OPENINGS: WONKA (Warners) kicked off the holiday movie season with $39M, at the upper end of expectations. As a family entertainment, it can look forward to a high multiple into January, and could reach $200M+ in the US, against around $250M in production/marketing costs. The IP musical is even stronger overseas, where it expanded to 77 territories for a $53.6M weekend and $112.4M to date.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN (Fathom) may perk up with its titular holiday, but it started low at $2.9M ($4.6M since its Tuesday opening).
HOLDOVERS: THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES (Lionsgate) had the 2nd best hold in the Top 10, down 38% to $5.8M in its 5th weekend, on its way to $170M in the US with the holiday boost. The international total is $155.3M after a $6.5M weekend in 84 territories.
THE BOY & THE HERON (GKids) fell 60% to $5.2M, and may still top $45M in the US if it can hold onto its theaters. It has $86.8M overseas, $56.2M of that from Japan.
GODZILLA MINUS ONE (Toho) lost 43% to $4.9M, on track to reach $50M or more in the US. The overseas total is $29.8M, almost all of it from Japan.
TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (DreamWorks Animation/Universal) continued its march to $100M in the US, down 34% to $4M in its 5th weekend. It has $94.5M overseas.
WISH (Disney) dipped 40% to $3.2M in its 4th weekend, and even with a holiday bounce, it may not get to $70M in the US. The international results are a bit better, with $72M after a $12.2M weekend in 39 markets.
NAPOLEON (Apple/Sony) dropped 46% to $2.2M and stayed on pace with Killers Of the Flower Moon to a likely $65M total in the US. It’s stronger overseas, with $131.4M after an $8M weekend in 65 territories, but it will remain deep in red ink.
RENAISSANCE (Variance/AMC Theaters) suffered another plunge, down 64% to $2M in its 3rd weekend and possibly not able to hit $40M in the US. It has $7.6M internationally.
THE SHIFT (Angel) was down 52% to $1M, and may not reach $15M in the US. It hasn’t opened overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: POOR THINGS (Searchlight/Disney) had a solid expansion to 82 theaters with $1.3M, a $15.5K weekend per theater average. That’s almost double the $8700 average Past Lives had when it reached 85 theaters. A pair of awards hopefuls made their debuts with similar results: AMERICAN FICTION (MGM/Amazon) averaging $32.4K at 7, and THE ZONE OF INTEREST (A24) averaging $32K at 4. ANSELM (Janus) widened to 4 with a $4400 average.
NEXT WEEKEND: The market explodes for the holiday rush. On Friday, wide releases include AQUAMAN & THE LOST KINGDOM (DC/Warners), ANYONE BUT YOU (Columbia/Sony), THE IRON CLAW (A24) and MIGRATION (Illumination/Universal), and limited releases include ALL OF US STRANGERS (Searchlight/Disney) and MEMORY (Ketchup). They’re joined on Christmas Day by THE COLOR PURPLE (Warners), FERRARI (Neon) and THE BOYS IN THE BOAT (MGM/Amazon).
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