The weekend box office is heating up as several new films debut, each vying for audience attention and ticket sales. Paramount‘s adaptation of the classic “Street Fighter” video game is expected to dominate the box office race, having already made an impressive $4 million during its Thursday previews.
Street Fighter Leads the Charge
With strong early numbers, “Street Fighter” is projected to gross between $25 million and $35 million in its opening weekend. Co-financed by Legendary and Capcom for $82 million, with Paramount covering distribution costs, the film brings to life a gripping tournament featuring a diverse cast of characters. Directed by Kitao Sakura, the movie stars Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, among others, as they engage in high-stakes battles reminiscent of the beloved video game franchise.
Whalefall and Its Struggles
Following closely behind, Disney’s “Whalefall” has earned $900,000 in its Thursday previews and is aiming for a weekend total of $10 million to $12 million. This thriller, directed by Brian Duffield, stars Austin Abrams as a scuba diver trapped inside a giant sperm whale. Despite a production budget of $60 million, the film’s favorable reviews could help it sustain momentum at the box office.
Documentary Breaks Ground
A24’s eagerly awaited documentary, “You Can See Everything,” has garnered $1.75 million during previews and is projected to debut with $7 million to $8 million. This remarkable figure for a non-fiction film comes after its surprise premiere at the Telluride Film Festival last month. Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the documentary offers an unprecedented glimpse into the life of Elizabeth Holmes, filmed covertly before her sentencing for fraud and deception associated with Theranos. The film’s modest production budget of $7 million sets it up to potentially be a hit in the documentary category and may even catch the eye of Academy Awards voters.
Classic Literature Meets the Big Screen
The last of the new entrants this weekend is Focus Features’ adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.” With a budget of $25 million, the film is expected to gross between $5 million and $8 million after earning $1.15 million from advance screenings. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the movie explores themes of love, loss, and the financial uncertainties faced by women in the early 19th century as they are forced to leave their family estate.
