20th Century Studios’ Kenneth Branagh starring and directed, A Haunting in Venice, has scared up $1.2M in previews. The weekend outlook for the feature take of the Agatha Christie novel Hallowe’en is $12M+, similar to what Branagh’s feature take on the author’s Death on the Nile did back in 2022 in its first weekend, $12.8M.
Comps for the expected older female skewing, A Haunting in Venice includes, 2019’s Doctor Sleep which did $1.4M on its Thursday before a $14M opening weekend, the Jennifer Lawrence Russian spy flick Red Sparrow ($1.2M Thursday previews and $17M opening), Ticket to Paradise ($1.1M previews, $16.5M opening) and Death on the Nile ($1.1M previews).
As we mentioned, working in A Haunting in Venice‘s favor is that it’s the best reviewed of Branagh’s Hercule Poirot movies at 77% certified fresh to Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile’s 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. The downside is that Venice isn’t tricked up with stars like Murder was; the only big names here outside Branagh being Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey.
A Haunting in Venice could win the weekend if New Line’s Nun 2 takes an enormous tumble deeper than -60%.
Venice is booked at 3,305 theatres and also has the benefit of Imax and PLF ticket upcharges. Previews are comprised of Imax Wednesday fan screenings as well as showtimes that began yesterday at 6PM.
Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express earned B CinemaScores, so we’ll see how Branagh’s latest comes in. The third movie here, given its less starry cast, cost a reported $60M before P&A versus Death on the Nile‘s $90M.
The Nun 2 ends her first week at 3,728 theaters with $41.7M after a $1.7M Thursday, -15% from Wednesday.
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