In a dynamic weekend at the box office, Universal’s “Him” made a strong impression, grossing $6.4 million on its opening day. Despite this impressive start, it was edged out by the continued success of the anime hit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle. Meanwhile, Sony faced disappointment with “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey”, debuting in sixth place. This article delves into the performance of these films and others making waves at the box office.
‘Him’ Makes a Solid Debut
“Him” started off its theatrical run with $6.47 million on Friday from 3,168 North American locations, including $2 million from previews. The film is sharing IMAX and premium large format screens with Demon Slayer, benefiting from higher ticket prices. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, this Faustian tale starring Tyriq Withers is eyeing a $15 million opening weekend. While it falls short of initial expectations of $18 million, the film remains a strong contender given its modest $27 million budget.
However, critical reception poses a challenge. With a CinemaScore of C-, the film faces a lukewarm audience response, which could impact its longevity in theaters. Adding to the pressure, “Him” will face new competition from Lionsgate’s The Strangers – Chapter 2 next weekend.
A Tepid Start for ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’
Sony’s “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” struggled with a $1.4 million debut over Friday and previews across 3,330 locations. With stars like Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, and directed by Kogonada in his theatrical debut, expectations were high. However, the film’s performance has been underwhelming, trailing its $8 million projections. With a CinemaScore of B- and largely negative reviews, the film faces an uphill battle in theaters.
Despite its disappointing start, Sony has reason for cautious optimism with the success of Demon Slayer. The film reached a domestic milestone, surpassing $100 million and becoming the highest-grossing anime film in North America.
Other Box Office Highlights
Warner Bros.’ The Conjuring: Last Rites secured third place with $3.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $141.9 million. Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s The Long Walk and Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale continue to draw audiences, each projected to pull in significant weekend revenues.
New releases also made an appearance, with Angel Studios’ The Senior starring Michael Chiklis earning $1.25 million across 2,405 locations. The film’s positive reception, highlighted by an A CinemaScore, suggests favorable word-of-mouth might help its performance in upcoming weeks.
This dynamic weekend showcases the competitive nature of the box office, emphasizing how films like “Him” may thrive initially but face challenges in maintaining momentum, while others like “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” struggle to meet expectations.
