‘Divergent’ delivers strong $4.9 million from Thursday showings
The teen sci-fi film “Divergent,†starring Shailene Woodley, opened with a strong $4.9 million from Thursday night showings, according to Lionsgate.
The movie, which the studio hopes will launch its next successful young-adult franchise following “The Hunger Games†series, opens nationwide on Friday.
The $85-million film takes place in a dystopian Chicago where people are divided by traits according to a test. The young protagonist played by Woodley discovers a plot to eliminate so-called “divergents†who, like her, fit no set category.
The sci-fi adventure is projected to gross $50 million or more in ticket sales through Sunday, according to people who’ve seen audience tracking surveys. The Thursday numbers are in line with those predictions.
PHOTOS: Top 19 midnight box-office records
That would be a robust launch for a new series, though not as big as the $70-million opening for Summit’s “Twilight†in 2008. Lionsgate has greenlit the follow-up “Insurgent,†which is expected to hit theaters next year.
“Muppets Most Wanted†is expected to take off with a solid $25 million in ticket sales this weekend. The new $55-million comedy, in which the Muppets become entangled with an international criminal who resembles Kermit the Frog, stars Tina Fey, Ty Burrell and Ricky Gervais alongside the Jim Henson characters.
ALSO:
TV ratings: CW’s ‘The 100’ is strong in premiere
Time Warner Cable CEO up for $80-million golden parachute
‘Divergent’ likely to pass box-office test; ‘Muppets’ looks solid
Twitter: @rfaughnder
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
