A chill has spread across the domestic box office as a result of last year’s labor strikes and consequent production delays. Despite these setbacks, a selection of films from an array of genres still hold positions on the top 10 list. The paramount’s ‘Mean Girls’ musical clings to the first place in its second week, with the thriller ‘I.S.S debuting to mixed results, while Amazon/MGM’s ‘The Beekeeper’ maintains a firm hold at number two for its second week.
‘Mean Girls’ Musical Retains Lead Despite Drop
In its second week, Paramount’s Mean Girls musical maintained its first place at the box office, despite a steep drop. The Tina Fey-penned musical pulled in an estimated $11.7 million from 3,826 locations over the Jan. 19-21 weekend, for a domestic total of $50 million. However, this represented a 59 percent drop which was a greater fall than anticipated by the filmmakers.
‘I.S.S.’ Thriller Struggles in Debut
Bleecker Street’s new wide release, I.S.S, a thriller set in space, had a less than stellar debut. The film racked up just $3 million in domestic ticket sales over the weekend, securing the seventh spot in the box office rankings. Despite this disappointing start, there is potential for the movie to find a second life in the home entertainment market.
‘The Beekeeper’ Continues Strong Performance
Amazon/MGM’s Jason Statham-led feature The Beekeeper continue to generate buzz in its second week, securing the second spot with $8.5 million from 3,330 theaters. This brings its domestic tally to $31.1 million, with foreign markets contributing an additional $14.2 million to reach a global figure of $75.2 million.
Strong Finishes for ‘Wonka’ and ‘Anyone But You’
Warner Bros.’ Christmas hit Wonka remains in the third position, pulling in $6.4 million domestically. Its domestic tally now stands at an astounding $187.2 million. Globally, the film has earned a sweet $344.6 million. Meanwhile, the Sony-produced rom-com hit Anyone But You remains at number four. So far, it has surpassed the $100 million mark worldwide. It is now the highest-grossing R-rated comedy since 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby, proving that romantic comedies are still a viable box office draw.
‘Migration’ Climbs to Fifth Spot
Migration by Illumination and Universal, an original animated film, filled the fifth spot with $5.3 million from 3,094 North American theaters. The film now boasts a domestic total of $94.7 million and $191.6 million globally.
Underdogs Show Promise at Specialty Box Office
At the specialty box office, Neon’s Origin has made a promising start, grossing $875,000 from 125 locations, while Searchlight’s Oscar hopeful Poor Things has crossed the $20.4 million mark.
Wrapping Up
Despite facing setbacks from last year’s labor strikes and production delays, the domestic box office has seen a variety of films perform above expectations. As the winter freeze sets in, it will be interesting to see how these films continue to perform. Keep yourself updated with the latest news, in-depth movie reviews and comprehensive previews at HitPlay.
