'Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc' generated $3.4 million in previews, nearing the debut of 'Demon Slayer: Mugen Train,' and is expected to earn over $11 million in its opening weekend, while 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' made $850,000 in previews and is projected to earn between $9-11 million. Other films like 'Regretting You' and 'Shelby Oaks' had limited releases and modest previews, with the box office led by 'Black Phone 2' at $36 million after one week.
The box office this week sees 'Him' making $2 million in previews and expected to earn $15-18 million in its opening, 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' projected at $8-10 million, while the anime hit 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' continues to dominate with a strong second-weekend performance, following its record-breaking $70 million debut.
'Weapons' and 'Freakier Friday' are competing for the top spot at the box office this weekend, with previews showing $5.7 million and $3.1 million respectively. 'Freakier Friday,' a body-swap comedy starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, is projected to earn $27-30 million, while the horror film 'Weapons' is expected to make $25-30 million. Both films are challenging Marvel's 'Fantastic Four,' which is experiencing a significant drop in its second and third weekends.
'Bad Guys 2' and 'The Naked Gun' reboot had strong previews, earning over $2M and $1.6M respectively, while other films like 'Together' and 'Fantastic Four' continue their box office runs, with 'Bad Guys 2' showing promising recovery post-Covid.
Apple's 'F1' movie starring Brad Pitt has achieved a record $10M in previews, surpassing other high-profile Apple films, and is expected to open with over $50M globally. Meanwhile, 'M3GAN 2.0' has generated $1.5M in previews, likely to open under $20M, with the original 'M3GAN' having performed better. Other notable box office updates include 'Lilo & Stitch' crossing $400M worldwide and ongoing performance of other films.
The box office saw 'How to Train Your Dragon' leading with $9.7M during the Juneteenth holiday, while Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later' earned $5.8M in previews and Pixar's 'Elio' made $3M, with '28 Years Later' expected to open around $30M and 'Elio' projected to debut at about $30M, despite mixed reviews and varying audience reception.
'Karate Kid: Legends' has made $2.3 million in previews and is projected to earn between $25-30 million in its opening weekend, with a production budget of $45 million. The film features returning stars Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, along with new actor Ben Wang. Meanwhile, Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' remake continues to dominate the box office, and 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' is also competing. Additionally, the horror film 'Bring Her Back' opens this weekend.
The domestic box office is experiencing a resurgence with the release of Universal's 'Wicked' and Paramount's 'Gladiator II,' both of which are expected to drive record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend sales. 'Wicked' has already earned $19 million from week-long previews, while 'Gladiator II' grossed $6.5 million on Thursday alone. 'Wicked,' featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is anticipated to have one of the top openings for a live-action musical, while 'Gladiator II,' directed by Ridley Scott, is projected to open with around $65 million.
"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" earned $3.5 million in Thursday previews, aiming for a $40-$45 million Memorial Day weekend, while "The Garfield Movie" garnered $1.9 million, with expectations of a $30-$35 million opening.
Abigail leads Thursday previews with $1M, ahead of Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Spy x Family Code: White. A game of rock, paper, scissors is expected between Abigail and A24’s Civil War for the weekend crown, both projected to earn about $12M+. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire saw a third Thursday of $893K, while Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire finished week 4 with $7.3M. Kung Fu Panda 4 finished week 6 with an estimated $7.2M.
Universal's Monkey Man and 20th Century Studios' First Omen are both projected to exceed $12M, with Monkey Man leading in Thursday night previews at $1.4M compared to First Omen's $725K. Meanwhile, Legendary and Warner Bros' Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has crossed $100M and is expected to dominate its second weekend with $32M+. Monkey Man has received positive reviews at 85% certified fresh, while First Omen follows closely at 81% fresh. The box office battle continues for the 18-34 demographic, with Monkey Man and First Omen both targeting R-rated audiences.
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" sets a record with a $10 million box office preview, signaling a potentially strong global opening weekend. Warner Bros. estimates a $45-50 million domestic opening, while overseas debut could reach $80 million. Despite mixed reviews, early audience polling indicates enthusiasm. The film faces little competition and features the two iconic monsters teaming up against a common threat.
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is roaring to the second-best previews in the Legendary Monsterverse with $8M, providing momentum to the box office following a lack of event titles in Q1. Despite mixed reviews, the film is expected to open in 3,850 theaters and is projected to perform well domestically, following the success of "Godzilla v. Kong" in 2021.
"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" earns $4.7M in Thursday previews, close to its predecessor "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," but may require walk-up business to match its opening weekend. The film received mixed reviews from audiences and critics. Meanwhile, NEON's "Immaculate" received lukewarm audience feedback, and "Dune: Part Two" and "Kung Fu Panda 4" continue to perform well at the box office.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" has made $3.8 million in previews and is expected to have a strong opening weekend, projected to earn between $45 million and $50 million, while "Dune: Part Two" is on track for $40 million to $45 million in its second weekend. The lack of family movies in theaters could work in favor of "Kung Fu Panda 4," as family-friendly films have shown success in drawing audiences. The franchise's previous films have been successful, and this weekend also sees the launch of other films like "Imaginary" and "Cabrini."
