The winter freeze has brought a slight chill to the domestic box office, as theaters and studios face the consequences of last year's labor strikes and ensuing production delays. Despite the slowdown, there were a few notable performances over the Jan. 19-21 weekend.
Leading the pack for the second week in a row was Paramount's Mean Girls musical, which raked in an estimated $11.7 million from 3,826 theaters, bringing its domestic total to $50 million. However, the Tina Fey-penned musical experienced a steeper drop than anticipated, falling 59 percent.
The only new wide release was Bleecker Street's I.S.S., a thrilling tale of warring astronauts stationed in rival space stations. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and starring Ariana DeBose and Chris Messina, the film debuted in 2,250 locations but managed only $3 million, landing it at No. 7. Despite its lackluster performance at the box office, I.S.S. might find success in the home entertainment market and certain overseas markets. However, it received a mediocre C- CinemaScore from audiences.
Taking the second spot in its sophomore outing was Amazon/MGM's action film The Beekeeper, led by Jason Statham. The movie brought in $8.5 million from 3,330 theaters, pushing its domestic earnings to $31.1 million. Additionally, it earned an additional $14.2 million overseas, resulting in a global total of $75.2 million.
Warner Bros.' Christmas hit Wonka secured the third spot with $6.4 million from 3,316 locations, boosting its domestic total to an impressive $187.2 million. Globally, it has amassed a delightful $344.6 million, resulting in a stellar global box office performance of $531.8 million.
Continuing to hold strong at No. 4 is the sleeper romantic comedy hit Anyone But You, from director Will Gluck and Sony. The film surpassed the $100 million worldwide mark, making it the highest-grossing R-rated comedy since Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016, not adjusted for inflation. Anyone But You is proving that romantic comedies still have a place in theaters, demonstrating that they are more than just content for streaming platforms.
Rounding out the top five is the original animated film Migration from Illumination and Universal, which brought in $5.3 million from 3,094 North American theaters. Its domestic total stands at $94.7 million, while its global earnings reached $191.6 million.
In the specialty box office realm, Neon and Ava DuVernay's film Origin made a significant impact after completing an Oscar-qualifying run in Los Angeles and New York last month. The movie grossed an impressive $875,000 from 125 locations, averaging $7,000 per location. Origin is a loose adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, delving into the story behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist's theory of American racism. Featuring a talented ensemble cast including Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, and Niecy Nash-Betts, the film's ability to resonate with audiences and achieve respectable box office numbers is heartwarming, according to Elissa Federoff, Neon's distribution chief.
In other specialty box office news, Searchlight celebrated a significant milestone as their Oscar hopeful, Poor Things, crossed the $20.4 million mark. This achievement is quite noteworthy for an indie film in today's industry climate. Poor Things, along with Origin and American Fiction, are among the independent films hoping for a box office boost if they receive top Oscar nominations on Tuesday morning.
While the winter freeze may have caused some deceleration at the box office, these standout films have managed to captivate audiences and make their mark. As the industry navigates the challenges of labor disputes and production delays, moviegoers can continue to enjoy a diverse range of films, from musical comedies to thrilling space adventures, all while eagerly anticipating the upcoming award season and the potential recognition these films may receive.
