Me podcasting about the box office in 2024. pic.twitter.com/BkfD8wufaq
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) May 26, 2024
May’s box office performances have sparked various explanations, particularly with some high-profile releases not meeting expectations. “The Fall Guy” faced criticism for relying on a somewhat obscure intellectual property and its early transition to streaming services, suggesting its theatrical release was less impactful. Meanwhile, the latest “Apes” movie performed decently, aligning with previous franchise records, but not surpassing them.
#Furiosa hit the top spot — In the worst Memorial Day weekend box office since 1995 👀 pic.twitter.com/i82jhiW5Ud
— Fandom (@getFANDOM) May 28, 2024
John Krasinski’s “IF” managed to impress with one of the strongest openings for a PG-rated, live-action, original film, though it didn’t reach the blockbuster status of giants like “Super Mario” or “Harry Potter.” This sets a varied backdrop for “Furiosa,” a film attached to the esteemed “Mad Max” saga. Despite the legacy of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Furiosa” garnered a modest $26.3 million over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, marking the lowest No. 1 film intake for this period since 1989. It also collected $32 million across the four-day holiday, the lowest since 1984.
These figures are particularly disappointing given the $168 million budget of “Furiosa,” surpassing the $150 million spent on “Fury Road,” which itself had a lukewarm financial return despite its critical acclaim and multiple Oscars. Historically, no film opening below $30 million over the Memorial Day weekend since 1999 has crossed the $100 million domestic mark, setting a challenging path ahead for “Furiosa.”
The box office saw the worst Memorial Day weekend ticket sales in years.
“Furiosa” and “Garfield” led the big screen debuts where ticket sales were down roughly 36% from last year. pic.twitter.com/jGDcpkR2Z5
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 28, 2024
In comparison, Sony’s “The Garfield Movie” debuted with $24 million, a modest start for a film with a $60 million budget. Though critically panned, it’s not the worst performer for a May release, and its international earnings might still lead it to profitability.
“IF” saw a 50% drop in its second weekend, still aiming to surpass $100 million domestically, a figure that would barely cover its $110 million production cost after accounting for global sales.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is the season’s relative success, having grossed $122.9 million domestically in 17 days. It’s on track to outperform the previous films in the series, particularly given its strong international sales.
On the lower end, “The Fall Guy” made a quick pivot to premium video on demand, amassing $73.9 million domestically over 25 days. This adaptation seems likely to finish with a domestic total between $80-85 million, slightly trailing the performance of similar films.
“The Strangers: Chapter 1” and “Sight” represent smaller scale successes, with the former already covering its production costs and the latter adding modestly to its earnings. Meanwhile, the Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” continues to struggle, reflecting the unpredictable nature of audience reception to biographical films.
The box office landscape shows a mixture of underwhelming performances and moderate successes, illustrating the varied fortunes of films in the current cinematic climate. Next week’s releases, including “Young Woman and the Sea” featuring Daisy Ridley, will provide fresh data points on consumer interest and market trends as the industry continues to navigate a complex recovery post-pandemic
Here all the movies in 2024 that have grossed $40M+ at box office. Some are still showing and will be added later. Movies are highly profitable IF DONE RIGHT. pic.twitter.com/OFno76VFVn
— Jason (@goldenelephant1) May 28, 2024
Major Points
- “The Fall Guy” underperformed due to its reliance on a lesser-known IP and quick shift to streaming, highlighting challenges in the box office.
- “Furiosa” faced disappointment with a Memorial Day weekend haul of $26.3 million, the lowest for a top film since 1989, despite its connection to the successful “Mad Max” franchise.
- John Krasinski’s “IF” showed promise with one of the highest openings for a PG-rated original film, yet it still fell short of blockbuster revenue.
- “The Garfield Movie” opened to modest figures but may reach profitability through international sales, despite poor reviews.
- “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” emerged as a relative success among new releases, tracking to perform well both domestically and internationally.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
