'Maze Runner 2' Cannot Defeat Its Predecessor at Domestic Box Office

Movie

The second installment of 'Maze Runner' movie series beats out Johnny Depp's 'Black Mass' with $30.3 million, but cannot surpass its movie predecessor.

September 21, 2015

AceShowbiz -

Fox's post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" topped this weekend's box office with $30.3 million from 3,796 theaters. The second installment of "Maze Runner" movie series outpaced Johnny Depp's crime thriller "Black Mass", which opened to $22.6 million. However, "Maze Runner 2" couldn't surpass its movie predecessor, "The Maze Runner", which debuted to $32.5 million on the same weekend a year ago.

Internationally, the sequel placed number one in 30 countries, including in South Korea. Most of "Scorch Trials" audiences are people under the age of 25. "We have a very loyal fan base," said Chris Aronson, Fox's domestic distribution chief. "We've cultivated it and, if you look at the demographic data, we've broadened it."

Revolving around Irish mobster played by Depp, "Black Mass" came right behind "Scorch Trials". The movie was Depp's another attempt to please fans after suffering a series of box-office disappointments, including "Mortdecai" and "The Lone Ranger". It seemed like "Black Mass" performed quiet well as some of the audiences admitted that it was Depp's turn as the sociopathic crime lord that made them buy tickets. "Johnny Depp always swings for the fences, and sometimes he strikes out, but this was a grand slam," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. distribution executive vice president. "He's the face of evil."

Editors' Pick

Placing the third was M. Night Shyamalan's "The Visit" which grossed $11.6 million from 3,148 locations in its second weekend for a domestic total of $42.6 million. Meanwhile, African-American actors starrer "The Perfect Guy" was in the fourth place, falling 63 percent in its second weekend with $9.8 million from 2,230 theaters for a domestic total of $41.5 million.

Another newcomer in the chart was "Everest (2015)". The movie launched to $7.2 million and earned an A CinemaScore. "The good news is they like it," said Nick Carpou, Universal's domestic distribution chief. "It's a human interest story, but the enhanced formats highlight another important character and that's the mountain and nature in all its horrible glory."