Box Office Update: Minions: The Rise of Gru soars even higher due to massive Fourth of July business

UPDATE: The Fourth of July estimates are in and Minions: The Rise of Gru has even more reasons to celebrate Independence Day. The Universal/Illumination release is expected to gross $18.1 million today which will bring its four-day total to $125.1 million. Worldwide, it looks like the film will clear $202 million for its opening weekend. Other films in the top five also got a boost. Top Gun: Maverick is estimated to make $7.1 million which will bring its four-day weekend to $33 million. To date, the Top Gun sequel has grossed $571.4 million at the domestic box office. Elvis also holds well in third place with an estimated $5 million gross today which brings its four-day haul to $23.5 million. Its domestic total now stands at $71.8 million. Jurassic World: Dominion is still pulling moviegoers with an estimated $3.6 million expected today which brings its four-day sum to $19.7 million. Domestically, the Jurassic sequel has grossed $335.8 million. Rounding out the top five is The Black Phone which will scare up an estimated $2.2 million today which brings its four-day weekend to $14.4 million. The Black Phone currently stands with a domestic gross of $49.6 million on a slim $18 million budget.

ORIGINAL STORY

The long Fourth of July weekend isn’t over three-day box office estimates are in and Minions: The Rise of Gru has truly blown through expectations this holiday weekend.

Three-day estimates have Minions: The Rise of Gru grossing $108.5 million with a possible four-day gross of $127.9 million. That more than exceeds my $95 million four-day predictions as I truly underestimated how much families and kids really love this franchise. So why did this work and Lightyear didn’t? Lightyear disappointed fans of Toy Story while Minions: The Rise of Gru played to a familiar formula that didn’t disappoint the fanbase. Speaking of the fanbase, they really enjoyed it and graced the film with a stellar “A” CinemaScore. This bodes well for word of mouth down the line. We will update tomorrow with official four-day estimates as Universal/Illumination are certainly popping champagne as we speak to celebrate their success.

In second place we have Top Gun: Maverick, which is enjoying the benefits of America’s holiday with a sixth weekend gross of $25.5 million over three days. That’s a slim 14% decline from last weekend and it’s looking like its four-day weekend will come in at $32.5 million. There’s not much else to say about the film’s performance as it has defied all expectations since opening over Memorial Day weekend. As of now, the film’s domestic total stands at $564 million. After grossing $37 million from overseas markets, the blockbuster brings its global haul to $1.1 billion.

Holding very well in third place is Elvis with a three-day gross of $19 million, dropping an ok 39% from last weekend. Four-day estimates have it at $24 million and what’s impressive is that the older demographic is really driving the film to success. According to Deadline, females 25+ repped half the audience and the over 55 crowd showed up at 33% this weekend. Budgeted at $85 million, Elvis has grossed $67.3 million at the domestic box office.

In fourth place, we find Jurassic World: Dominion with a three-day gross of $15.6 million, down 41% from the previous weekend. Four-day estimates are calling for $19.2 million as the film, which was lambasted by critics, has managed to be extremely financially successful. I guess moviegoers really like dinosaurs. The film has also roared its way over $800 million globally after adding $26.8 million from 72 foreign markets. Its global haul stands at $824.5 million with $331.8 million coming from the domestic front.

Rounding out the top five is The Black Phone with a gross of $12.3 million. Horror films, even the good ones, see declines of 55% or more in their second weekends and this managed to dip just 48%. That’s a major win as the movie is truly connecting with genre fans. Four-day estimates have the latest Blumhouse effort pulling in $14.6 million as the movie brings its domestic total to $47.4 million.

What are YOUR thoughts on this weekend’s box office results?