Lionsgate’s sci-fier Ender's Game opened respectably with an estimated $1.4 million from Halloween night preview shows in the U.S.
The studio called the launch a “solid” start that placed it third for Thursday behind “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” and “Gravity,” which took in $1.6 million in its 28th day for a domestic cume of $206 million.
Paramount’s “Bad Grandpa” posted a similar late-night launch of $1.4 million a week ago and has topped $40 million in its first week. “Gravity” also took in $1.4 million from its first late-night shows while “Oblivion” and “After Earth” both grossed $1 million in their respective preview shows; “Pacific Rim” grossed an impressive $3.6 million in previews while “Carrie” took in $725,000.
“Ender’s Game,” starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford (pictured above), opens nationwide at 3,407 domestic locations, tracking to gross in the mid-to-high $20 millions.
Relativity Media’s 3D animated “Free Birds” is forecast to earn between $16 million and $19 million, followed by “Bad Grandpa” and CBS Films’ comedy “Last Vegas,” both of which are projected to gross around $15 million.