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It was all about ME over the long July 4th weekend as moviegoers spent $122M+ to see DESPICABLE ME 4.

Hollywood’s summer boxoffice recovery is now so undeniably clear that a local newspaper that was quick to pronounce the film business dead a month ago just advised readers that movies aren’t dead anymore!

Driven by Universal/Illumination Entertainment’s DM4, the weekend marketplace totaled $156.5M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, up 1.1% from the prior weekend and up 18% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $3.903B, down 17% from $4.697B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 19% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: The PG animated DM4 was a big lure for families over the holiday weekend. For many people in heat wave cities, air conditioned movie theatres were also a great way to beat the heat. The $122.6M they spent seeing DM4 over five days ($75M for three days) put it in first place at 4,428 theatres ($16,938).

Hollywood handicappers started out expecting $120M for five days, but pulled that back to $112.5M as the long weekend began and then returned to $120M by Saturday. Internationally, DM4 did $107M in 73 territories, bringing its worldwide cume to $229.6M.

DM4 should be nicely profitable for Universal/Illumination given that its budget was reportedly just $100M — about half of what other studios’  animated movies are costing these days.

Although Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 54%, that clearly doesn’t matter. What counts is that audiences are laughing at 90%. DM4’s tracking best with women under 25 (14 points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (12 points over norm).

Disney/Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 was #2 in weekend four with $30M for three days (-48%) at 3,760 theatres ($7,979). IO2, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, has grossed a wildly successful $533.8M domestic and $1.217B worldwide

Paramount/Platinum Dunes’ PG-13 horror prequel A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE was third in weekend two with $21M for three days (-60%) at 3,688 theatres ($5,694). ONE, which reportedly cost $70M, has done $94.4M domestic and $178.2M worldwide.

Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions’ R rated violent Indian action crime drama KILL opened dead in 16th place to $384K for three days ($550K for four days) at 827 theatres ($465). RT critics are an enthusiastic 89% and  audiences are okay at 85%. It’s tracking below norm for all demos.

As for next weekend: Sony/Apple Studios’ PG-13 rom-com FLY ME TO THE MOON, starring Scarlett Johansson, is the coming weekend’s only new wide studio opening. It’s arriving at about 3,000 theatres and is tracking below norm for all demos. No RT scores yet.

Johansson plays a marketing pro hired to stage a back-up fake Moon landing when the White House says NASA’s mission is too important to fail.