Each week on Atom Insider, we break down the box office numbers for all of the biggest films opening in theaters. September is wrapping up (wow, that was fast), but before we reach the full swing of awards season, DreamWorks Animation would like to have a word.

This Week’s Top Earner – ‘Abominable’

Yes, an animated film in September won the box office, but let’s point out a few grading curves. First, Universal released this film rather…universally: about 4,242 theaters, which is obviously on the high side. Despite such a huge push, the film only grossed $20.8 million domestically, which is the 29th highest opening for a DreamWorks Animation film out of 37. Turbo made more in its debut, to be clear. 

Second, Abominable has a hefty reported budget of $75 million (it’s computer-animated, after all). Compare that to The Secret Life of Pets 2 from earlier this year, which had a similar budget ($80 million) but still managed to more than double the gross of Abominable in its first weekend ($46.6 million). Third, Abominable opened worse than Smallfoot did a year ago ($23 million), which is, of course, another animated movie about a Yeti, and that film only went on to gross about $83.2 million domestically. 

None of this necessarily means audiences will give Abominable the cold shoulder indefinitely. It’s the only major family movie out in theaters right now, and it won’t face any significant competition from other animated movies until perhaps Frozen 2. Until then, DreamWorks and Universal have a massive hill to climb with this one.

Second Place  – ‘Downtown Abbey’

Focus Features knows they have a hit on their hands, because Downtown Abbey gained an additional 311 theaters since last week, which was enough to score #2 at the box office with $14.5 million. That brings it to about $107.8 million worldwide (mostly domestic). Not too shabby for a film with a reported budget estimated between $13 and $20 million.

And Third  – ‘Hustlers’

Hustlers clearly has some staying power with audiences right now, as it climbed back up to #3 to gross $11.4 million domestically. The STX film has grossed $95.4 million worldwide (vast majority domestic) off a reported budget of just $20 million, making it one of the biggest surprise adult drama hits of the year. If Jennifer Lopez doesn’t get Oscar gold this year, it looks like audiences are willing to award her with the real thing several times over.

Rounding Out The Rest Of The Box Office

Judy (Roadside Attractions) only opened in 461 theaters, but it still managed to gross $3 million, landing the Judy Garland biopic at #7 over three films all playing in over 1,500 theaters. Legendary. It edged out Good Boys (Universal) at #8, which has been a mainstay on the Top 10 for what feels like a generation, but Rambo: Last Blood (Lionsgate) brought in $8.5 million to secure itself firmly at #6. 

It: Chapter Two (Warner Bros) kept its #4 spot despite losing over 400 theaters. After a month at the box office, it’s barely made over half the worldwide total of the first It in 2017. At #5 is Ad Astra (Fox), which dropped a vicious three spots in just its second week, with Hustlers and It: Chapter Two sneaking past it, likely due to poor word of mouth from general audiences.

Another film that dropped three spots was The Lion King (Disney), which now sits at #9 in its 11th week. I can’t even matata about those numbers right now, because they’re still good enough to beat Angel has Fallen (Lionsgate) at #10, which is winding down its box office run of about six weeks and counting with $123.9 million worldwide, making it a bigger hit than the second Has Fallen film in the trilogy, but still not as high as the first.

And They’re Out

Just two films fell off the Top 10 to make way for the newcomers. Hobbs & Shaw (Universal) dropped one spot to #11 after nine weeks at the box office, finishing up its joyride to the tune of $755.8 million. That’s a lot of money for a non-superhero film in 2019, but still close to the bottom of the barrel for a Fast and Furious franchise movie.

We saw a sharper decline with Overcomer (Affirm), which dropped four spots to #13 after six weeks at the box office. The faith-based film doesn’t need your thoughts and prayers, though, thanks to a $33.1 million domestic haul against a reported budget of just $5 million.

That’s it for this weekend. Check back with Atom Insider next week as we recap all the newest releases vying for the top of the box office.