I’m just prepping you for this, but it’s going to be a pretty boring MLK weekend at the box office, unless Sony’s R-rated female comedy One of these days surprises.
Post-Covid, the weekend’s #1 movie MLK was able to gross over $33 million over four days; this is either for an opening title or a vestige.
This weekend, Universal/Blumhouse’s Wolfman, despite its low cost of $25 million before P&A, should only bring in 20 million dollars over 4 days; No M3GAN. Yesterday, during previews which began at 2 p.m., the horror film directed, written and rated R by Leigh Whannell made $1.4 millionwhich is a little more than what Lionsgate Den of thieves ($1.35M) did so last Thursday, and it’s a bit lighter than the filmmaker’s pre-Covid film The invisible man which grossed $1.65 million in previews before opening to $28.2 million. The wolfman, which stars Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott, is booked in 3,354 theaters. Rotten Tomatoes’ 55% reviews and 67% audience score are lower than Invisible Man’s 91% certified new reviews and 88% audience score.
One of these days
Sony
Sony’s SZA and Keke Palmer comedy, One of these days, has excellent reviews of 96% and audience reactions of 94%. The upside is that it’s the first R-rated black female comedy since 2017. Girls trip. But why shouldn’t it open higher? The 3 days are projected at $7 million to $9 millionwith the four days aiming to two digits. Pic follows best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) who are about to experience “One of Them Days.” When they discover that Alyssa’s boyfriend has been spending their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a comical race against time to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact. Last night’s previews, which began at 2 p.m., $1.3 million on 2,402 sites. By comparison, Girls trip made $1.7 million in previews ahead of an $11.7 million opening Friday, making $31 million. Before its opening, Girls trip expected to be in the low to mid range of over $20 million. One of these days is produced by Girls trip producer, James Lopez.
The Quorum monitoring service said this morning in its note: “Wolfman And One of these days arrive in rooms from opposite directions. Wolfman has high awareness, high interest, and a solid unaided 6% (the same as Nosferatu the day of its release). The downside is that reviews on Wolfman were lukewarm. One of these days has lower awareness and interest and has not yet reached 1% spontaneous awareness, but it is receiving rave reviews. What does that mean? To wait for Wolfman to have a bigger opening, but if word of mouth is low it might open at the lower end of the showings. Conversely, if One of these days If word of mouth is good, it could surprise on the upside.
Gerard Butler in “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”
eOne Films
Lionsgate’s Tucker Tooley co-funded Den of Thieves 2: Pantera looking to mitigate -45% to -50% on weekend 2 with $7.5 million to $8.3 million over the 3 days. The first film of 2018 saw a 43% drop in its second weekend. First week of Den of thieves was $20.1 million while Part 2 here brought in revenue $19.5 million in its first week. Den of thieves ended its run at $44.9 million.
Previous article #1 Covid Headlines From MLK Weekend Include Avatar the Way of Water ($39.8 million, 2023), Shout ($33.8 million, 2022), and that of last year mean girls ($33.6 million).
The top 5 of the week are as follows:
1.) Den of Thieves 2 (LG) 3,008 theaters game $843,000 (-14% compared to Wednesday), week $19.5 million/Week 1
2.) Moufasa (Dis) 3,620 theaters, game $866,000 (-11%), week. $18.7 million, $194.2 million/Week 4
3.) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (By) 3,582 theaters, Thursday $589,000 (-11%), week $14.3 millionTotal $207.9 million/Week 4
4.) Nosferatu (Foc) 3,082 theaters, Thu. $659,000 (-15%), week 10 million dollars/Total $85.2 millionweek 3
5.) Moana 2 (Dis) 3,170 rooms, game $378,000 (-6%), week $8.3 millionTotal $436.7 million/Week 7
