Theaters are in a slump longer than they should be. The last five weekends averaged about $70 million total, while in 2019, the same five weekends with lower ticket prices averaged $190 million. That means success in VOD revenue is all that more important for studios. Even so, on the two top 10 lists from iTunes (ranking by transactions) and Fandango (by revenue), half the slots are taken by companies other than the usual top five (Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, and Paramount).
Results overall reflect the cutback in releases due to last year’s strikes, some longer windows for bigger-grossing studio releases, and, in most cases, a weaker response to other films that made little theatrical impact. All that made it easy for “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.), by far the year’s biggest hit, to repeat as #1 on both charts for the third week. And that’s with a higher price ($24.99 to rent, $29.99 to digitally own) than usual.
Jerry Seinfeld’s feature directorial debut “Unfrosted,” with elevated review attention for a non-theatrical Netflix original (ranging from our own David Ehrlich’s pan to a New York Times critics’ pick), was an immediate #1 at the streamer. The comic retelling of the 1960s creation of Pop-Tarts, apart from Seinfeld in his first live-action film role at the age of 70, features an ensemble cast including Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Grant, and Cedric the Entertainer, among others.
Of note on VOD is the immediate success of home-viewing icon Nicolas Cage. “Arcadian” (RLJE Films), a dystopian horror thriller about a dad and two sons fighting for survival, is #2 at iTunes and #9 at Fandango (where its $6.99 rental price puts it at a disadvantage against $19.99 PVOD releases. The film premiered at this year’s SXSW and grossed under $1 million last month after a run in more than 1,100 theaters.
New this week: “The Long Game” (theatrically released by Emick), about a group of Mexican-American caddies in the 1950s who created their own golf course, #5 at Fandango ($19.99 rental); and “Chief of Station” (Vertical), a direct-to-home spy thriller starring Aaron Eckhart, #4 on iTunes ($6.99).
Both come from distributors outside the theatrical mainstream. Lionsgate, overall nearly at the level of the five major studios, covers five of the 20 overall slots this week, with “The Beekeeper” and “Arthur the King” on both lists.
Apart from “Anyone but You,” now #5 on Netflix after two weeks at #1, Netflix’s top 10 totally turned over this week. It’s mostly studio releases, with only their original documentary, “Secrets of the Neanderthals” (#10), also homegrown.
“The Judge,” which garnered Robert Duvall an Oscar nomination in 2015, actually took the top spot for two days during the week on Netflix. It’s currently second. Otherwise, the most notable new title is “One More Shot,” yet another action thriller (this time involving a Navy SEAL and a terrorist). The film was initially a VOD release earlier this year, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Top 10s
iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, May 6.
The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.
iTunes
1. “Dune: Part Two” (WB) – $24.99
2. Arcadian (RLJE Films) – $6.99
3. “Madame Web” (Sony) – $5.99
4. “Chief of Station” (Vertical) – $6.99
5. “Dune: Part One”/Dune: Part Two” (WB) – $34.99
6. “Kung Fu Panda 4” (Universal) – $19.99
7. “Land of Bad” (Avenue) – $5.99
8. “Monkey Man” (Universal) – $19.99
9. “The Beekeeper” (Lionsgate) – $5.99
10. “Arthur the King” (Lionsgate) – $19.99
Fandango at Home
1. “Dune: Part Two” (WB) – $24.99
2. “Kung Fu Panda 4” (Universal) – $19.99
3. “Arthur the King“ (Lionsgate) – $19.99
4. “Madame Web“ (Sony) – $5.99
5. “The Long Game“ (Emick) – $19.99
6. “Monkey Man” (Universal) – $19.99
7. “Imaginary” (Lionsgate) – $19.99
8. Late Night with the Devil (IFC Films) – $14.99
9. “Arcadian” (RLJE Films) – $6.99
10. “Ordinary Angels” (Lionsgate) – $19.99
Netflix Movies
These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, May 6. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.
1. “Unfrosted” (Netflix original)
2. “The Judge” (2014 theatrical release)
3. “Shrek” (2001 theatrical release)
4. “One More Shot” (2024 VOD release)
5. “Anyone but You” (2023 theatrical release)
6. “The Great Wall” (2016 theatrical release)
7. “The Equalizer” (2014 theatrical release)
8. “Blender” (2014 theatrical release)
9. “Shrek Forever After” (2010 theatrical release)
10. “Secrets of the Neanderthals” (Netflix original documentary)