“In a surprising turn of events, the buddy comedy ‘One of Them Days’ starring Keke Palmer and SZA surpassed the Disney live-action prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ at the box office over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Produced by Issa Rae and written by Syreeta Singleton, the Sony Pictures film opened to $11.6 million and is projected to reach $14 million by the end of the four-day weekend. Barry Jenkins’ venture into studio franchise filmmaking followed closely behind with $11.5 million, expecting to hit $12 million for the holiday weekend.
While the success of an original buddy comedy led by and created by Black women is cause for celebration, the overall box office landscape this weekend appears bleak. The MLK weekend typically marks the beginning of the movie season, with projected earnings around $150 million, but this year’s total is estimated at only $77 million.
Even the highly anticipated ‘Wolf Man,’ the latest reimagination of a classic monster from Blumhouse and Universal following ‘Invisible Man,’ failed to attract a significant weekend audience, landing in third place with $10.5 million, a stark difference from the premiere earnings of ‘Invisible Man.’
Meanwhile, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ retained its position in the top 5 after five weeks in theaters, earning $8.6 million for a total domestic gross of $216.5 million. ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ rounded out the top 5 with $6.6 million for a cumulative gross of $26 million.
The global and international box office reports for the weekend told a different tale, with ‘Mufasa’ and ‘Sonic’ dominating the charts. ‘Mufasa’ maintained a significant lead with $20.3 million internationally and $31.8 million globally, while ‘Sonic’ earned $15.2 million internationally and $23.8 million globally, with cumulative totals of $203.5 million internationally and $420 million globally.
‘One of Them Days’ held its ground internationally but fell short of the top 5, grossing $11.6 million, an impressive feat considering it only played in one territory. The film narrowly missed the top spots, edged out by competitors like ‘Nosferatu’ which screened in 66 different markets.”
In the latest box office report, the movie industry is buzzing with excitement as the numbers roll in. Wolf Man at No. 3 has clawed its way to success, raking in $4.8 million internationally and a total of $15.4 million worldwide. Following closely behind is the highly anticipated Moana 2, making a splash with $8 million in international sales and a global total of $14 million. Not to be overshadowed, Nosferatu has sunk its teeth into the market, pulling in $7.6 million internationally and $12 million globally.
However, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the moment is Moana 2, flexing its muscles with an impressive $567 million at the international box office. Surpassing all expectations, the sequel to Disney’s Polynesian adventure has crossed the coveted billion-dollar mark, boasting a staggering $1.01 billion in global earnings.
Delving deeper into the weekend’s movie premieres reveals some intriguing tales from the global and international box offices outside the top 10. Paddington in Peru, set to open in the US on Valentine’s Day, has already charmed audiences, earning $6.2 million in 34 markets, including 23 new territories. With a current international box office total of $72.8 million, Paddington’s success surpasses even that of its predecessor, Paddington 2.
A Complete Unknown has emerged as a surprise contender, debuting at No. 11 in the UK and amassing a global cumulative total of $60.5 million, a remarkable feat for a musical biopic. Meanwhile, Sean Baker’s Anora, a Cannes favorite and Oscar hopeful, made its mark in Latin America, pulling in $0.6 million over the weekend and reaching a cumulative total of $11.1 million. Despite its modest numbers, Anora outshines comparable indie films like Licorice Pizza, The Square, and even Baker’s own The Florida Project.
Looking ahead, the box office landscape shows no sign of yielding its throne to anyone but the reigning champions, Mufasa and Sonic 3. Yet, smaller releases like One of Them Days face a daunting challenge with upcoming titles like Steven Soderbergh’s innovative haunted house POV film, Presence, the adrenaline-pumping espionage thriller Inheritance, and the star-studded Flight Risk starring Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg.
As the movie industry continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide, these box office figures offer a glimpse into the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of cinematic success. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments in the world of entertainment.
This insightful analysis of the latest box office trends showcases the diverse array of films captivating audiences and dominating the global and international markets. With each movie making its mark in its own unique way, the box office battlefield is a thrilling arena where success is measured not just in dollars but in the hearts and minds of moviegoers around the world.
