‘Transformers One’ In Box Office Battle For No. 1 With ‘Beetlejuice 2’

Transformers One and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice are in a close battle for the top spot at the weekend box office.

An animated feature, Transformers One is a reboot of the Transformers movie franchise that kicked off with director Michael Bay’s live-action version of the Hasbro action figure line-turned-animated series in 2007.

Transformers One examines the origin of the franchise’s iconic characters Optimus Prime and Megatron, who were originally known as Orion Pax (voice of Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry).

Deadline projects Transformers One will earn $26.3 million domestically in its opening weekend in 3,978 theaters.

Meanwhile, the trade publication is projecting Warner Bros.’ blockbuster Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will finish a close second with an estimated domestic box office take of $25 million in 4,172 theaters in its third weekend of release.

MORE FOR YOU
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Saturday, September 21
New Microsoft Windows Warning—You Must Never Do This On Your PC
Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram And Answers For Saturday, September 21

The long-awaited sequel to the 1988 supernatural comedy classic, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice—which features the return of director Tim Burton and stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara—opened in North American theaters on September 6.

Per The Numbers, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s domestic tally was $200.8 million coming into the weekend.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Hangs Tough In The Top 5

Deadline projects that the James McAvoy horror thriller Speak No Evil will earn $5.7 million in its second-weekend frame in 3,375 North American theaters.

If the estimate holds, it will boost the Universal Pictures release’s domestic tally to $21.2 million through Sunday.

Lionsgate’s Never Let Go—a post-apocalyptic horror thriller starring Halle Berry as a mother trying to protect her two young sons from evil forces—is also new in theaters this weekend. The film, per Deadline, is projected to earn anywhere from $3.8 million to $4.7 million in 2,667 North American venues.

If the estimate for Never Let Go holds, the film could edge out Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel superhero blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadline projects will earn $4 million through Sunday in 2,450 theaters to boost its domestic total to $627 million.

Also opening this weekend is Mubi’s body horror thriller The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Deadline projects the film will earn anywhere from $2.65 million to $3 million in its debut in 1,949 North American theaters.

Note: This report will be updated throughout the weekend with the most current domestic and international box office numbers. The final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday.