OPENINGS: THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (Lionsgate) is claiming “victory” among the newcomers, but its reported $11.1M comes with a huge asterisk, as $2.1M of that total was from a preview day the previous week. Strictly on a weekend vs weekend basis, it wasn’t close to the win. It’s also estimating the smallest Sunday drop by far in the Top 10, although since it’s designed for the Christian audience, that may hold in finals.
The actual winner of the weekend was the antithesis of Best Christmas Pageant, HERETIC (A24) at $11M. That’s in keeping with the year’s other non-franchise horror movies like Speak No Evil ($11.4M), Night Swim ($11.8M) and Imaginary ($9.2M). It also has $2.6M in early international release.
ANORA (Neon) expanded to wide release at 1104 theaters with $2.5M, a $2200 weekend per-theater average. That’s similar to the $2600 average Poor Things had when it widened to 800. The film also has $5M overseas after a $1.6M weekend in 26 markets.
ELEVATION (Vertical) launched at 1416 theaters with $1.2M, a blah $850 average.
OVERLORD: THE SACRED KINGDOM (Crunchyroll/Sony) started with $1.2M at 621, averaging $1900. It also has $5.7M overseas.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (Roadside) opened at 799 with $600K, a $700 average.
In advance of next week’s US arrival, RED ONE (Warners/MGM/Amazon) premiered in 75 international markets with a quiet $26.6M.
HOLDOVERS: As was the case last week, the shortage of meaningful new content was great news for the films already in the market That was especially true for VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (Marvel/Columbia/Sony), which topped the box office for the 3rd consecutive weekend, down 37% to $16.2M. At this rate, it could break $150M in the US, although that would still be below the $213M for its predecessors. The international total is $279.4M ($82.8M of that from China) after a $33M weekend in 66 territories.
THE WILD ROBOT (DreamWorks Animation/Universal, also on VOD) dipped 11% to $6.7M in its 7th weekend, and should hit $150M in the US, although major competition will begin arriving next week It also has $161.6M overseas after a $9M weekend in 80 markets.
SMILE 2 (Paramount) dropped 26% to $5M in its 4th weekend, and may reach $75M in the US, which would be down about 30% from the original. Its international result is similar, with $63.1M after a $3.7M weekend in 62 territories.
CONCLAVE (Focus/Universal) is doing strong business for an adult-oriented drama, down 19% to $4.1M in its 3rd weekend (boosted a bit by a 27% increase in its theater count), and on track for $35M in the US. The overseas release has been negligible thus far.
HERE (Miramax/TriStar/Sony) fell 50% to $2.4M, and may not reach $20M in the US. It’s barely opened internationally.
WE LIVE IN TIME (A24) was down 36% to $2.2M in its 5th weekend, and should pass $25M in the US. The early overseas total is $2.6M.
TERRIFIER 3 (Cineverse) dropped 54% to $1.5M, on its way past $55M in the US. It also has $24.6M internationally.
LIMITED RELEASE: A REAL PAIN (Searchlight/Disney) expanded to 12 theaters, with a solid $23.5K per-theater average. MEMOIR OF A SNAIL (IFC) jumped to near-wide release at 467, but averaged only $400. CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT (IFC) opened at 405 with a terrible $200 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: As noted, Red One is the big-budget arrival. Limited releases include BIRD (MUBI) and ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (Sideshow).
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