1. Dog Man
Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Animation | NEW
$36M Domestic Opening Weekend
$40.2M Global Total
DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, adapted from Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel series, debuted with $36 million domestically from 3,885 screens, surpassing expectations and ranking as the second-biggest January animated opening behind Kung Fu Panda 3 ($41.8M). Internationally, the film brought in $4.2 million across 29 markets, bringing its global total to $40.2 million. This performance surpasses Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie ($23.85M), its closest franchise relative. The film’s strong debut helped push the overall box office up by over 26% compared to the same weekend last year when Argylle floundered with $17.4M.
3-Day Breakdown:
- Friday: $10.8M
- Saturday: $15.18M
- Sunday: $10.02M
Critics have been moderately positive, with a 76% Rotten Tomatoes score. Audiences were more enthusiastic, awarding it 86% on RT and an ‘A’ CinemaScore, signaling strong word-of-mouth potential. Younger audiences were the driving force, with 58% under the age of 25 and children under 12 making up the largest segment (41%).
While Dog Man delivered a strong domestic opening, its international debut lagged, signaling caution about its overseas potential. Top foreign markets included Spain ($1.1M), Mexico ($699K), and Italy ($616K). Key upcoming releases include the UK & Ireland (Feb 7), Brazil (Feb 27), Australia (April 3), France (April 9), Germany (April 10), and Korea (April 30). The staggered rollout suggests a measured approach, similar to Captain Underpants, which earned significantly less overseas ($52.5M) than in the U.S. ($73.9M).
2. Companion
Warner Bros. Pictures | NEW
$9.5M Domestic Opening Weekend
$15M Global Total
Warner Bros.’ horror-thriller Companion opened with $9.5M from 3,285 screens, falling in line with expectations. The film performed similarly to other recent horror releases like Heretic ($10.8M) and Abigail ($10.3M). Premium formats contributed 34% of its box office, including $1.6M from IMAX. The film performed best at AMC locations in major markets such as Burbank, New York’s Lincoln Square, and Los Angeles’ The Grove.
3-Day Breakdown:
- Friday: $4.025M (includes $1.7M in previews)
- Saturday: $3.165M
- Sunday: $2.31M
Despite an outstanding 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 91% audience score, Companion struggled to break out. A limited $10M marketing spend may have impacted its reach. The film, which blends horror, sci-fi, and comedy, was a genre mix that attracted 43% of its audience for horror, while 26% cited lead actress Sophie Thatcher as their reason for attending.
Internationally, Companion opened with $5.5M across 60 markets, bringing its global total to $15M. The UK ($919K), France ($664K), and Mexico ($458K) were the top overseas territories. The film’s release is mostly complete, with a few smaller markets like Germany (Feb 6), Brazil (Feb 6), and Korea (March 19) yet to open.
Other Notable Performances
Valiant One (Briarcliff Entertainment) struggled to gain traction, opening with just $725K from 1,275 screens, averaging a weak $569 per screen. The military action thriller, filmed in 2022 and starring Chase Stokes and Lana Condor, failed to generate significant audience interest.
Weekend Takeaways:
- Dog Man had a stellar domestic debut, though its international potential remains uncertain.
- Companion delivered solid horror numbers but didn’t break out despite strong reviews.
- Valiant One flopped, showing little audience interest.
- Overall, the box office saw a 26% year-over-year boost, thanks to Dog Man‘s success.
Stay tuned for the latest box office updates!
