Superhero movies are in a real sink-or-swim moment, and the sequel to 2018's “Aquaman” is treading water this week.
The original film also opened the weekend before Christmas and grossed nearly $28 million on its first day. With an additional $22 million, it became one of a few films to gross more than $20 million on Christmas Day, a typically slow day for the box office, according to Office.
Five years and countless superhero films later, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” has once again earned $28 million, this time over a three-day weekend, Comscore reports. With Christmas on Monday, the Jason Momoa-directed sequel is expected to gross $40 million.
Patrick Wilson and Jason Momoa in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics
Internationally, Arthur Curry and Co. did better, earning $80.1 million from a worldwide opening of $120.1 million.
Directed by James Wan, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom follows Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Black Manta as he once again attempts to defeat Momoa's titular submarine. Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman and Amber Heard reprise their roles from the first film, which grossed nearly $1.2 billion, making it the DCEU's highest-grossing film.
Ahead of the premiere of his new film, Momoa didn't seem too confident about playing Aquaman again, telling Entertainment Tonight: “The truth is, I mean, if the audience loves it, then there's a possibility. But right.” Now I'm thinking, 'It doesn't look so good.'”
Given those box office receipts compared to the film's reported budget of $205 million, things are probably looking a lot worse. DC Studios is also in the process of revamping its entire superhero strategy under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, but who can say what it will look like or whether enough people will even care.
Meanwhile, Wonka slipped to No. 2 in its second week, earning $17.7 million domestically, bringing its total to date to $75.2 million (an expected total of $254.9 million by Monday). The animated family film Migration, written by White Lotus writer Mike White, opened with $12.3 million and an expected four-day box office of $17.1 million domestically ($34.3 million worldwide ).
Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in “Anyone But You.” Sony Pictures Entertainment/YouTube
The R-rated romantic comedy “Anyone but You,” which stars two of Hollywood's hottest young stars, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, opened in fourth place with a healthy $6.2 million and an expected four -Daily gross of about $9 million against a budget of $25 million.
In the film, Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after a fantastic first date, something happens that turns their fiery attraction cold – until they unexpectedly find each other at a wedding in Australia. So they do what two fully grown adults would do: they pretend to be an object.
Indian import Saalar Part 1 – Armistice rounds out the top five with a debut of $5.5 million and an expected four-day domestic gross of $6.3 million. Internationally, the action drama grossed an additional $33.6 million, for a worldwide debut of $39.9 million.
“The Iron Claw”. A24
Wrestling drama “The Iron Claw,” starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson, was given a stranglehold by the other films this weekend, with an opening of $5.1 million and a projected four -Daily total revenue of $7.5 million – it's not that bad considering its estimated budget is $20.4 million.
Next up, The Color Purple opens on Christmas Day.
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