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Exhibitors are smiling over BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE’s $110M opening — except for those who realize the next mega-boxoffice-hit isn’t arriving until 10/4 with JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX.

We’re living in a tentpole world now and it’s feast-or-famine in the Hollywood boxoffice jungle. The studios can thank themselves for today’s moviegoer mindset about only paying to see event films. That’s the legacy from letting the SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes drag on-and-on until the product pipeline was nearly dry. That failed strategy forced movie fans to find other ways to stay entertained — like streaming at home small dramas without big stars, rom-coms, comedies & action films without killer effects.

Exhibs can look forward to a smaller boost 9/20 from Paramount/Hasbro’s PG rated animated action adventure TRANSFORMERS ONE, which Hollywood buzz-ards see opening to $45-55M. The kids descending on the multiplexes will be buying plenty of popcorn & candy.

This weekend, however, was definitely one to celebrate. WB/Plan B Entertainment’s PG-13 fantasy horror comedy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE, directed by Tim Burton, debuted to an over-performing $110M at 4,575 theatres ($24,044), per Comscore. BB, which reportedly cost $100M to produce, opened internationally to $35.4M for a worldwide cume of $145.4M.

Hollywood insiders started out looking for an $85M domestic launch and  bumped it up to the high $90M’s as the weekend approached. It’s tracking best for first choice with over-25 women (28 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 76% and audiences are happier at 82%.

Driven by BB, this weekend’s domestic marketplace totaled $149.1M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, up 72.8% from the prior weekend and up 66% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $5.94B, down 13% from $6.84B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 14% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: The weekend’s only other wide release was A24’s horror thriller THE FRONT ROOM, which opened #11 to a dismal $1.7M at 2,095 theatres ($794). It’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (equal to norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 51% and audiences are a grim 39%.

Next weekend should be chilly at the boxoffice: Universal/Blumhouse Productions’ R rated horror thriller SPEAK NO EVIL opens at about 3,200 theatres. It’s tracking for first choice below norm with all demos.

Lionsgate’s R rated action comedy thriller THE KILLER’S GAME, starring Dave Bautista, opens at about 2,500 theatres. It’s tracking for first choice below norm with all demos.