Mufasa: The Lion King continues to roar at the box office, where it is in a tight race with One of these days – the first black comedy directed by a woman since 2017 Girls trip – for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday wreath. Wolfman gets scammed.
The bad news overall: This appears to be one of the slowest MLK weekends in years, as Hollywood and movie theaters face another production slowdown for the time being.
Most are betting on Disney Moufasa to ultimately prevail and win the long holiday weekend with $14.7 million or more as it celebrates becoming only the second film in 15 years to earn over $200 million domestically despite opening for less than $40 million. (Now in its fifth weekend, the film is expected to close Monday with $210 million or more in domestic ticket sales.) The studio will also toast the animated Thanksgiving blockbuster. Moana 2 as it joins the billion club this weekend to become only the third film released in 2024 to earn over $1 billion, behind other Disney releases Inside Out 2 And Deadpool and Wolverine.
Sony and Tri-Star insiders also predict that One of these days will post a four-day holiday opening in the $14-15 million range, ahead of expectations after earning strong reviews and exit polls, as well as an A-CinemaScore. It’s also successful in reaching its target audience, with black moviegoers making up 46% of Friday ticket buyers.
One of these days is from acclaimed producer Issa Rae and stars Keke Palmer and SZA in her feature-length acting debut. About two friends who have a terrible day, the picture was directed by filmmaker Lawrence Lamont in his feature directorial debut.
From Blumhouse and Universal, Wolfman It seems to come in third position with 12 million dollars, notably below the 20 million expected. The film received poor reviews and even worse audience polls, as well as a C-CinemaScore.
The latest attempt at a Hollywood reboot Wolfman certainly doesn’t lack pedigree, between Blumhouse and writer-director Leigh Whannell, the duo behind 2020’s The invisible manwhich surprised by earning over $144 million worldwide.
Wolfman stars Christopher Abbott as a San Francisco man who takes his wife (Julia Garner) and children to his isolated childhood home, only to transform into something unrecognizable as the family battles a creature terrifying inside and out.
Paramount’s hit family film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is expected to place fourth in its fifth weekend with $10 million – the film is holding free screenings in fire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles on Monday – followed by Den of Thieves 2: Pantera in fifth place with $9-10 million in its second weekend and Moana 2 in sixth place.
Full figures will be updated on Sunday morning.
