The first animated Transformers Film in almost four decades, Transformers Onefrom Paramount and Hasbro Entertainment, grossed $3.36 million from fan shows on Wednesday (7 p.m.) and previews on Thursday (5 p.m.).

This figure exceeds a number of family film previews, including Paramount’s IF (1.75 million USD), The Garfield Movie (2.3 million USD), Trolls Band Together and even the live-action spinoff Transformers Film, bumblebee which raised $2.15 million.

Transformers One opens today in 3,978 U.S. theaters, including IMAX and PLF theaters, and was expected to open around $34 million. Don’t be surprised if the film makes $40 million or more. The Screen Engine/PostTrak polls are strong, with 5 out of 5 stars and a clear 75% recommend.

The industry needs a new theatrical distributor and MUBI is making waves with its takeover of Universal/Working Title. The substance The film grossed $512,000 from previews on Wednesday that began at 7 p.m. in 785 theaters and another $327,000 from previews in 1,455 theaters. The substance is booked in 1,949 theaters and is expected to gross $3 million. The film could bring in even more, especially with 88% certified reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and 83% audience ratings for the 2 hour and 15 minute body-swap genre film starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. The substance cost $17.5 million at Universal. Mubi bought the film worldwide for, as far as I know, $12.5 million.

Remember how Lionsgate had a dud last weekend in The murderer’s game, what was Dave Bautista’s worst start to his solo career? This movie grossed $300,000 in previews last Thursday before grossing $2.68 million over 3 days, and it looks like Halle Berry’s horror movie Never let go is also heading for the doldrums with $360,000 in previews. The studio believes it will gross $4-7 million in 2,667 theaters. Not if you compare it to The killer’s game. Note that before the weekend begins, Berry has the opportunity to guarantee an opening of a certain size: the small, now defunct distributor Aviron saved her film Kidnap and opened in August 2017 with $10 million, which was met with great praise in the industry at the time. In the US, the film closed with just under $31 million. Never let go out of Crawling Filmmaker Alexandra Aja was shot for $20 million, I understand. The reviews are at 56% Rotten.

In the meantime…