OPENINGS: The first “major” release of 2025, DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA (Lionsgate) hit its target with a $15.5M launch, almost exactly the same as the $15.2M start for 2018’s Den of Thieves. That one reached $44.9M in the US and $80.5M worldwide (Pantera hasn’t yet opened internationally), and the economics this time should be similar, although Pantera reportedly cost 50% more than its predecessor at $45M.
The Indian-language GAME CHANGER (Shloka) was massively frontloaded, with $1.5M of its $2.1M weekend total earned on Friday.
THE LAST SHOWGIRL (Roadside) had its official opening after a brief awards-qualifying run last year, and was quiet with $1.5M at 870 theaters, a $1700 weekend per-theater average. Its fate will depend almost entirely on how Pamela Anderson fares with the Oscars.
BETTER MAN (Paramount) had been falling flat in limited release, and an expansion to 1291 theaters was downright ugly, with $1.1M translating into an $800 average.
HOLDOVERS: MUFASA: THE LION KING (Disney) dropped 44% to $13.2M in its 4th weekend, headed for $225M in the US. The international total is $350.9M after a $27.9M weekend.
Mufasa is catching up to SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (Sega/Paramount) in the US, while being well ahead overseas. Sonic lost 49% to $11M in its 4th weekend, on its way to $230M. Internationally, it has $180.3M after a $20.3M weekend in 62 markets.
NOSFERATU (Focus/Universal) continued to impress, down 48% to $6.8M in its 3rd weekend and with $100M seemingly within its grasp. It also has $54M overseas after a $13.7M weekend in 63 territories.
MOANA 2 (Disney) dipped 48% to $6.5M in its 7th weekend, and should pass $450M in the US. It has $554.9M overseas after an $11.1M weekend. It’s about $10M away from crossing the $1B line worldwide.
WICKED (Universal, also on VOD) fell 50% to $5M, and may have enough steam to reach $475M in the US. (The studio also announced that it earned $70M in its first week on VOD–and they keep 80% of that revenue, versus 50% of theatrical box office.) The smaller international total is $238.7M after a $5.6M weekend in 81 markets.
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (Searchlight/Disney) slipped 39% to $5M in its 3rd weekend, and since it’s in the thick of the awards campaign, it could hit $75M before it’s done. It hasn’t yet opened outside the US.
Remarkably, BABYGIRL (A24) had the best hold in the Top 10, down 31% to $3.1M, en route to $30M in the US with potential upside if Nicole Kidman gets an Oscar nomination. It has $2.9M in early international release.
GLADIATOR 2 (Paramount) plunged 54% to $1.2M, and may get to $175M in the US. The overseas total is $284.4M.
HOMEFRONT (Angel) was down 46% to $1.1M, and may stretch to $20M in the US. It hasn’t opened overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: HARD TRUTHS (Bleecker Street) opened at 22 theaters with a mild $7500 weekend per theater average. The 3.5-hour THE BRUTALIST (A24) had its first significant expansion to 68 theaters and held up quite well with a $20.4K average. FLOW (Janus) widened to 247 with a $1200 average. THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (Sony Classics) expanded to 44 with a $5800 average. NICKEL BOYS (MGM/Orion/Amazon) averaged $4300 at 26. SEPTEMBER 5 (Paramount) averaged $3K at 20. ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (Janus/Sideshow) had a $1K average at 51. VERMIGLIO (Janus/Sideshow) widened to 19 with a $1600 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: WOLF MAN (Blumhouse/Universal) and ONE OF THEM DAYS (Columbia/Sony) are the wide openings, while I’M STILL HERE (Sony Classics) enters limited release.
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