JoJo Whilden / Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Exhibitors are lighting candles and saying prayers that Paramount's musical redux “Mean Girls” will bring them big success throughout January after a dry spell caused by the double whammy. Look, there won't be a major studio release in the next three weeks after “Mean Girls” until Apple Original Films' “Argylle” arrives via Universal on February 2nd.
In terms of recording, “Mean Girls” is doing well for women and is poised to gross $30 million in 3,782 theaters over the four-day MLK weekend. Amazon MGM Studios' Jason Statham's R-rated action title “The Beekeeper,” which is well-received by male and multicultural audiences, is trading at $16 million Friday-Monday.
“The Beekeeper” MGM Amazon Studios
Comscore reported that the first week of box office in 2024 at $172.6 million was 8% behind the same frame in 2023. However, last year's MLK weekend will be hard to beat: It was led by the fifth frame of 20th Century Studios' “Avatar”: “The Way of Water” with $39.8 million and Universal's second weekend /Blumhouse's M3GAN with $21.7 million, for a total four-day holiday BO of $124.8 million.
Tonight, Paramount is hosting a preview of Mean Girls in 450 Dolby and PLF theaters at 7 p.m., also known as “On Wednesdays We Wear Pink Early Access Screening.” The money will go toward Thursday's previews, which begin at 4 p.m
Mean Girls, rated PG-13 and directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., was written by Tina Fey, based on the stage musical for which she wrote the book, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin . The film stars Angourie Rice, Auli'i Cravalho, Reneé Rapp, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Christopher Briney, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Fey and Tim Meadows. The picture is currently 75% fresh and has critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The original 2004 film, starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert, opened with $24.4 million and ended its theatrical run with $86 million domestic and $130.1 million worldwide.
Beekeeper is present in 3,303 locations, including Imax, Screen X, 4DX and some Dolby. Directed by David Ayer, the film follows a man's brutal revenge quest that reaches nationwide proportions after it is revealed that he is a former employee of a powerful and secret organization called the Beekeepers. Critics gave it a 72% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is higher than Statham's last two films, Meg 2 (27% Rotten) and Expendables 4 (14% Rotten).
“The Book of Clarence” TriStar Pictures
Sony-TriStar is releasing Legendary Pictures' “The Book of Clarence,” which isn't expected to do well with a low single-digit box office over four days in 2,100 theaters.
Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, the film is said to be a new twist on the biblical epic. However, followers of the faith won't necessarily buy into it: LaKeith Stanfield plays a smart, struggling guy trying to make a better life for himself and his family. He becomes fascinated by the power and glory of the emerging Messiah and his apostles and risks everything to find his own path to a godly life.
Thursday previews begin at 3 p.m. at 1,825 locations.