Update: August 14, 2016
SAUSAGE PARTY Beats PETE'S DRAGON with $33.6 Million
David Ayer's much-debated
Suicide Squad may have stayed No. 1 in its second outing, but the true hero of the late summer box-office barbeque was
Sausage Party, which came in ahead of predictions to score the best opening for an R-rated comedy in at least a year with $33.6 million from 3,103 theaters.
Originality paid off big time for
Sausage Party in a season otherwise dominated by a slew of sequels and remakes that have disappointed.
Sausage Party, which cost a modest $19 million to make, is a needed boost for Sony and another win for Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures, which developed the project on behalf of producing duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (
This Is the End,
The Interview). Comparisons are difficult since there haven't been a slew of R-rated animated comedies; in 1999,
South Park — Bigger, Longer and Uncut debuted to $11.3 million ($19.3 million when adjusting for ticket-price inflation).
"It shows that if you are really original and take risks, it can pay off really well in today's marketplace. The humor was smart and elevated," said Sony worldwide president of distribution and marketing Josh Greenstein.
Generally speaking, R-rated comedies have been in a slump.
Sausage Party, a pic about a brave sausage who is determined to find out what happens to hot dogs once they leave the grocery store shelf, is an exception. Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon directed the raunchy movie, which drew strong reviews but only a B CinemaScore from audiences (considering the subject matter, the grade from moviegoers isn't a huge surprise.)
Weekend Box Office: 'Sausage Party' Feasts on $33.6 Million; 'Pete's Dragon' Flounders with $21 Million