Lights, camera, action! The box office was buzzing with excitement over the weekend before Christmas Monday as 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' dived into theaters and made a splash. The highly anticipated DC and Warner Bros. superhero sequel, starring the mighty Jason Momoa, raked in an estimated $28.1 million in its first three days of release across 3,706 locations in North America. Talk about a superhero-sized start!
Sure, there were other movies vying for attention, like the family-friendly animated film 'Migration,' the R-rated romantic comedy 'Anyone But You,' the heart-wrenching wrestling tragedy 'The Iron Claw,' and the haunting tearjerker 'All of Us Strangers.' But let's face it, the pre-holiday weekend at the box office was a bit quieter than usual. Perhaps, moviegoers had a million other things on their Christmas to-do lists. Who can blame them?
Hollywood and theaters aren't usually thrilled when Christmas Eve falls on a prime weekend day. The last time Christmas collided with a Monday was in 2017, and the force of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' dominated the box office with a staggering $71.5 million during its second weekend. But fear not, cinephiles! On Christmas Day, as people gather to unwrap gifts and feast on holiday treats, they'll have more new films to enjoy. From the big-budget musical adaptation of 'The Color Purple' to Michael Mann's thrilling racing film 'Ferrari' and George Clooney's take on the rowing drama 'The Boys in the Boat,' there's something for everyone. These films, along with others, are poised to continue drawing audiences through the New Year, when movie theaters traditionally rake in big bucks.
However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. As impressive as these upcoming releases may be, they'll have a tough time competing with past holiday blockbusters like 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' 'Avatar,' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' Social media users were quick to point out that this fateful weekend was originally reserved for the release of Patty Jenkins' 'Rogue Squadron,' a highly anticipated Star Wars extravaganza.
Now, let's talk about the king of the sea, Aquaman himself. 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' carries a hefty price tag of around $200 million, not including marketing and promotion costs. It's a worthy investment, considering the first film opened with $67.8 million in 2018 and went on to conquer the waves, amassing nearly $1.2 billion worldwide. Talk about making a splash at the box office!
This opening marks the end of a tricky, transitional year for DC superhero films, which experienced some box office pitfalls with movies like 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' 'The Flash,' and 'Blue Beetle.' The studio is now ushering in a new era with James Gunn's vision for the future. 'Aquaman 2' serves as the final 'holdover' from the previous administration, bidding farewell as DC steps into a new chapter.
Speaking of DC, Warner Bros. isn't just basking in Aquaman's success. They also claimed the second spot at the box office with 'Wonka.' In its second weekend, the film earned an estimated $17.7 million, reaching a total of $83.6 million domestically. With a major Christmas opening, 'The Color Purple,' also under its belt, Warner Bros. is flexing its box office muscle this holiday season. By Monday, if all goes as projected, the studio will likely have three films in the top five. Talk about a holiday feast for movie lovers!
But let's not forget the other contenders. Illumination and Universal's family-friendly animated adventure 'Migration,' featuring the voices of Kumail Najiani, Elizabeth Banks, and Awkwafina, flew into third place. The film, following a loveable family of mallards traveling South, earned an estimated $12.3 million in North America over the weekend. By the end of Monday, it is expected to soar to $17.1 million. And with kids on winter break, this film has the potential to spread its wings and fly even higher. Universal's head of domestic distribution, Jim Orr, was thrilled with the audience reactions and expects a fantastic run throughout the holidays and into the next year.
Now, let's dive into some cinematic variety. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney's romantic comedy, 'Anyone But You,' wooed female audiences and landed in a respectable fourth place, earning an estimated $6.2 million over its first three days and close to $9 million including Monday. Directed by Will Gluck, the film loosely takes inspiration from 'Much Ado About Nothing.' Critics had differing opinions, with some raising objections while others celebrated the return of a beloved genre that often finds refuge on streaming platforms. Audiences, on the other hand, couldn't resist giving it a B+ CinemaScore.
A24's 'The Iron Claw' stepped into the ring, featuring the tragic story of the Von Erich wrestling family. Zac Efron's transformative lead performance garnered plenty of praise, helping the film land an A- CinemaScore, which is the highest ever for the studio. The film, released on 2,774 screens, earned an estimated $5.1 million over the three-day weekend and is projected to reach $7.5 million by Monday's end. Meanwhile, A24 also had Jonathan Glazer's 'The Zone of Interest,' which accumulated $89,931 from six screens over the weekend. A promising start indeed!
Lastly, let's take a quick look at Searchlight Pictures' 'All of Us Strangers,' starring the talented Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Opening in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles, the film boasted an impressive per-theater average of $33,034. Yorgos Lanthimos' gothic black comedy, 'Poor Things,' expanded its presence to 800 theaters, raking in $2.1 million in the process.
Well, there you have it, folks! The box office landscape is ever-changing, and this pre-Christmas weekend was no exception. As we usher in the holiday season, let's remember to catch a film or two, embrace the magic of cinema, and immerse ourselves in the wonder of storytelling. Lights out, movie lovers!
