Even though 13 Hours carefully avoids any mention of Obama or Hillary Clinton, the media has decided to go after it anyway. So we have a bunch of stories about how 13 Hours "flopped". Some of these stories blame Republicans for "politicizing" the movie.
13 Hours opened 4th with around $20 million. Those aren't spectacular numbers, but they're pretty good numbers for a movie with no major stars, a low budget, a controversial topic and one most people are not familiar with. The film's budget was $50 million and 13 Hours is the kind of film likely to spread out its earnings over a longer period.
The key number is per theater average. 13 Hours had a respectable $6,789 per theater average. Again not spectacular, but a good solid take. It's around what the new Star Wars is making now.
Meanwhile lefty movies like The Big Short, which opened much lower, don't get declared flops. The Big Short's wide release was $10 million. And let's not even talk about how much money The Truth made.
The claims that 13 Hours flopped are based on comparisons with American Sniper, which was a unique movie. 13 Hours was never going to do those same numbers. It's also unlikely to lose money. It's not going to be a huge hit, but it's likely to be a respectable entry. Next weekend will show one way or another whether it's attracting an audience that will trickle in over time or whether it'll drop hard and fast.