We told you it was going to be slow Sunday, and indeed it was with Warner Bros’ Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Wonka being the two highest-grossing movies of the day with $5M and $4.55M, respectively. Warners believes it can still get the James Wan-directed DC movie to $40M in 4-days after a projected $12.3M today, +146% from Christmas Eve. 3-day came in at $27.7M. Wonka‘s second weekend is $18M, -54% for what’s shaping up to be a 4-day of $28M.
Jumping into the fray yesterday were two adult-demo movies which are opening today: Amazon MGM’s George Clooney directed, The Boys in the Boat with $1.74M in previews and NEON’s U.S. pick-up of STX’s Ferrari with $656K which cost overall $96M, funded by foreign sales and equity partners. Both pic’s tickets sales from yesterday will be rolled into today’s.
The Boys in the Boat‘s is better with audiences at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes than critics at 56%. That preview figure includes early access screenings, and it’s a stronger start than Christmas 2021’s flyover state family drama, American Dog which did $1.5M in all-in previews. It’s also higher than 80 for Brady‘s $1.27M previews. The movie is crushing in Seattle, which is no surprise given that the 1930s story follows the University of Washington’s rowing team who go on to win the gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Boys in the Boat‘s saw 13 of its top 35 grosses come from Seattle. Also good business in NYC, LA, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, DC, Minnesota, Phoenix, Sacramento and Portland.
Ferrari‘s previews include $431K from yesterday plus another $225K in early access screenings. Not really the comp here since it had a big budget studio spend and didn’t preview on Christmas Eve, but many will want to know due to the auto brand names: 20th Century Fox’s Ford v. Ferrari did $2.1M in previews before an $11M opening day.
One rival studio publicist snarked yesterday to me: “Why don’t you ding Migration for being the lowest opening for an Illumination movie?” First, thanks for the box office trivia: They’re right at $12.4M, it’s certainly lower than Sing 2′s 3-day of $22.3M. However, it’s a kids movie that has the Christmas leg-out factor on its side and it has the same CinemaScore as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish‘s last year –an A– which bowed to $12.4M and a four-day of $18.5M. At this time of year, I wouldn’t bet against an animated film just yet. Parents need a place to take sugar-rush kids. Furthermore, it’s not just Migration which is low but Aquaman 2 is one of the lowest starts for a DC movie; lower than Shazam: Fury of the Gods ($30.1M). However, don’t call the Jason Momoa fish-man film a bottom-dweller for the comic book studio: Those go to 2010’s The Losers ($9.4M) and the Josh Brolin western, Jonah Hex ($5.3M). Also, point fingers at the products that aren’t creating a boats all-raise scenario and complain that Christmas is on a Monday as the 4-day box office for all titles is looking like $132.1M, -7% from the four-day today a year ago.
1.) Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (WB) 3,706 theaters, Fri $13.7M, Sat $9M, Sun $5M 3-day $27.7M, 4-day $40M/Wk 1
2.) Wonka (WB) 4,213 (+10) theaters, Fri $6.5M (-55%) Sat $7M Sun $4.55M, 3-day $18M (-54%), 4-day $28M/Total $85.5M/Wk 2
3.) Migration (Ill/Uni) 3,761 theaters, Fri 3-day $5.8M, Sat $4.1M Sun $2.55M 3-day $12.4M, 4-day $17.5M, Wk 1
4.) Anyone But You (Sony) 3,055 theaters, Fri $3.4M, Sat. $1.77M Sun $755K 3-day $5.9M, 4-day $8M, Wk 1
5.) Salaar Part 1 Ceasefire (Prath) 796 theaters Fri $3.8M, Sat $1M Sun $857K 3-day $5.66M 4-day $6.9M/Wk 1
6.) Iron Claw (A24) 2,771 theaters, Fri $2.5M, Sat $1.55M Sun $814K 3-day $4.86M, 4-day $6.5M/Wk 1
7.) Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes (LG) 2,509 (-782) theaters, Fri $1.2M (-29%) Sat $1.2M Sun $628K 3-day $3.04M (-48%), 4-day $4M total $153.3M/Wk 6
8.) Dunki (Yash Raj) 686 theaters, Fri $903K Sat $973K Sun $824K 3-day $2.7M 4-day $4M/Total $4.9M/Wk 1
9.) Boy and the Heron (GKIDs) 1,580 (-745) theaters, Fri $977K Sat $1.1M Sun $1.05M 3-day $3.15M (-42%),4-day $3.8M Total $31.2M/Wk 3
10.) Godzilla Minus One (Toho) 1,985 (-637) theaters, Fri $950K (-29%) Sat $1.1M Sun $650K 3day $2.74M (-46%), 4-day $3.24M Total $40.8M/Wk 4
11) Poor Things (SEA) 800 (+718) theaters Fri $1M (+104%) Sat $688K Sun $406K 3-day $2.09M (+63%), 4-day $3M Total $5.9M/Wk 3