Universal's "Huntsman" Gets Trapped By Disney's "Jungle Book"

The box office continued to be a jungle for Disney DIS to play in over the weekend as the studio's live-action ‘The Jungle Book' once again dominated the three-day frame. In its second weekend "Jungle" added just over $60 million more to its haul which brings its 10-day total to over $191 million. The film should cross the $200 million threshold this week and with no real tentpole opening on Friday, will likely easily three-peat on top of the charts. The news was not as good for Universal CMCSA which saw its "The Huntsman: Winter's War," earn just $20 million. While that's not a bad total on paper, the problem is that the original made nearly three times that amount four years ago. To be fair "Snow White & The Huntsman" also had a summer debut, but expectations were still much higher. Regardless both films carried budgets well over $100 million, though "Winter's War" was made for substantially less. The good news for Universal and its investors is that overseas grosses thus far will push its global tally to over $100 million, but it still must sting as this is one of the rare Universal sequels that didn't click with audiences.