Solo: A Star Wars Story, the latest prequel in the hugely popular film franchise, nabbed the No. 1 spot at the local box office but struggled to achieve escape velocity with an estimated $83.3 million take.
It’s now predicted to take just $101 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, according to Time.
Although that sounds like a hefty chunk of change, it falls far below analysts’ expectations for the Disney-Lucasfilm blockbuster directed by Ron Howard and starring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo.
Under performing: Solo: A Star Wars Story, the latest prequel in the film franchise, nabbed the No. 1 at the local box office with an estimated $83.3 million take, well below analyst estimates
They had suggested Solo would rake in between $130 million to $150 million and possibly set a Memorial Day weekend record.
That looks unlikely now as the space saga prequel only nabbed $65 million overseas for the regular three-day weekend.
Last weekend’s No. 1 film, Deadpool 2 took second spot with a four-day estimate of $53.5 million.
That brings its North American total to $207 million plus a stunning $280 million from overseas receipts for a global total of just over $487 million.
Superhero take: Last weekend’s No. 1 film, Deadpool 2 took second with a four-day estimate of $53.5 million. That brings the Ryan Reynolds starrer’s global total to just over $487 million
Third place: Avengers: Infinity War took in $20.1 million in its fifth weekend for a total domestic haul of $621.7 million and a stunning $1.9 billion worldwide.
The darkly comedic movie stars Ryan Reynolds as the foul-mouthed, irreverent title character as he forms an X-Force team to protect a young mutant from evil Cable, played by Josh Brolin.
Confusingly, Josh also plays the baddie Thanos in Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, which took in $20.1 million in its fifth weekend for a total domestic haul of $621.7 million and $1.9 billion worldwide.
It also stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Chris Hemsworth as Thor among other superheroes in the all-star cast.
Racy literary choice: In fourth, with $12 million in ticket sales, was Book Club, upping its domestic take to almost $32 million after three weeks on release
In fourth, with $12 million in ticket sales, was Book Club, upping its domestic take of almost $32 million after three weeks on release.
It stars Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen as longtime friends who find their lives get a little more interesting when they read racy novel Fifty Shades Of Grey
Meanwhile, Melissa McCarthy’s comedy Life Of The Party came in fifth with $6.5 million, upping its domestic coin to just over $39 million and worldwide take to $45 million.
Party girl: Melissa McCarthy’s Life Of The Party came in fifth with $6.5 million, upping its domestic coin to just over $39 million and worldwide take to $45 million