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BAD put exhibitors in a good mood with a turbo-charged $56M launch that left theatrical naysayers in the dust.

Hollywood handicappers originally buzzed that the R rated Sony/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE would drive off with $40-50M and then upped it to $45-50M — and mid-weekend went to $53M! Sony lowballed expectations with a $30M estimate.

Driven by BAD, the weekend marketplace totaled $103.5M, per Comscore, up 54% from the prior weekend and down 38% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $2.83B, down 26% from $3.81B in 2023. Last weekend, 2024 was down 24% vs. 2023.

BAD hammers home that people haven’t stopped moviegoing. When  there’s something playing they want to see, they show up — despite high ticket costs, oversized concession prices and inflated related costs like transport, babysitters and dinners out.

This bummer summer reflects the retreads, prequels and worn out IP Hollywood tried to get away with. The coming summer weeks should sizzle with Disney/Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 (6/14), Universal/Illumination Entertainment’s DESPICABLE ME 4 (7/3) and Disney/Marvel’s DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (7/26).

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: BAD, which reportedly cost $100M to produce, opened to a wildly overperforming $56M at 3,885 theatres ($14,414). Internationally, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, it debuted to “$48.6M for a global opening of $104.6M.”

BAD’s tracking for first choice is best with men over 25 (16 points over norm) and next best with under-25 men (15 points over norm). Women over 25 are 11 points over norm and women under 25 are five points over norm. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes are a blah 64%, but audiences are cheering at 97%.

WB/NL’s PG-13 horror thriller THE WATCHERS opened #4 to $7M at 3,351 theatres ($2,089). It’s the feature directorial debut for Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, whose thriller TRAP, starring his daughter Saleka Shyamalan, opens 8/9 via WB. WATCHERS’ first choice tracking is below norm for all demos. RT critics hate it at 29% and audiences are a scary 52%. WATCHERS did $4.7M internationally for a global cume of $11.7M.

Sony/Alcon Entertainment’s PG animated family appeal THE GARFIELD MOVIE was #2 in weekend three with $10M (-29%) at 3,959 theatres ($2,526). It reportedly cost just $60M and has done $68.6M domestic and $192.7M worldwide.

As for next weekend: Disney/Pixar’s PG animated “INSIDE OUT 2” is opening at about 4,200 theatres. Some pundits see an $85-95M debut. It’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (20 points above norm) and next best with over-25 women (eight points over norm).

Roadside Attractions’ R rated historical drama “FIREBRAND” is opening in limited release. RT critics are executing it at 52%.