SUNDAY AM Writethru: After Saturday update Even with a Marvel movie overperforming in the marketplace — such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which conquered $64M over 5 days, the Thanksgiving Wednesday-Sunday stretch wasn’t one for the record books, ranking outside the top 10 with an estimated $122M, off 14% from a year ago when were had more Covid fears, a lest robust Marvel title in the marketplace, a solid adult draw in House of Gucci ($22M) and a better performing Disney family animated movie in Encanto which did $40.5M in its 5 day launch. Black Friday, a typical potent day at the box office, also came up short from last year, down 12% with $33.7M versus 2021’s $38.3M. Per Comscore, 2018 ranks as the best Thanksgiving stretch with $315.6M for all films, that’s when Ralph Breaks the Internet and Creed II were on the marquee.
Wakanda Forever‘s Friday of $18.2M was more than the $16M-$17M that industry rivals were figuring Friday AM. Saturday was at $17.6M.
Despite the continued riches of Wakanda flowing into Disney coffers, they will be poorer with their new animated film Strange World, which is now looking at $18.6M over five days after a $5.2M Friday and $4.3M Saturday. Global here is awful at $28M. The pic, as Nancy reported, given its gay character storyline isn’t receiving a release in Russia, China, France, Middle East, Malaysia, Indonesia and a number of medium/smaller international markets. Disney is holding true to the film, and not bending to these countries’ demands for cuts. The character’s gay storyline wasn’t in the marketing of the film, but was discussed greatly on the pic’s press tour by talent.
Disney has been in this hole before with original animation, with such duds as Home on the Range and Treasure Planet. It’s not the end of Disney Animation, and the cash raining for the sky from Wakanda Forever and the upcoming Avatar: The Way of Water which has a shot at $200M opening stateside, more than make-up for any shortfall from Strange World.
Those critics such as The Guardian‘s Cath Clarke are in line with the audience’s temperature of a B CinemaScore and 82% on PostTrak. “The clunky script feels like it’s been re-drafted and re-drafted to the point of incomprehension – blowing any chance of conveying a message. However well-meaning, it makes for a surprisingly dull watch,” writes Clarke. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of original animation with Disney, it’s just one of the risks of doing business. Remember, Disney did put out Zootopia, a very original, very socially conscious and hysterically funny film, which ruled with a $75M opening and $341.2M domestic back in 2016. It’s not like that magic can’t be replicated again.
Strange World played best in the West and Southwest, with Salt Lake City placing in four of the top ten runs. Exit demos updated for Strange World are 51% women, 33% under 17, 30% between 18-34, and 48% Caucasian, 24% Latino and Hispanic, 10% Black and 18% Asian.
We are hearing the Saturday afternoon one showtime previews for Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish didn’t really cut into Strange World grosses that much.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery from Netflix continues to tower over adult fare with $3.6M on Friday (+91% over its Thanksgiving) and $3.5M on Saturday per industry sources, more than Devotion, Bones and All, , and The Fabelmans. The Rian Johnson-directed, Ram Bergman-produced whodunit sequel is seeing $9.2M over 3-days, and $13.3M over five at 696 venues (revised count). The pic is expected to clock $15M in its first week. This is hands down the best theatrical launch for a Netflix movie ever, heads and tails about Red Notice‘s $1.25M-$1.5M. No PostTrak exits available as they only poll for pics booked in 800+ theaters.
The marvel here is the sequel’s 5-day theater average of $19K, which is prevailing over The Fabelmans, which is booked in a similar number of locations at 638, but posts a lower 5-day per theater of $4,8K. Think about all these motion picture studios who are ticked off to be beat by the one week sneak preview of a Netflix movie, and in fewer theaters at 638. Still, the Daniel Craig led ensemble is a mass-appealing movie. The minds wonder over the amount of money Netflix is leaving on the table by not making Glass Onion a full-bodied theatrical release.
Note that we’re not claiming overall victory here for Glass Onion, which Netflix acquired for $200M and will clearly deflate its ancillaries: The pic is coming off screens by next Wednesday, and will hit the service on Dec. 23. At that time, theaters can re-book the film.
Some small exhibitors, I understand, wanted the movie, but were unable to get it this time around. Disney will clearly get more ancillary revenue out of their loss on Strange World than Knives Out 2.
Among the 3-day for films that debuted in less than 900 theaters, Disney’s Super Bowl weekend launch of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Concert Tour is the top with $31.1M opening at 683 theaters — however, that had a fire-breathing, 360-degree theatrical campaign (Knives Out 2 had a more holistic campaign stretched out to its streaming drop) and premium format theaters. Knives Out 2 ranks as the 10th-best in its 3-day among those pics that opened in less than 900 theaters, notching just above such movies as TriStar’s The Doors in 1991 ($9.1M at 840 theaters), 1978’s Grease ($8.9M on 862), 1980’s Stir Crazy ($8.7M on 813) and Universal’s 2004 Nov. 12-14 launch of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, which posted $8.68M at 530 theaters.
Johnson showed up at AMC Century City on Friday night.
Devotion, which, as we said, is a distribution deal for Sony, saw $2.4M on Friday and $2.16M for a revised $6M 3-day and $9M 5-day. Those who watched it actually gave it an A- CinemaScore with 91% on PostTrak. Guys showed up at 58%, with 55% over 45 and 31% over 55. Diversity demos were 57% Caucasian, 12% Latino and Hispanic, 23% Black, and 8% Asian/other. Best markets were West, South, and Midwest, with zero LA & NYC theaters in the top ten.
A cannibals’ love story was never meant for a wide audience, but studios need to try to squeeze as many bucks out of these movies as they can, so it’s no surprise that Bones and All isn’t spurring any kind of hunger. The pic went wide fast so that it could monetize its ancillary dollars as quickly as possible. Friday was +92% over Thanksgiving with $835K, and a 3-day at $2.2M and 5 day of $3.5M. The pic was able to achieve out of Venice a social awareness of 116M that ran 13% ahead of drama, horror and romance genre comps, largely spurred by TikTok views at 49.5M and YouTube views at 20.1M per RelishMix. If you’re watching your social media feed, you’ll see Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell pumping the movie to their Gen Z demo.
RelishMix observed Chalamet pushing to his 20.1M social followers, averaging 3.5M clicks per Instagram posts. Russell added 120K new fans on her Instagram in the run up to opening in the last two weeks. B CinemaScore, 72% PostTrak with 56% female leaning, 74% between 18-34 and 53% Caucasian, 19% Latino and Hispanic, 17% Black and 11% Asian/other.
Fabelmans….Remember, Avalon?
And as for The Fabelmans, which made $880K on Friday, +83% from Thanksgiving, and $820K on Saturday for a 3- and 5-day of $2.2M and $3.1M. Look, if you were to bet what movie will win Best Picture at the Oscars right now, it’s this Steven Spielberg directed and cowritten autobiopic, and perhaps when awards season kicks into high gear, we’ll see some type of hold for this movie. It’s unfortunate that the numbers are so low, but there’s two pieces of reality to consider, and it has nothing to do with the lack of slow-moving adults coming out of the pandemic to cinemas for a serious family drama.
First of all, biopics about directors aren’t crowd-appealing. We just had Armageddon Time, which was based on James Grey’s life, and that only made $1.85M. Even so, to that point, there’s nothing in The Fabelmans‘ marketing, official trailer, or one-sheet that screams ‘The Story About the Blockbuster Director of E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark You Never Knew.’ Recent TV spots have critic pull quotes which say “Spielberg’s Most Personal Film,” and the movie he’s been waiting 45 years to make — however, not directly to the point. Those outside NYC and LA don’t know it’s about Spielberg, and if they did, maybe that would have spurred a little bit of excitement here for the movie. It’s not shocking to hear that the pic’s top ten runs are from NYC and LA, and the rest all coasts. We’re hearing a PVOD streaming date for the movie sometime in December.
Second, let’s go back down memory lane. Remember the Barry Levinson directed movie Avalon, released in 1990? That movie was a semi-autobiographical one for the Oscar-winning director, and was set in his hometown of Baltimore, exploring a Polish immigrant Jewish family assimilating to the US from 1910-1950s. The pic was in limited release for two weeks in seven theaters, a distribution plan that Universal emulated with Fabelmans, and then expanded in weekend 3 to –get this– 630 theaters. Pic’s 3-day was $2.8M in weekend 3 and a $3.4M running total at that point in time.
So, Fabelmans is doing pretty much what it’s expected to be. Avalon ended its US/Canada run at $15.7M, and it would be amazing if Fabelmans meets or exceeds that. And Avalon didn’t have the star power that Fabelmans has, the former starring Aidan Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Joan Plowright. Avalon was nominated for four Oscars, largely below the line, but with Levinson landing an original screenplay nod. CinemaScore on Fabelmans was an A.
Top 10 –chart updating
1) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Dis), 4,258 (-138) theaters, Wed $10M (+6% from Tuesday)/Thurs $8.1M/Fri $18.2M/Sat $17.6M/Sun $10.1M/3-day $45.9M (-31%)/5-day $64M/Total: $367.6M/Wk 3
Pic’s running total through 17 days is 7% ahead of of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
2.) Strange World (Dis) 4,174 theaters, Wed $4.2M/Thurs $2.5M/Fri $5.2M/Sat $4.3M, Sun $2.4M, 3-day $11.9M, 5-day $18.6M/Wk 1
3.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) 696 theaters, Wed. $2M, Thurs $1.88M, Fri $3.6M, Sat $3.5M/Sun $2.3M/3-day $9.2M, 5-day $13.3M/Wk 1
4.) Devotion (Sony) 3,405 theaters, Wed $1.8M, Thurs $1.24M, Fri $2.4M, Sat $2.1M, Sun $1.3M, 3-day $6M 5 day $9M/Wk 1
5.) The Menu (Sea), 3,288 (+17) theaters Wed $1.1M (-15% from Tues), Thurs $1M, Fri $2M, Sat $2.1M, Sun $1.1M 3-day $5.2M (-44%)/5-day $7.3M /Total $18.67M/Wk 2
6.) Black Adam (NL) 2,847 (-525) theaters, Wed $660K (-4%), Thur $600K, Fri $1.225M, Sat $1.285M Sun $840K, 3-day $3.35M (-27%) 5-day $4.6M /Total $162.97M/Wk 6
7.) Bones and All (UAR) 2,727 (+2,722) theaters, Wed $921K (+8671%), Thur $436K, Fri $835K, Sat $857K, Sun $514K 3-day $2.2M (+1723%), 5-day $3.5M Total $3.7M/Wk 2
8.) The Fabelmans (Uni/Amb) 638 theaters (+634) Wed $400K (+4201%), Thurs $480K, Fri $880K, Sat $820K, Sun $520K, 3-day $2.2M (+2374%) 5-day $3.1M Total $3.4M/Wk 3
9.) Ticket to Paradise (Uni) 2,238 (-1030) theaters, Wed $330K (-33%), Thurs $450K, Fri $720K, Sat $730K, Sun $400K, 3 day $1.85M (-42%), 5-day $2.6M Total $65M/Wk 6
10. ) The Chosen: Season 3 (Fath) 1,750 (-289) theaters (updated/revised), Wed 3-day $381K Thur $282K, Fri $614K Sat $554K, Sun $416K 3-day $1.58M (-82%) 3-day 5-day $2.2M, Total $13.4M/Wk 2
Notables:
She Said (Uni), 2,023 theaters, Wed $220K, Thurs $200K, Fri $430K, Sat $430K, Sun $240K, 3-day $1.1M (-50%)/5-day $1.5M/Total $4.3M/Wk 2
FRIDAY AM: All movies on Thanksgiving, which is traditionally a slow moviegoing day, grossed an estimated $16.5M, and are expected to rally $32.2M on today, Black Friday, however, that isn’t expected to make a great difference for Disney’s new animated film, Strange World which did $2.5M yesterday, -40% from its previews and opening Wednesday, for what is looking at a $20M-$23M for the 5-day if not worse per some rivals who have it below $20M. If Strange World, on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday daily percentile basis plays like Encanto, it will land at $18M. Don’t blame family audiences reluctant to head to movies in the post-pandemic; they’re too busy buying tickets to Black Panther Wakanda Forever which made $8.1M on Thanksgiving, -19% for what looks to be a $55M-$60M Wednesday through Thursday take.
And the exclusive preview run in all three circuits of the soon-to-be streaming movie, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is still beating out all the frosh adult fare with an estimated $1.88M yesterday, -6% from Wednesday, to Sony/Black Label’s Devotion which did $1.24M, -31%. Glass Onion‘s 3-day and 5-day revised are now $8.8M and $12.8M. Indeed, it’s a weekend where we assess: What should really go to streaming and what should be theatrical. Glass Onion has a high Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 94% to The Fabelmans‘ 86%, Devotion’s 93% and Bones and All‘s 64%. That speaks to the type of non-Marvel movies which are working. Why is Strange World not going to Disney+? Because the studio has traditionally has been a destination for families with young kids over the Thanksgiving break, not to mention they’ve already upset more than enough animation staffers (read Pixar) by sending their movies to the service, when they’ve been working for years on these projects so that they could hit the big screen.
Yes, the adult market is crimped by a flood of specialty looking product which isn’t appealing to mass audience. But there’s more. We talk about the need for more movies, more volume. We have that here this Thanksgiving. However, the theater experience is not good enough for older audiences to go in big numbers. Exhibitors need to amp up the quality of the experience. Right now what they’re spending is too expensive to see a movie in a cinema that isn’t kept up. All of this conspires into, “I’ll watch it at home.”
1) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Dis), 4,258 (-138) theaters, Wed $10M (+6% from Tuesday)/Thurs $8.1M/3-day $43M (-35%)/5-day $55M-$60M/Total: $363.7M/Wk 3
Should the Ryan Coolger-directed sequel come in at the high-end, it will be 6% ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness through 17 days.
2.) Strange World (Dis) 4,174 theaters, Wed $4.2M/Thurs $2.5M/3-day $15.8M, 5-day $20M-$23M/Wk 1
3.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) 638 theaters, Wed. $2M, Thurs $1.88M, 3-day $8.8M, 5-day $12.8M/Wk 1
4.) Devotion (Sony) 3,405 theaters, Wed $1.8M, Thurs $1.24M 3-day $5.6M 5 day $9.1M/Wk 1
5.) The Menu (Sea), 3,288 (+17) theaters Wed $1.1M (-15% from Tues), Thurs $1M, 3-day $5M (-44%)/5-day $7.1M /Total $18.4M/Wk 2
Ten day total on this Anya Taylor Joy genre pic will be 14% ahead of Midsommar vs. the same period.
6.) Black Adam (NL) 2,847 (-525) theaters, Wed $660K (-4%), Thur $600K 3-day $3.2M (-30%) 5-day $4.5M /Total $162.8M/Wk 6
7.) Bones and All (UAR) 2,727 (+2,722) theaters, Wed $921K (+8671%), Thur $436K 3-day $1.9M (+1488%), 5-day $3.2M Total $3.4M/Wk 2
8.) The Fabelmans (Uni/Amb) 638 theaters (+634) Wed $400K (+4201%), Thurs $480K, 3-day $2.2M (+2374%) 5-day $3M Total $3.4M/Wk 3
9.) Ticket to Paradise (Uni) 2,238 (-1030) theaters, Wed $330K (-33%), Thurs $450K, 3 day $2.1M (-31%), 5-day $2.97M Total $65.4M/Wk 6
10. ) The Chosen: Season 3 (Fath) 609 (-1,430) theaters, Wed 3-day $341K (-70%), $301K 3-day $1.1M (-87%) 3-day 5-day $1.77M, Total $12.97M/Wk 2
Notables:
She Said (Uni), 2,022 theaters, Wed $220K, Thurs $200K 3-day $1.01M (-54%)/5-day $1.44M/Total $4.2M/Wk 2
THANKSGIVING AM: It’s theatrical forever for Disney/Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which is coming in ahead of yesterday afternoon’s estimates with $10M, but not so much for Disney Animation’s Strange World which did $4.2M yesterday. This will translate, per industry estimates, into a 3-day and 5-day of $43M and $55M-$60M, respectively, for Wakanda Forever, and a disastrous 3-and 5-day of $15.8M and $20M-$23M for Strange World which cost a reported $135M. That’s not the worst for a Disney animated pic, particularly over Thanksgiving, but it’s damn close: Their $140M original animation movie Treasure Planet was in freefall back in 2003 with a 3-day of $12M and $16.5M.
One former Disney exec once told me, “They’re very good at making the best worst case decision” and in the scenario of Strange World, that’s sending it to Disney+ by the holidays. Even though the pic is tanking in theaters, that type of big screen release will at least give it some mojo in ancillaries. Everybody remember that as theatrical tries to finds its footing, especially among these adult titles which aren’t finding an audience (either that or else it’s a case of too many niche movies in the marketplace cannibalizing each other).
Speaking of adult titles, while Sony and Black Label Media’s Devotion per public box office reporting is seeing $1.8M from yesterday at 3,405 theaters, and $10.2M for the 5-day and a 3-day of $6.1M, industry sources tell us this AM that Netflix’s sneak preview of release of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is killing off all adult competition, and it’s only in 638 theaters. We hear Wednesday was very close to $2M-$2.5M, with the 3-day and 5-day projected out to $8.5M and $10M-$12.3M, which is amazing for adult counterprogramming right now. We’ll update you if Netflix reports numbers.
If the Rian Johnson-directed, Ram Bergman-produced whodunnit sequel arrives at the high end, that’s a massive $19,2K theater average and proof adults still want to go to the movies (by comparison, Fabelmans, if it sticks to its 5-day number, will do a theater average of $4,7K). As we told you previously, particularly as many of these films post single digits, they’re too niche, hence their lower ticket sales. Any development executive wrecking their head over what works right now on the big screen among older adults, go splash some cold water on your face and remember last year’s starry crime caper package from Ridley Scott: House of Gucci with Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto and Al Pacino. That movie, when there were more concerns about Covid, posted a $14.4M 3-day and $22M 5-day. Just a refresher on the type of films which get adults out.
Knives Out 2 is burying such adult fare as The Menu ($1.1M Wednesday, $5M second weekend and $7M 5-day), Bones and All ($921K Wed, $2.4M 3-day and $3.9M 5-day) and Universal’s expansion of Amblin’s The Fabelmans which did $400K at 638 theaters for a forecasted $2.2M 3-day and $3M 5-day.
And get this: iSpot shows that Netflix spent less than the majors to open Glass Onion with $4.3M in TV spots to Disney’s $16M on Strange World, Sony’s $14.8M on Devotion, Searchlight’s $10.8M on The Menu and Uni’s $8.5M on The Fabelmans.
RelishMix reports that Knives Out 2 had a massive social media reach of 307.7M, a near 3x increase from the first one which opened to $26.7M and $41.1M back in 2018. Among those socially activated on the cast there’s Kate Hudson at 17.7M, Dave Bautista at 15.4M, Edward Norton at 4.1M, Janelle Monáe at 7.4M while Daniel Craig is still off the grid.
Says RelishMix about the buzz, “Convo on Glass Onion runs positive with mixed curiosity on how it will stack up to the success of version one. Fans speculate from materials, whodunnit in the cast with chatter about the ‘smoothest transition for a 007 ever’ — as well as support for Dave Bautista’s tattoos and adoration for Edward Norton, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe. Fans are threading about the sliding streaming windows and openly debating whether to wait or go — while wondering about how surprising the reveals in the story will play.”
Strange World received four stars on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak and a B CinemaScore. Men over 25 were dominant at 33%, but hated it at 66%. Women over 25 were next in attendance at 24% but gave it a 90% grade; then men under 25 at 23% and 83% grade and women under 25 at 21% who gave the pic its best grade at 92%. Diversity demos were 47% Caucasian, 25% Asian, 22% Hispanic and 6% Black. Not a flashy recommend at 55%. RelishMix noticed that Strange World awareness levels on social were 22% below norms for family animated films at 172M. The campaign on Disney’s social runs on the cross-promotion momentum from the studio’s social network is at 107.7M and Disney Animation’s at 26.2M across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, including cast at 217.2M with total views at 38.2M across all channels.
Devotion gets 5 stars on PostTrak, a 90% score. Diversity demos were 61% Caucasian, 19% Black, 11% Hispanic and Latino, and 6% Asian. Men over 25 were large at 49% (88% grade), women over 25 at 33% (95% grade), men under 25 at 12% (76%) and women under 25 at 6% (100%).
Bones and All gets a B Cinemascore and 3 stars on PostTrak. The Timothee Chalamet fans were the majority on this film with women under 25 at 32% but at a 73% grade. Men over 25 were next at 25% but with a low 58% grade, then women over 25 at 23% and 76% and men under 25 at 19% and an 80% grade.
While ticket sales will decline today due to the holiday by 16%, they’ll be up by tomorrow on Black Friday, a big day for moviegoing, by +93%.
1) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Dis), 4,258 (-138) theaters, Wed $10M (+6% from Tuesday)/3-day $43M (-35%)/5-day $55M-$60M/Total: $363.7M/Wk 3
Should the Ryan Coolger-directed sequel come in at the high-end, it will be 6% ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness through 17 days.
2.) Strange World (Dis) 4,174 theaters, Wed $4.2M/3-day $15.8M, 5-day $20M-$23M/Wk 1
3.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) 638 theaters, Wed. $2M-$2.5M, 3-day $8.5M, 5-day $10M-$12.3M/Wk 1
4.) Devotion (Sony) 3,405 theaters, Wed $1.8M, 3-day $6.1M 5 day $10.2M/Wk 1
5.) The Menu (Sea), 3,288 (+17) theaters Wed $1.1M (-15% from Tues) 3-day $5M (-44%)/5-day $7M /Total $18.3M/Wk 2
Ten day total on this Anya Taylor Joy genre pic will be 14% ahead of Midsommar vs. the same period.
6.) Black Adam (NL) 2,847 (-525) theaters, Wed $660K (-4%), 3-day $2.7M (-41%) 5-day $4M /Total $162.3M/Wk 6
7.) Bones and All (UAR) 2,727 (+2,722) theaters, Wed $921K (+8671%) 3-day $2.4M (+1913%), 5-day $3.9M Total $4M/Wk 2
8.) The Fabelmans (Uni/Amb) 638 theaters (+634) Wed $400K (+4201%) 3-day $2.2M (+2374%) 5-day $3M Total $3.3M/Wk 3
9.) Ticket to Paradise (Uni) 2,238 (-1030) theaters, Wed $330K (-33%) 3 day $1.35M (-58%), 5-day $1.96M Total $64.4M/Wk 6
10. ) The Chosen: Season 3 (Fath) 609 (-1,430) theaters, Wed 3-day $341K (-70%) 3-day $1.285M 3-day 5-day $1.95M, Total $13M/Wk 2
Notables:
She Said (Uni), 2,022 theaters, Wed $220K 3-day $1.12M (-49%)/5-day $1.57M/Total $4.3M/Wk 2
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Early figures and take the 3-day and 5-day with a grain of salt as projections are always off at this point in a Thanksgiving stretch. Disney/Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is leading today with $9.5M, even with yesterday and a $50M Wednesday through Sunday outlook. However, Strange World, as we thought, it falling below its $30M projection with $23M-$27M. Including previews, today looks like around $4.5M to $5M for that animated movie. Encanto last year had an opening day of $7.6M. Apparently, Strange World closed the gap on early matinees with Encanto, and hopefully that momentum continues.
Sony and Black Label Media’s Devotion at 3,405 theaters is seeing $1.7M today with $9M-$10M for the 5-day, ranking third. Searchlight’s The Menu has an estimated $1M for Wednesday for $6M-$8M over 5-days.
At this minute, I’m hearing erratic reports about Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Some have it ahead of all the frosh adult counterprogramming in presales, while others do not.
WEDNESDAY AM: It’s not like people weren’t going to the cinema yesterday as we head toward Thanksgiving: Disney/Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made $9.5M at 4,258 theaters on Tuesday propelling the Ryan Coogler-directed sequel past the the three century mark with $303.7M, making it the 7th film to pass that threshold this year after Top Gun: Maverick, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Jurassic World: Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Batman and Thor: Love and Thunder.
However, there really wasn’t any excitement last night to see previews of Disney Animation’s Strange World, which as we told you doesn’t look so good for the holiday stretch. Off previews that started at 6pm, Strange World only did $800K, which is arguably the lowest for a Disney Thanksgiving theatrical release in the era of movie theaters holding early previews. That’s close to half of what Encanto did in its Tuesday preview a year ago with $1.5M, and that’s when there were more pandemic fears among moviegoers. A $30M+ five-day start for Strange World at 4,174 theaters is what we figured, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s lower as the weekend belongs for a third time to Wakanda Forever, which is now apt to do $50M+ over Wednesday to Sunday. Audience score on Strange World is currently low on Rotten Tomatoes at 62%, but only from 50 reviews.
Wakanda Forever‘s Tuesday, +36% over Monday, reps its third highest weekday (outside Friday) after its first Monday and Tuesday which respectively did $11.1M and $12.6M.
Searchlight’s The Menu was second yesterday with $1.3M at 3,228 venues, +26% over Monday for a running five-day total of $11.3M at 3,211. While A24’s Midsommar –a good genre comp here for Menu– took a different trajectory, opening on a Wednesday in July, the Mark Mylod directed Anya Taylor Joy movie here is 4% of the Ari Aster movie in its first five days.
Fathom Events and Angel Studios’ The Chosen: Season 3 posted $1.02M, -19% from Monday for a running total of $11M.
New Line/DC’s Black Adam was fourth on Tuesday with $690K at 3,372 locations, +17% for a running total of $158.3M. The Dwayne Johnson movie is available to own digital for $24.99 or for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99. On Jan. 3, the movie hits DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K.
In 5th was Universal’s George Clooney and Julia Roberts romantic comedy, Ticket to Paradise, which made $490K at 3,268 theaters, +22% from Monday for a running total of $62.4M. The pic is already available to watch on PVOD.
The Sony distributed Black Label Media war movie Devotion made $615K at 2,982 theaters which started showtimes at 6PM. That figure is above the Thursday previews figure for Focus Features’ BlacKKKlansman which did $600K before seeing a $3.6M Friday, and $10.8M opening, however, that was a very different time of year, that being late summer pre-pandemic 2018. The Jonathan Majors-Glen Powell movie is expected to see $7M-$8M over five days.
United Artists Releasing’s wide expansion previews of Bones and All did $345K as it heads to 2,700 theatres today. Through five days, apart from previews, the Luca Guadagnino directed genre pic has made $146,7K from five theaters in NYC and LA. A single digits five-day take is expected.
