How to Make a Killing at 51% Rotten.
Rest of the week’s grosses are as follows:
1.) Wuthering Heights (WB) 3,682 theaters, Wk $45.8M/Wk 1
2.) Goat (Sony) 3,863 theaters Wk $41.2M/Wk 1
3.) Crime 101 (Sony) 3,161 theaters, Wk $18.9M/Wk 1
4.) Send Help (20th) 2,975 theaters, Wk $12.1M (-7%), Total $51M/Wk 3
5.) Solo Mio (Angel) 3,000 theaters, Wk $8.7M (-17%), Total $19.2M/Wk 2
