The choice by FOX to cancel “Terminator:The Sarah Connor Chronicles” seems prescient in light of the first weekend’s box office for T4. In the US, Terminator:Salvation grossed under $54 million Friday-Sunday, just over $67 million if you include the early Thursday viewings.
This barely covers Warner Bros.’ investment. It also doesn’t include overseas ticket sales, and it’s just one weekend, albeit the first weekend. Numbers from next weekend could show the impact of positive word-of-mouth. Slow out of the gate isn’t great but, as in horse racing, what matters is how you finish.
In comparison, the weekend leader, Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian, grossed an estimated $70 million. While T4 was on fewer screens, it took in less per venue, not including the Thursday showings. If you include the Thursday revenue, T4 did better per venue, but still was in second place overall.
It’s worth noting that all these numbers are all preliminary. They came from Variety.com. I did a little math on my own.
