Box Office: ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ Fails to Topple ‘Finding Dory’

Independence Day Resurgence Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth stars in ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ (Photo Credit: Claudette Barius © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox)

Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory continues its record-setting ways, snagging the top spot as the animated movie with the highest domestic box office gross over its second weekend in release. The Finding Nemo sequel added $73 million to its domestic box office gross, dropping only 48% from its first weekend. And while Disney has plenty to celebrate, the news isn’t so rosy for the long-awaited Independence Day sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence. The sci-fi action thriller entered theaters without Will Smith and without screening for critics, which is never a good sign. Its $41 million opening weekend was below what was expected and it doesn’t appear the film will have legs over the upcoming weekends when it goes up against new releases including The Legend of Tarzan, The Purge: Election Year, and The BFG.

The June 24 – 26 weekend also found Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey all but ignored by moviegoers. Not even the presence of the charismatic Oscar winner could draw in audiences. However, the weekend was much kinder to Blake Lively and a great white shark. The Shallows performed better than expected, taking in $16 million which is almost the film’s budget.

Box Office Top 10: June 24-26, 2016

  1. Finding Dory – $73,234,740
  2. Independence Day: Resurgence – $41,600,000
  3. Central Intelligence – $18,370,000
  4. The Shallows – $16,700,000
  5. Free State of Jones – $7,772,000
  6. The Conjuring 2 – $7,705,000
  7. Now You See Me 2 – $5,650,000
  8. X-Men: Apocalypse – $2,475,000
  9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 – $2,400,000
  10. Alice Through the Looking Glass – $2,147,144