Of highest importance
Paramount's next iteration of Mean Girls has shaped $3.25 million in previews. This number includes yesterday's 4 p.m. screenings as well as the early access screenings of “On Wednesdays We Wear Pink.”
A reminder that Paramount set the pivot for the release of Mean Girls: The film was originally intended for Paramount+ and the test results said: “Release this film in theaters!”
So far, “Mean Girls” has received 3 1/2 stars on Comscore Screen Engine’s PostTrak, with 71% female cast. Of those, 44% were women under 25 and 28% were women over 25. Rotten Tomatoes critics are 70% fresh.
In terms of price, “Mean Girls” is just shy of the $3.5 million brought in in previews by Paramount/Spyglass Media's “Scream,” which was also released on MLK weekend two years ago and is on March 30 in three days brought in millions of US dollars. It's also higher than M3GAN, a weekend release before MLK last year that grossed $2.75 million and was on track for a 3-day start of $30.4 million.
MGM/Everett Collection
Meanwhile, Amazon MGM is trying to appease the boys over MLK weekend The beekeeperwhat has been the case so far $2.4 million from last night's previews. The David Ayer-directed Jason Statham film is fully booked in 3,303 theaters – and the film will have the benefit of Imax tickets. Beekeeper is 72% fresh and Rotten Tomatoes critics say it is 72% fresh. PostTrak's early exits show a solid 4-star rating, with 65% male attendance. The R-rated film's overall viewership is 82% over 25.
Beekeeper's previews are lower than Statham's The Meg 2's $3.2 million, but fortunately its preview value is higher than Guy Ritchie's The gentlemena non-Statham pre-Covid title previewed in late January $725,000 before releasing a $10.6 million opening.
“Mean Girls” and “The Beekeeper” will take the top two spots at the box office, respectively, with projected four-day earnings of $30 million and $16 million, respectively. They're the only major, studio-wide releases left for the rest of the month until Apple Original Films' Argylle arrives via Universal on February 2nd.
“Mean Girls,” rated PG-13, is directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. The film was written by Tina Fey, based on the Broadway stage musical for which she wrote the book, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin.
Legendary The Book of Clarence from Sony's TriStar also opens this weekend and is aimed at black and religious moviegoers. It is not expected to perform well in the low single digits. There were previews last night $285,000 at 1,891 locations, with screenings beginning at 3 p.m.
Disney has Pixar's new release Soul, which was never released in theaters due to the pandemic but was instead targeted at Disney+. The film will open in 1,300 theaters and is only expected to gross around $2 million.
Numbers for other films in theatrical release were low on Thursday. Still, it's interesting to point out that Sony's romantic comedy Everyone but you ruled the weekdays following Sunday with a gross yesterday of $997,000 in 3,055 theaters, -4% from Wednesday. Total cume before MLK weekend $48.2 million.
Warner Bros.' Wonka came second with $675,000 yesterday at 3,817, -14% from Wednesday and a running total of $167.8 million after the fourth week.
Amazon MGM's The boys in the boat seen $559,000 on Thursday at 2,687, -3% from Wednesday and a running total of $35.8 million it's entering its third weekend.
Warner Bros.' Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom released in 3,553 theaters $550,000-19% from Wednesday, for a running total at the end of the third week of $103 million.
Fifth place was yesterday at Universal/Blumhouse Night swimming with an estimate $487,000-22%, in 3,250 theaters for a first week $14.5 million.