Mufasa: ‘The Lion King’ continues to roar at the box office as ‘The Wolfman’ takes Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday crown and becomes the first female-led movie since 2017’s ‘Girls Trip’ It is competing closely with the black comedy “One of Them Days.” Gouged out.
Bad news overall. It’s shaping up to be one of the slowest MLK weekends in years, as Hollywood and theaters face another box office slump for the foreseeable future.
Most people are betting that Disney’s Mufasa will ultimately win, taking home a blockbuster haul of more than $14.7 million. The film is celebrating becoming the second film in 15 years to gross more than $200 million domestically despite opening with less than $40 million. (Currently in its fifth weekend, the film is expected to close Monday with more than $210 million in domestic ticket sales.) The studio also joins the Billion Club this weekend, making its only Billion We’re planning to toast Moana 2, the anime Thanksgiving blockbuster that will be joining the club. It is the third film to be released in 2024, and has earned more than $1 billion at the box office, second only to fellow Disney films “Inside Head 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Sony and TriStar officials similarly expect One of Them Days’ four-day holiday opening to open in the $14 million to $15 million range, with an A-CinemaScore and high ratings. It exceeded expectations after winning exit polls. Black movie fans accounted for 46% of Friday ticket buyers, making it successful in reaching its target audience.
One of Them Days is from acclaimed producer Issa Rae and stars Keiki Palmer and SZA in their feature film acting debuts. The picture, about two friends going through a rough day, was directed by Lawrence Lamont in his feature directorial debut.
From Blumhouse and Universal, “The Wolfman” is expected to come in third place with $12 million, well below expectations of $20 million. The film received so-so reviews and even worse audience votes, with a C-CinemaScore.
Hollywood’s latest attempt to reboot The Wolf Man comes from Blumhouse, the makers of 2020’s The Invisible Man, which was a phenomenal hit, grossing over $144 million worldwide, and the writer/director. It’s not like they lack the pedigree of the Leigh Whannell duo.
The Wolfman stars Christopher Abbott as a San Francisco man who takes his wife (Julia Garner) and children to his remote childhood home, where the family battles terrifying creatures both inside and outside. Inside, he finds himself transformed into something he doesn’t recognize.
Paramount’s blockbuster family film “Sonic the Hedgehog 3″ is on track to earn $10 million in its fifth week of release and enter No. 4 — the film opened Monday in select locations in fire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles. “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” came in fifth place. Its second weekend brought in between $9 million and $10 million, with Moana 2 coming in at #6.
Full numbers will be updated Sunday morning.
