OPENINGS: The first weekend of December brought the usual assortment of indies seeking a toehold before the holiday giants arrive, although this year was unusual in being dominated by Thanksgiving blockbusters, which grew the weekend box office total to a new record. The most impressive of the newcomers was the Indian-language PUSHPA: THE RULE – PART 2 (AA), with $4.9M at 1245 theaters ($9.3M since its Wednesday opening). Pushpa 2 was also huge at home, where it reportedly has $70M (plus $10.7M from other markets).
The animated SOLO LEVELING: REAWAKENING (Crunchyroll/Sony) launched with $2.4M at 846 theaters, plus $1.7M overseas.
The closest thing to a mainstream opening was horror-comedy Y2K (A24), which fell flat with $2.1M at 2108 theaters, a $1K weekend per-theater average.
The weekend included two concert movies, although one didn’t quite hit wide release. FOR KING + COUNTRY’S A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS LIVE (Fathom) earned $2.1M at 1540, $2.6M with its Thursday opening.
Universal will be hoping that the $1.1M start for WEREWOLVES (Briarcliff) at 1351 theaters (an $800 average) isn’t a portent for their higher-profile Wolf Man next month.
THE ORDER (Vertical) managed $900K at 603 theaters.
The documentary RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (Variance) brought in $600K at 594 theaters.
Bringing up the rear was THE RETURN (Bleecker Street) with $350K at 629 theaters, a sad $600 average.
HOLDOVERS: MOANA 2 (Disney) dwarfed all the arrivals combined, down 63% from the 3-day Thanksgiving weekend to $52M. It’s going to face direct competition in 2 weeks from Sonic 3 and Mufasa, but should still coast through the holidays to the neighborhood of a $500M US total. The overseas weekend was a massive $103.7M from 52 markets, for a $300M total to date.
WICKED (Universal) dipped 57% to $35M in its 3rd weekend, and should top $400M in the US. However, it continues to be dimmer overseas, with $135M after a $26.9M weekend in 79 territories.
GLADIATOR 2 (Paramount) dropped 60% to $12.5M in its 3rd weekend, on its way to $170M in the US. It has $235.7M internationally after a $17M weekend in 65 markets.
RED ONE (MGM/Amazon) dipped 45% to $7M in its 4th weekend, still stretching toward a $100M US total. Overseas was less active, with $78.2M after a $3.5M weekend in 75 territories.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (Lionsgate) lost 53% to $1.5M in its 5th weekend, and may reach $40M in the US. It’s had little exposure overseas.
LIMITED RELEASE: The IMAX-only re-release of Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR (Warners/Paramount) was strong with $4.4M in just 165 theaters. The concert movie LAUFEY’S A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY: HOLLYWOOD BOWL (Trafalgar) is claiming an $850K weekend in 402 theaters, but that studio estimate includes a gigantic Sunday bump (triple its Saturday number), which would only make sense if they have huge pre-sales on hand. FLOW (Janus/Sideshow) expanded to 375 theaters with a $1400 weekend per-theater average. QUEER (A24) widened to 47 theaters with an $8600 average. STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF KITTIES (Blue Fox) averaged $700 at 285. GET AWAY (IFC) had a terrible $200 average at 474. Paul Schrader’s OH, CANADA (Kino Lorber) launched with an $11.1K average at 3. THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (Neon) expanded to 5 with a $5100 average. THE END (Neon) averaged $7600 at 3. THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE (MUBI) averaged $5700 at 2.
NEXT WEEKEND: Big-studio releases return with a pair of franchise off-shoots: KRAVEN THE HUNTER (Marvel/Columbia/Sony) and the animated LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (Warners), while limited releases include SEPTEMBER 5 (Paramount) and NICKEL BOYS (MGM/Amazon).
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