‘Night School’ Takes Early Lead Over ‘Smallfoot’ at Box Office

Universal’s “Night School” and Warner Bros.’ “Smallfoot” are slightly closer on the box office charts this weekend than analysts expected.

The Kevin Hart/Tiffany Haddish comedy is in first place after grossing $9.5 million from 3,010 screens on Friday, and is currently projected for a $26.4 million opening that would be slightly lower than analyst projections but higher that the $25 million projection made by Universal. By comparison, “Girls Trip,” the previous film from Haddish and the director/producer duo of Malcolm D. Lee and Will Packer, opened to $31 million in July 2017.

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“Smallfoot,” meanwhile, grossed $6.3 million on Friday but is expected to pick up business on Saturday by nature of being a family animated film. Starring Channing Tatum and James Corden, the film is currently estimated to meet analyst pre-weekend projections with a $23.5 million start from 4,131 screens.

Both “Smallfoot” and “Night School” performed well with opening night audiences, earning an A- on CinemaScore. However, critics gave “Smallfoot” a 70 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and “Night School” 29 percent.

Universal’s “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” is in third with an estimated $12 million second weekend, which would be roughly a 55 percent drop from its $26.4 million opening and would give the Eli Roth film a 10-day total of $44.2 million. Lionsgate’s “A Simple Favor” is in fourth with an estimated third weekend of $6.7 million.

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Two horror films are competing for the final spot in the top five, and right now it looks like Lionsgate/CBS Films’ “Hell Fest” will fall short to WB/New Line’s “The Nun,” which is in its fourth weekend. “The Nun,” which crossed $100 million domestic last weekend, is projected to add $5.4 million this weekend, while “Hell Fest” is struggling to meet opening weekend projections after making $2 million on Friday from just under 2,300 locations.

The retro slasher film was projected for a $5-7 million start but is now estimated for a $4.8 million start. Reviews have been anemic with a C on CinemaScore and a 35 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. The film cost $5.5 million to make on a budget co-financed with Tucker Tooley Entertainment.

Finally, indie distributor Pinnacle Peak released the seventh film adaptation of “Little Women” in theaters this weekend, and is projected to not even reach $1 million this weekend. Released on 643 screens, it’s looking at an opening of around $865,000 and a per screen average of less than $2,000. Critics gave the film negative reviews with a 38 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.