Heading into the extended Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Universal’s “Wolf Man” was expected to dominate domestic box office charts. However, Sony’s R-rated buddy comedy “One of Them Days,” starring Keke Palmer and SZA, flipped the script with a surprise performance.
“One of Them Days” debuted at No. 2 with $11.6 million from 2,675 North American theaters over the traditional weekend and an estimated $14 million through Monday. With a lean $14 million production budget and strong reviews, the film is shaping up as a commercial win for Sony. Meanwhile, “Wolf Man” underperformed, opening in third place with $10.5 million from 3,354 theaters over the weekend and an estimated $12 million through Monday. The $25 million production faced lukewarm reception, with a “C-” CinemaScore and 53% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite the buzz around newcomers, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” reclaimed the No. 1 spot with $11.9 million over the weekend and $15.5 million through Monday. Now in its fifth weekend, the family-friendly film has grossed $209.8 million domestically and $588.4 million globally.
Word of Mouth Boosts “One of Them Days”
“One of Them Days,” directed by Lawrence Lamont and produced by Issa Rae, follows two roommates racing to avoid eviction after one of their boyfriend’s steals their rent money. Audiences gave it a promising “A-” CinemaScore and 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting strong word-of-mouth could drive long-term success. Sony’s strategy of creating low-cost theatrical comedies continues to pay off, with box office analyst David A. Gross noting, “The three-day figure is double the genre average. At $14 million, this film is set to be highly profitable.”
“Wolf Man” Fails to Bite
Universal’s latest horror reboot “Wolf Man” struggled to find its footing domestically and abroad, earning $4.83 million internationally for a global total of $15.3 million. Directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Christopher Abbot, the remake aimed to capitalize on the success of Whannell’s 2020 hit “The Invisible Man.” However, tepid reviews and audience dissatisfaction dampened the movie’s reception. While not disastrous, the results reflect ongoing challenges for Universal’s standalone monster reboots following the misfire of 2023’s “Renfield.”
Other Box Office Highlights
Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” landed in fourth place, earning $8.6 million over the weekend and $11 million through Monday. The family-friendly sequel has now grossed $218 million domestically and $420 million globally, outpacing its predecessors.
Lionsgate’s action-thriller “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” rounded out the top five with $6.6 million over the weekend and $7.75 million through Monday. Despite a $40 million budget, the sequel’s $27.3 million domestic total after two weekends leaves room for improvement compared to the original’s $80 million haul.
Paramount’s “Better Man,” a biopic featuring a CGI monkey as Robbie Williams, continues its spectacular implosion. Following a disastrous $1 million debut, it plummeted 76%, earning just $255,000 over the weekend for a $1.8 million domestic total. The $110 million production is shaping up to be one of the biggest flops in box office history.
Milestones and Future Prospects
Disney’s “Moana 2” crossed $1 billion globally after eight weekends, joining “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” in Disney’s 2024 billion-dollar club. With $445 million domestic and $567 million international earnings, the animated sequel reaffirms Disney’s dominance in family entertainment.
Meanwhile, audiences can look forward to James Wan’s upcoming “Creature From the Black Lagoon” as Universal’s next attempt to rejuvenate its monster catalog. Whether it will succeed remains to be seen, but the mixed fortunes of “Wolf Man” suggest the studio has yet to perfect its standalone formula.
