In a surprise twist, the Bots are crushed by Beetle Juice Beetle Juice at the weekend box office.
Transformers One It was expected to open with at least $30 million to $35 million in North America. Now, it looks like it will gross $26 million, which puts the Paramount and Hasbro film in a very tight race with Warner Bros. Beetle Juice sequel, now in its third weekend.
While Transformers One Saturday morning was slightly ahead, the difference between the two films being $500,000 and $1 million.
The unwelcome news came despite rave reviews, awards buzz, an A CinemaScore, and stellar release dates, but Paramount and Hasbro knew all along that they were taking a risk by returning to the franchise's roots and making a family-friendly PG-rated CGI-animated film rather than a wacky PG-rated live-action flick aimed at fanboys.
For years, Paramount has been struggling to revive the popular film franchise based on the popular Hasbro toy line.
Directed by former Pixar director John Cooley, the film is an origin story that tells how two of the most iconic Transformers, Optimus Prime and Megatron, went from best friends to archenemies. Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry voice the two characters, with Keegan-Michael Key, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm also voicing the characters.
“Consider this a revitalized franchise,” wrote Frank Scheck in his review of the film for The Hollywood Reporter.
The challenge now for Paramount is to secure Transformers One has long legs at the box office, winning over general audiences as well as families. The modestly budgeted event film, which cost $75 million to produce before release, will also be released internationally, but the numbers won't be released until Sunday.
The weekend's other two new releases are in much worse shape. Photo by Lionsgate's Halle Berry Never let go looks to come in at fourth place with around $4 million, while Mubi The substancestarring Demi Moore, is set to open the dance with a gross of less than $3 million, for a sixth place finish.
The numbers will be updated on Sunday.