Not even a returning Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron could help Terminator: Dark Fate. The big budget tale of Sarah Conner's continuing war against machines opened with a anemic $29 million. That is a far cry from what many expected even on the low end. Terminator: Genisys opened in 2015 with $27 million, but that was accompanied by a new Sarah Conner and an average to below average movie. This was supposed to be the movie that got the franchise back on track with Linda Hamilton returning and reviews saying the movie was the best since Terminator 2. It seems like one too many bad sequels left people not caring even when it seemed like it was the first true sequel to T2 that worked. It looks like Dark Fate may lose $130 million and be one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history. Sarah Conner deserves better.
Joker dropped to #2 with $13.9 million and crossed $900 million worldwide again sticking it to Warner executives that may not have wanted to make the movie.
Harriet, the movie based on the life of Harriet Tubman, opened with $12 million and Edward Norton's Motherless Brooklyn was #9 with $3.6 million.
Next weeks will bring the release of Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining with Ewan McGregor as Danny Torrance and Last Christmas, ironically starring the last Sarah Conner, Emilia Clarke. Tis the season for holiday moves and men with issues with giant hotels that harbor the spirits of deceased guests.
1. Terminator: Dark Fate- $29.0/ $29.0
2. Joker- $13.9/ $299.6
3. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil- $12.1/ $84.3
4. Harriet- $12.0/ $12.0
5. The Addams Family- $8.4/ $85.2
6. Zombieland: Double Tap- $7.3/ $59.3
7. Countdown- $5.8/ $17.7
8. Black and Blue- $4.0/ $15.4
9. Motherless Brooklyn- $3.6/ $3.6
10. Arctic Dogs- $3.1/ $3.1