Being the highest rated Marvel movie ever, Thor: Ragnarok had a very good time at the box office last weekend. The Marvel blockbuster was the fourth biggest launch in 2017, acquiring over $120 million in the first weekend alone. Not too shabby for the Avenger whose last movie is one of the lowest rated in the MCU, but Ragnarok's box office domination might not be over just yet. Despite the fact that two high-profile movies are releasing this weekend, Thor: Ragnarok is still projected to come out on top with a total of at least $50 million.
Per Variety, Thor: Ragnarok is looking to be the No. 1 movie in America for the second weekend in a row. It's estimated that the superhero sequel will earn at least $50 million at the box office, propelled by good reviews and word of mouth. The Taika Waititi-helmed blockbuster opened last weekend where it earned $122.7 million. At the time of writing, that domestic gross has grown to $147.9 million, with $354 million more contributed by foreign markets. So, things are looking all good for the Marvel-tentpole, but it does have some solid competition hitting theaters this weekend.
Daddy's Home 2 and Murder on the Orient Express will attempt to give Thor: Ragnarok a run for its money this weekend. Both are projected to open in the $25 million range, putting each at about half of what Ragnarok will bring in. Daddy's Home 2 is a sequel to the 2015 Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg comedy that opened to a respectable $38 million while competing against Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The sequel has added even more daddy's to the party in the form of John Lithgow and Mel Gibson and is looking to open this weekend with a score as high as $32 million. However, the film is currently getting savaged by critics, but comedies can sometimes ignore bad reviews for a solid box office.
Murder on the Orient Express could debut with estimates as low as $19 million. The Keneth Branagh adaptation of Agatha Christie's popular novel is absolutely dripping with A-listers; the film stars the likes of Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, and Josh Gad. The movie is receiving mostly mixed reviews, with critics praising the style and visuals (it was shot on 65mm), but ultimately labeling it as an average experience.
Thor: Ragnarok seems poised to open at No. 1 again, but the true test of its staying power will come next week with the release of Justice League. Initial reports have the high profile superhero team-up opening with at least $110 million. That's not quite as large as Ragnarok's opening, but numbers can change -- especially with waves of reviews expected to drop next week.
You have a choice of seeing Thor: Ragnarok, Daddy's Home 2, or Murder on the Orient Express, all of which are currently in theaters.
