Warner Bros. Pictures/Everett Collection
Update for more….Warner Bros./DC's “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” grossed $4.5 million from 3,400 locations last night, while Illumination/Universal's “Migration” took in $1.5 million at the four-day holiday box office in what is expected to be a slow weekend -dollars brought in. This is mainly because there is no film on the market that you really want to see. Aquaman 2 was weighed down by terrible reviews, with a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and prospects of $40 million give or take over four days.
The preview for Aquaman 2 began at 3:00 p.m., while the migration began at 2:00 p.m.
Already, previews for the sequel are lower than those of the Disney/Marvel Studios classic “The Marvels,” which grossed $6.6 million before going on to gross $46.1 million in three days, the lowest Start of all time for a Marvel film. However, previews for Aquaman 2 are higher than DC's previous bombshell, Shazam: Fury of the Gods ($3.4 million Thursday night, $11.7 million Friday, and three-day $30.1 million -Dollar).
The only advantage of “Aquaman 2” is that it is the bigger crowd pleaser. However, Warner Bros. is competing with itself as a second golden ticket at the box office. Wonka grossed $4.2 million last night – almost as much as “Aquaman 2.” a first week profit of $57.5 million. Timothee Chalamet's film price is expected to drop to over $20 million in four days.
The general audience in Comscore/Screen Engine PostTrak exits didn't like Aquaman 2 last night with 3 stars and a 50% recommendation, and that's when the big fans show up. Pooh. However, parents gave it 5 stars and kids under 12 gave it 4 stars, so they might end up keeping this movie.
Since Christmas is on Monday, business will be significantly better for all films at that time and beyond. Since Christmas Eve Sunday is a bad day in the BO, be prepared for lower than expected results. The first Aquaman had a slow opening, grossing $136.7 million in its first seven days during the 2018 holiday season and $67.8 million in three days. However, the James Wan-directed sequel is not expected to have the same sheen.
Columbia Pictures' R-rated romantic comedy “Anyone But You,” from Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, grossed $1.2 million from 2,723 locations as of 2 p.m. The film is expected to gross between $7 million and $10 million in four days. Last night's previews are slightly higher than those of George Clooney and Julia Roberts' romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise,” which grossed $1.1 million before taking in $6.4 million on Friday and 16, It opened to $1 million in its opening theaters. Critics aren't all that far apart between “Ticket,” which scored 57%, and “Anevere But You,” which led the way with 48%. Hopefully future moviegoers don't read reviews or listen to their friends, because audiences gave the Will Gluck-directed film four stars and a 57% recommendation rating on Thursday.
Meanwhile, A24's “The Iron Claw” earned $670,000 from 2,100 theaters from previews that began at 4 p.m. This film is expected to perform in high single digits during the four-day festive season. From the outset, PostTrak audiences rated the Zac Efron-Jeremy Allen White wrestling drama 4 1/2 stars and 76% recommend it.
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