Marvel/Disney can crow and declare victory with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” but for those who play the expectations game, they left a lot of money on the table this opening weekend.
Projections were that the picture, a sequel to a squealing-like-little-girls fangirl/fanboy friendly smash, might clear $500 million worldwide, and as much as $160 in the US.
I went to see another film Sat. AM, and when I came out, the Regal Winter Park 20 had changed virtually every mid-day screening to “Guardians.” No more showings of “Gifted,” “The Dinner,” etc until the evening. So whatever the screen count announced by the studio, it was low. Nobody missed this because of sell-outs or inconvenient show times. The excessive running time didn’t hurt it. Much.
The movie made a whopping $51 million Sat. after a $17 million Thursday night and a decent Friday. So it’s not like word-of-mouth is pummeling it. Reviews were positive, if mostly a bit lukewarm in their enthusiasm.
So it is coming in 10% below expectations in the US, a bit more overseas, according to the buzz.
“Norman,” one of two good Richard Gere movies top roll out wide this weekend (“The Dinner” is the other) is riding good reviews to a $1.8 million take. 
Movie Nation 