OPENINGS: ARTHUR THE KING (Lionsgate) was clearly hoping to emulate the sleeper success of 2022’s Dog, which ran a $14.9M opening into $61.8M in the US. However, the Mark Wahlberg vehicle came up very short with a $7.5M start. Production/marketing costs are reportedly $60M, which will make for a tough road to profit. Arthur hasn’t yet opened overseas.
LOVE LIES BLEEDING (A24) expanded to moderately wide release at 1362 theaters and showed little promise at $2.5M. It’s currently US-only.
ONE LIFE (Bleecker Street) launched at 983 theaters with a low $1.7M. However, it’s been in release overseas since late 2023, and has accumulated a more estimable $24.9M.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES (Focus/Universal) was barely breathing with $1.25M in 1147 theaters. No international release thus far.
HOLDOVERS: KUNG FU PANDA 4 (DreamWorks Animation/Universal) held onto the top slot, down 48% to $30M (similar to the 49% Weekend 2 drop for Panda 3), and with a good chance of topping $200M in the US. Overseas, it has $68.8M after a $39.6M weekend in 50 markets, with several major territories still to open.
DUNE: PART TWO (Legendary/Warners) continued to have weekend holds similar to Oppenheimer‘s (although the mid-week numbers are lower due to the Oscar winner’s summer run), down 37% to $29.1M where the 3rd weekend of Oppenheimer was down 38% to $29.1M. Dune 2 will lose a chunk of its Imax screens to the new Ghostbusters next weekend, which will provide a cue as to how long its legs are likely to be, but for now it’s on track for $275M in the US. The international total is $298.4M after a $51.2M weekend in 73 markets.
IMAGINARY (Blumhouse/Lionsgate) had a fair hold for low-budget horror, down 44% to $5.6M (by comparison, the recent Night Swim fell 61% in its 2nd weekend), and might reach $35M in the US. It has $1.7M in limited overseas release.
CABRINI (Angel) tumbled 61% to $2.8M, and may not get much past $20M in the US. It’s had no meaningful international release thus far.
BOB MARLEY: ONE LIFE (Paramount) lost 44% to $2.3M in its 5th weekend, and will need to hold onto its theaters if it’s to touch $100M in the US. Overseas, it has $75.8M after a $2.9M weekend in 51 territories.
ORDINARY ANGELS (Lionsgate) dropped 50% to $1M in its 4th weekend, and might pass $20M in the US. It hasn’t yet ventured overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: SNACK SHACK (Republic) premiered at 437 theaters with a dim $700 weekend per-theater average. PROBLEMISTA (A24) expanded to 63 with a $3700 average
NEXT WEEKEND: As noted, the 40-year-old franchise returns with GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (Columbia/Sony). The weekend’s low-budget horror is IMMACULATE (Neon), notable for the presence of A-list star Sydney Sweeney.
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