- Super Mario Bros – £15,691,810 – NE
Took £3.9m (24.9%) Wednesday and £3.02m Thursday (19.2%) taking £6,943,163 from previews 44.2% of opening; had its biggest day on Easter Monday taking £4.1m and took £2.9m on Tuesday with £3m+ expected on Wednesday.
£3.81m Friday (24.3%); £3.04m Saturday (19.3%); £1.8m Sunday (11.5%)
30th biggest opening between Marvel Avengers Assemble and Quantum of Solace (close to The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Fantastic Beasts and Batman Vs Superman) and 69th biggest inflated between The Da Vinci Code and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (close to Die Another Day, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Alice in Wonderland and Independence Day).
4th biggest animation opening between Shrek 2 and Frozen 2 (close to Shrek The Third, Despicable Me 2, The Simpsons and Toy Story 4) and the 11th biggest inflated between WOG: The Curse of the WereRabbit and Toy Story 4 (close to Monsters, Inc, Ice Age II, Shark Tale and Finding Nemo);
Impossible to make any direct comparisons as it took 45% of its opening BO from two days of previews. Many other animated films have had previews inflating their openings making it very hard to compare as often previews won’t increase a film’s opening but just share its BO over more days which was probably the case with Super Mario Bros as being school holidays many opted to see it Weds/Thurs or Monday instead of the weekend seen by it take £4.1m on Monday more than any than its previous 5 days.
5th biggest opening since cinemas reopened between Top Gun Maverick and The Batman
Taking £3.9m Wednesday had the biggest animated opening day ever, the biggest Wednesday of 2023 and Universal Pictures’ biggest Wednesday more than Fast 8 and No Time To Die.
Taking £3.02m it had the biggest ever Thursday for an animated film and the second biggest Thursday for Universal Pictures.
It had the 10th widest opening ever in the UK in 718 cinemas similar to Rocketman, Mary Poppins Returns and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, but as with similar films was probably playing on 2,500+ screens as were showing on multiple screens in most cinemas; the 18th 700+ cinema opening since 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi and 1st in 2023.
Interestingly while Super Mario Bros did open with 10.72% of the US opening over 5 days it was only 5.98% Fri-Sun showing how previews inflated the opening.
Illumination’s 13th film since Despicable Me in 2010 and the third based on existing IP after The Lorax and The Grinch.
Industry’s reaction to Super Mario Bros opening was predictably over the top heralding the opening as a surprise and an indication that Hollywood has fallen back in love with cinemas, but there were many reasons why Super Mario Bros opened as it did. Dating is a key opening ahead of Easter being the only family film on release, over the last 12 months there has been a shortage of family films because films like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has had very long legs performing strongly in cinemas weeks after the film was available to watch at home.
Super Mario Bros video games have sold 396.8m worldwide taking $22bn worldwide, the Mario games franchise up to Match 2022 has sold 776.8m games worldwide generating $35.1bn, including merchandise Mario franchise has generated $41.5bn worldwide, while Mario-related YouTube videos have exceeded 100bn views as of April 2023. Then you add the success Illumination has had over the last decade and add the two fan bases together it’s surely not a surprise how the film performed.
The only real surprise is why hasn’t the Nintendo Extended Universe happened yet as they have been talking about it for many years, but the problem is as with Marvel Nintendo sold off rights to many of their most popular games to studios already. This was similar to when Marvel sold rights to many of their properties to studios and had to wait until their rights ended before they could make their films. Universal Pictures still own the rights to The Incredible Hulk and several other characters even though they haven’t made a Hulk film since 2008.
Super Mario Bros social media reach was 644.1m across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok; Universal Pictures at 47.4m, Illumination at 4.1m; Nintendo at 34.4m. Super Mario Bros social media universe is 22% more than family animated including The Incredibles (667.2m), Minions: Rise of Gru (659m) and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (462.9m), but that’s expected for one of the most successful video game franchises that have sold hundreds of millions of games over the last 30+ years playing to audiences young and old,
Films based on video games have had mixed success at the box office as they should be hugely popular given they have an established fanbase, but filmmakers often struggle to expand the story from game to screen. Only 5 have taken over $400m worldwide 2016’s Warcraft, 2018’s Rampage, 2019’s Detective Pikachu and 2022’s Uncharted and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, after opening with almost $400m Super Mario Bros will be the sixth film to do so.
The difference between recent video game adaptations compared to films made a decade ago is they are more family-friendly playing to a younger audience unlike 2010’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (opened £1,371,066 taking £8,829,805); 2005’s Doom (opened £612,087 taking £1,309,725); 2016’s Assassin’s Creed (opened £5,285,064 taking £8,003,907); 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (£3,846,592 taking £12,822,883); 1995’s Street Fighter (£619,489 taking £2,280,880) and 1995’s Mortal Kombat (the only memorable thing of the film was it featured Orbital’s stunning Halcyon On and On) that play to an older tween audience who care more about how the film is comparable to the video game.
While Super Mario Bros gets mixed reviews its target audience doesn’t care about reviews, they just want to see the film having played the game. As 2020’s Sonic The Hedgehog (opened£4.7m taking £19.3m); 2022’s Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (opened £5m taking £26.7m); 2022’s Uncharted (opened £4.7m taking £24.2m); 2019’s Pokemon Detective Pikachu (£4.9m taking £13.8m); 2016’s The Angry Birds Movie (£2.1m taking £10.7m); 2019’s The Angry Birds Movie 2 (£695,043 taking £5.8m).
While being made by Illumination it already has a similar inbuilt audience as Pixar and Disney animation films have so have comparisons to 2013’s Wreck-It Ralph (opened £4,526,380) and 2018’s Ralph Breaks the Internet (opened £4,032,775) along with all other Illumination animation films.
While opening Wednesday the 5th and being the only major animation film on release gave it 12 lucrative days taking £2-3m a day and £30m+ by next Sunday and taking £40m-£45m before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 opens in 4 weeks. After having 5 different films #1 over the last 5 5 weeks Super Mario Bros will be #1 for the next 4 weeks.
30 years ago, the live-action Super Mario Bros opened #1 £907,342 from 266 screens (opened the weekend before Jurassic Park) dropped 54% £417,378 #3 and £1,657,898 62% of £2,835,463 (£7,137,240 inflated) in the second weekend against Jurassic Park opening £4,875,137 from 434 screens and Cliffhanger #2 £572,152. Played in the top 10 for 4 weeks and top 15 for 7 weeks taking £2,835,463.
Many have asked why Super Mario Bros was a hit while the 1993 live-action version wasn’t, have to remember back then video game adaptations weren’t popular, and the approach studios adapted them was very different as was with comic-book films, the only success at that time was Batman.
Again, dating is key in 1993 Super Mario Bros was sandwiched between Cliffhanger and Jurassic Park, while Disney was releasing low-budget family films and not used to opening high-budget tentpoles. While also Disney only had US rights for Super Mario Bros so likely more focused on their films like Guilty as Sin opening the weekend after, probably why Super Mario Bros held far stronger in the UK as Entertainment Films heavily promoted the film despite Jurassic Park opening weekend after.
Similar questions were asked about why Warcraft was as big a success while it has sold over 11m copies as its fantasy like Dungeons & Dragons it doesn’t have the old and young appeal that Super Mario Bros had like Tetris (also had a film released last week) Mario Bros was released with the Nintendo and the game system sold millions so the games became hugely popular. Anyone who has bought a Nintendo device over the last 30+ years has probably played both games.
Warner Bros recently dated Minecraft: The Movie for April 2025, if Super Mario Bros opened with £15m+ being 9th biggest second video game what will be BO for Minecraft which is the second biggest video game selling 238m copies up to April 2021, only Tetris has sold more 520m which also had a film opening last weekend on Apple.
- Dungeons & Dragons – £1,624,628 – £7,484,878
Down 54.2% in the second weekend (52% without previews); took £756k on Easter Monday
558th biggest second weekend between Yesterday and Three Billboards (close to Cloverfield, Prince of Persia, Fantastic Four (2005) and Forrest Gump) and 1,005th biggest inflated between Scandal and Hotel Transylvania 3 (close to Star Trek V The Undiscovered Country, Black Rain, The Karate Kid Part 2 and Maverick).
Co-director John Francis Daley said the film’s influences included The Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Lord of the Rings, Willow, and Indiana Jones. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley previously directed 2018’s Game Night (opened £1,094,478 taking £4,633,708) and 2015 Vacation and wrote screenplays for Horrible Bosses, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming making the film accessible to non-fans.
Of course, fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons have had mixed success at the BO. Few will remember the 2000 film that opened with £366,840 in the UK, taking £1,425,131.
Similar films have had mixed success at the box office including
2006’s Eragon dropped 36.5% £836,237 and £3,029,192 taking £8,551,316.
1996’s Dragonheart dropped 10.9% £1,071,947 (£2,340,900 inflated) and £3,212,878 48.8% of £6,573,083 (£14,354,192 inflated); despite underwhelming in the US Dragonheart was hugely successful in the UK and had several straight to DVD sequels.
2010’s Clash of the Titans dropped 57% £2,441,682 and £12,656,035 taking £20,111,003; it would have been my comparison film with D&D as 13 years on it surely should have opened similarly. Wrath of the Titans opened in 2012 but wasn’t nearly as successful taking £1,368,131 in the second weekend and £5,351,400 taking £7,812,578.
1999’s The Mummy dropped 33% £2,535,195 (£4,865,647 inflated) and £8,482,144 taking £17,439,339 (£33,470,275 inflated)
1988’s Willow dropped 21% £236,207 (£829,805 inflated) and £704,240 taking £1,641,213 (£5,765,653 inflated)
1987’s Masters of the Universe dropped 50.5% £169,665 (£637,625 inflated) and £1,591,702 taking £2,198,857 (£8,263,611 inflated).
1986’s Highlander dropped 16.7% £122,984 (£528,570 inflated) and £389,523 taking £1,220,671 (£5,246,288 inflated)
2016’s Warcraft dropped 79.9% £728,168 and £5,022,284 taking £5,947,228
2002’s Reign of Fire dropped 35% £603,437 and £2,298,692 taking £3,216,609 (£6,277,826 inflated)
1991’s Highlander 2: The Quickening dropped 43% £734,364 (£1,958,304 inflated) and £2,718,629 taking £5,250,692 (£14,001,845 inflated)
2007’s Beowulf dropped 33% £1,460,897 and £4,514,049 taking £7,043,429 (£11,269,486 inflated)
1988’s The Princess Bride took £27,325 from 9 screens: 1986’s Labyrinth £3,568,402 (£15,336,536 inflated)
934th biggest film between Burn After Reading and Lethal Weapon 4 (close to 300: Rise of An Empire, Exodus: Gods and Kings, Jack the Giant Slayer and Gremlins 2: The New Batch) and 1,503rd biggest inflated between Men In Black International and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (close to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Bridge to Tabitha, The Witches (1990) and Around the World in 80 Days).
- 3. John Wick Chapter Four – £1,286,221 – £12,933,430
Dropped 50.5% in the third weekend; dropped 51.2% on Friday (£732k) 28.2%
Had a similar third weekend as The Fugitive, Batman and Robin, Creed 3 and Tenet and inflation inflated close to Kill Bill – Volume 2, The Firm, Clear and Present Danger and Under Siege
Third weekend
2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum dropped 54% of £641,642 #6 from 426 screens and £8,002,938 83.5% of £9,587,828
2017’s John Wick: Chapter 2 dropped 61% taking £437,704 #9 from 379 screens and £5,370,534 93.1% of £5,766,633.
2015’s John Wick dropped 66% taking £104,318 #14 from 239 screens and £1,439,149
508th biggest film between Three Men and a Little Lady and Alien: Covenant (close to Shazam!, Charlie’s Angels (2000), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Ransom) and 899th biggest inflated between Philomena and Waking Ned Devine (close to Superman IV, Starship Troopers, Scandal and Groundhog Day).
- 4. Air – £1,174,554 – NE
Took £ £366,861 from Wed/Thurs and £290k from Friday
14th biggest opening of 2023 between 65 and Plane
169th widest opening in 597 cinemas similar to Venom 2 and War for the Planet of the Apes; 534 500+ cinema openings since 2003’s The Hulk
1,405th biggest opening between Fight Club and Edge Of Darkness (close to Sommersby, Eyes Wide Shut, Michael Collins and The Green Mile) and 2,015th biggest inflated between Me, Tonya and Primal Fear (close to The Last Boy Scout, Man on Fire, Spotlight and Unlawful Entry).
Air received positive reviews and being a sports film without any sport will help it find an audience outside of the US despite being a very American film, some critics have compared it to Jerry Maguire opened March 1997 £1,532,506 (£2,895,570 inflated) taking £9,930,120 (£18,762,315 inflated).
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have starred in many films together, first as extras in Field of Dreams and then Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, Jersey Girl, The Third Wheel, The Last Duel, School Ties and most famously 1998’s Good Will Hunting (£1,232,624 (£2,471,365 inflated) £7,806,051 (£15,650,842 inflated).
It’s the fifth film directed by Ben Affleck after 2008’s Gone Baby Gone (£351,127 opened #5 taking £1,694,405); 2010’s The Town (£1,005,039 #3 £4,771,263); 2012’s Argo (£1,287,770 #3 £7,488,365); 2017’s Live By Night (£698,218 #7 taking £1.3m). He was attached to direct and star in The Batman but stepped down from director in 2017 after the disappointing BO of Live By Night, replaced by Matt Reeves and then dropped out from being Batman in 2020 and was replaced by Robert Pattinson.
The script was on the 2021 Black List. Premiered at South by Southwest on March 18, 2023, receiving positive reviews.
- 5. The Pope’s Exorcist – £707,050 – NE
Took £270k Friday (38.2% of opening)
164th biggest horror opening between I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dog Soldiers (close to House of Wax, 13 Ghosts, Psycho (1999) and Mimic).
Opened in 433 cinemas having the 906 widest openings similar to Eat Pray Love, Hoodwinked and The Village and 1,156th 400+ cinema opening since 1989’s Batman.
Had a similar opening to The Mothman Prophecies, The Wicker Man, The Devil’s Own and Misery.
The Pope’s Exorcist is directed by Julius Avery, who previously directed 2018’s Overlord opened £677,844 #6 from 421 screens taking £1,154,232, likely to be front-loaded with other horrors Renfield and Evil Dead Rises opening over the next two weeks. After taking almost 40% of its opening on Good Friday The Pope’s Exorcist won’t last long in cinemas.
The Exorcist was rereleased in 1998 and opened £2,186,977 (£4,384,807 inflated) taking £7,143,595 (£14,322,642 inflated) and will be re-released in September for its 50th anniversary a few weeks before The Exorcist reboot/sequel; 1990’s The Exorcist III opened £181,104 (£628,034 inflated) taking £962,994 (£3,339,481 inflated).
Other exorcism films include 2014’s Deliver Us from Evil opened £629,554; 2005’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose £765,601 taking £3,651,487; 2010’s The Last Exorcism £1,104,856 taking £3,507,555.
The Pope’s Exorcist is supposedly based on a true story as The Conjuring films were 2013’s The Conjuring opened £2,156,124; 2016’s The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Case £4,637,862 and 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It £2,708,455.
Russell Crowe’s last lead role was in 2020’s Unhinged which opened a few weeks after cinemas reopened the first time after the first lockdown opened #1 with £175,263 from 243 screens taking £1,956,451. The Mummy and The Nice Guys in 2017 were his previous two major film roles but failed to match up to expectations. His last major successes were Noah in 2014 and Les Misérables in 2013. Russell Crowe is, of course, best known as Maximus in the 2000’s Gladiator and 24 years later Gladiator 2 opens starring Paul Mescal and directed by Ridley Scott.
The film opens in the US this weekend.
UK box office in detail
This weekend’s top 10 box office took £21,185,037 up xx% from last weekend’s £8,882,883: 2,754,881 admissions up 124.4% from 1,227,783.
57th biggest top 10 of the last 21 years (out of 1,097) between 28 December 2007 #1 I Am Legend £11,009,365 51.8% of top 10) and 05 August 2016 #1 Suicide Squad £11,252,225 (53.1% of top 10) and 159th biggest inflation inflated between 14 February 2014 #1 The Lego Movie £8,051,140 (45.6%of top 10) and 30 June 2017 #1 Despicable Me 3 £11,154,904 (56.8% of top 10).
The top 3 took £18,602,659 87.8% of the top 10; Super Mario Bro 74.1% (£15,691,810); Dungeons & Dragons 7.7% (£1,624,628); John Wick: Chapter Four 6.1% (£1,286,221)
74.07% of the top 10 48th highest percentage #1 between 13 July 2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (74.61%) and 08 March 2019 Captain Marvel (74.04%).
57th biggest admissions #1 (2,117,653) between 22 November 2019 Frozen 2 (2,122,083) and 26 April 2013 Iron Man 3 (2,099,701).
Up 80.9% from 2022 (£11,707,957); Fantastic Beasts 3 (£5,884,934); The Outfit (£96,600); Julia (£1,471); #1 Fantastic Beasts 3 £5,884,934 1st week 711 screens (50.3% of top 10)
2021; Lockdown
2020; Lockdown
Up 56.4% from 2019; (£13,628,515) Shazam! (£4,067,068); Pet Sematary (£1,554,881); Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun (£982,617); Missing Link (£644,649); The Sisters Brothers (£253,187); The Keeper (£77,806); The Golden Age – Bolshoi Ballet 2019 (£76,563); #1 Shazam! £4,067,068 1st week 599 screens (29.8% of top 10)
Up 59.4% from 2018: (£13,288,645); A Quiet Place (£2,696,892); Love, Simon (£1,179,593); Ghost Stories (£591,787); Death Wish (£156,795); Giselle – Bolshoi 2018 (£124,824); 120 Beats per Minute (£76,509); Thoroughbreds (£50,811); Wonderstruck (£30,642); The Hurricane Heist (£23,348); #1 Peter Rabbit (£3,152,269) down 44% 4 weeks
Up 41.1% from 2017: (£15,013,493); The Boss Baby (£8,025,886); Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience (£1,050,962); Going in Style (£569,392); Table 19 (£130,602); City of Tiny Lights (£28,038); Raw (£67,042); #1 The Boss Baby £8,025,886 1st week.
Up 91.2% from 2016: (£11,079,652); The Huntsman: Winter’s War (£3,032,962); Midnight Special (£497,109); Hardcore Henry (£201,827); The Man Who Knew Infinity (£147,990); #1 The Huntsman: Winter’s War £3,032,962 1st week.
Down 4.1% from 2015; (£22,075,680); Fast & Furious 7 (£12,765,033); The Water Diviner (£521,546); While We’re Young (£427,151); Blade Runner: The Final Cut (Re: 2015) (£267,452); #1 Fast & Furious 7 £12,765,033 1st week.
Up 68.9% from 2014: (£12,545,501); Rio 2 (£2,882,680); Noah (£2,511,397); Divergent (£1,767,295); La Boheme – Met Opera 2014 (£374,522); The Double (£281,794); #1 Rio 2 £2,882,680 1st week.
Up 164.3% from 2013: (£8,015,138); Dark Skies (£1,031,948); Spring Breakers (£345,153); The Odd Life of Timothy Green (£269,465); A Late Quartet (£107,158); #1 The Croods £2,364,348 3rd week 28% drop
Up 53.5% from 2012 (£13,797,117); Titanic 3D (£2,856,540); Mirror Mirror (£2,389,033); The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists (£2,166,162); The Cold Light of Day (£503,985); Headhunters (£264,769); #1 Titanic 3D £2,856,540 1st week 427 screens (20.7% of top 10)
Up 344.1% from 2011; (£4,770,365); Rio (£1,515,853); The Roommate (£120,365); Mars Needs Mums (£113,559); Tomorrow, When the War Began (£85,841); Silent House (£8,539); #1 Rio £1,515,853 1st week.
Up 139.1% from 2010: (£8,861,394); Whip It! (£353,041); I Am Love (£171,959); Shelter (£141,452); The Infidel (£135,448); #1 Clash of the Titans £2,441,682 2nd week 57% drop.
Up 108.3% from 2009; (£10,172,026); Monsters vs. Aliens (£4,345,711); The Boat that Rocked (£1,804,773); Religulous (£18,736); #1 Monsters vs. Aliens £4,345,711 1st week.
Up 219.8% from 2008; (£6,623,644); Son of Rambow (£897,089); Never Back Down (£845,530); Awake (£546,562); One Missed Call (£432,327); Funny Games (£88,376); How She Move (£78,771); #1 27 Dresses £1,028,661 2nd week 41% drop.
Up 201.5% from 2007: (£7,026,692); Blades of Glory (£1,023,836); Sunshine (£1,021,063); The Messengers (262,562); #1 Mr Beans Holiday £2,451,283 2nd week 62% drop
Up 245.7% from 2006; (£6,128,821): Failure to Launch (£874,999); The Shaggy Dog (£831,250); Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (£487,031); Firewall (£465,880); Yours, Mine, and Ours (£330,665); The White Countess (£70,012); #1 Inside Man £1,117,054 2nd week 356 screens 38% drop.
Up 209.1% from 2005 (£6,854,564); Sahara (£1,370,577); The Assassination of Richard Nixon (£157,756); Man of the House (£126,331); #1 Sahara £1,370,577 399 screens 1st week (20% of top 10)
Down 117.4% from 2004 (£9,743,104); 50 First Dates (£1,651,544); Shaun of the Dead (£1,603,410); Capturing the Friedmans (£66,689); Blind Flight (£6,634); #1 Scooby-Doo Too £2,038,602 2nd week 43% drop 20.9% of top 10 (20.9% of top 10)
Up 396.1% from 2003 (£4,270,657); Shanghai Knights (£749,655); A Man Apart (£527,730); Blue Crush (£491,419); #1 The Recruit £923,834 2nd week (3rd weekend down 17% 378 screens (18.1% of top 10)
Up 227.6% from 2002 (£6,466,007); Collateral Damage (£434,639); 24 Hour Party People (£265,428); Kate & Leopold (£204,325); #1 Blade 2 £1,335,594 2nd week 47% drop
Next week 2022; (£11,463,631); The Lost City (£2,743,211); The Northman (£897,737); Operation Mincemeat (£895,008); K.G.F: Chapter 2 (£357,038); #1 The Lost City £2,743,211 1st week 617 screens (24% of top 10)
US Box Office
- Super Mario Bros – Universal Pictures
Opened $146.36m and $195.3m 5 days and received mixed reviews (56% Rotten Tomatoes) and A CinemaScore.
30th biggest opening between Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Jurassic World: Dominion (close to Finding Dory $135.06m #37, Frozen 2 $130.26m #42, Shrek The Third $121.62m #50 and Toy Story 4 $120.9m #51).
It had the 3rd biggest Easter opening after Batman v. Superman ($181m) and Furious 7 ($161.2m).
Biggest US and global opening of 2023 overtaking Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($106.1m US and $225.3m WW).
The biggest US opening for Illumination overtaking 2015’s Minions ‘3-day of $115.7m and 2013’s Despicable Me 2‘s 5-day $143m.
The second-biggest US opening for the animated film 2018’s Incredibles 2 ($182.6m).
Took 27% from IMAX/PLF
17 Illumination Entertainment films have taken almost $3.5bn in the US and almost $8.5bn worldwide.
Had the biggest global opening for an animation and video game ahead of Frozen 2‘s $358m and Warcraft‘s $210m.
Opened with $173m from 70 territories and $377.5m worldwide; Mexico $27.4m; UK $19.6; Germany $14m; China $12m; France $10.4m; Australia $8.3m; Italy $7.9m; Brazil $6.9m.
Took $21.6m from IMAX worldwide including $5m internationally.
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Paramount Pictures
Dropped 63% in the second weekend $13.88m and $61.65m.
781st biggest second weekend between Godzilla vs. Kong and Ghostbusters II (close to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Gremlins, Terminator Genisys and John Carter).
As with Creed III, Scream VI, and Shazam! Fury Of The Gods and John Wick: Chapter Four lost IMAX/PLF screens to Super Mario Bros so making their second-weekend drop more severe as these films took about 35% of their opening weekend for those formats. IMAX/PLF was down for Super Mario Bros as the audience isn’t willing to pay more to see an animated film in those formats.
Dungeons & Dragons were previously made in 2000 opening $7.23m taking $15.31m and $33.97m, while fantasy films have had mixed success at the box office. They launch with huge expectations of multiple film series but then struggle to find an audience.
1,398th biggest film between Madea’s Family Reunion and Forgetting Sarah Marshall; 2,243rd biggest inflated between Collateral Damage and The Emerald Forest; 9th biggest 2023 film between Cocaine Bear and Shazam! Fury of the Gods is; the 108th biggest fantasy film between Bewitched and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and; the 193rd biggest Paramount Pictures film between In & Out and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.
Second weekends
2006’s Eragon dropped 60.9% taking $7m and $37.5m 50% of $75.03m and $250.42m WW
1996’s Dragonheart dropped 49.2% taking $7.63m and $27.49m 53.5% of $51.36m and $115.26m WW
2015’s Seventh Son dropped 42.5% taking $4.15m and $13.42m 78% of $17.22m and $114.17m WW
2010’s Clash of the Titans dropped 56.5% taking $26.63m and $110.22m 67.5% of $163.21m and $493.21m WW
1999’s The Mummy dropped 42.7% taking $24.85m and $80.58m 51.8% of $155.38m and $415.93m WW
1988’s Willow dropped 33.8% taking $5m and $25.32m 44.2% of $57.26m
1987’s Masters of the Universe dropped 39.4% taking $2.96m and $10.2m 58.8% of $17.33m
2016’s Warcraft dropped 70% taking $7.24m and $38.43m 81.1% of $47.36m and $438.04m WW
2002’s Reign of Fire dropped 53.2% taking $7.31m and $29.24m 67.9% of $43.06m and $82.15m WW
1986’s Labyrinth dropped 48.3% taking $3.54m and $7.15m 51.4% of $13.91m
1986’s Highlander dropped 48.1% taking $1.27m and $4.6m 78% of $5.9m
2007’s Beowulf dropped 39.9% taking $16.53m and $56.63m 68.8% of $82.28m and $196.39m WW
Dungeons & Dragons should surely open similarly to Clash of the Titans if BO were back to pre-pandemic levels but despite the industry’s claims of normality, it is a new normal since cinemas reopened with industry expectations lower than they would have been 3 years ago.
Took $15.5m (45% drop) from 61 territories and $61.8m and $124.1m worldwide; UK $9.4m; China $9.4m; Mexico $4.6m; Australia $4.2m; Germany $4m.
- Air – Amazon
It opened with $12.7m 3 days and $18.5m 5 days; received positive reviews (93% Rotten Tomatoes) and A CinemaScore.
Critics compared Air to 1996’s Jerry Maguire opened $17.08m taking $153.95m and $273.55m WW
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have starred in many films together, first as extras in 1989’s Field of Dreams and then 1997’s Chasing Amy, 1999’s Dogma (opened $8.66m taking $30.65m), 2001’s Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (opened $11.01m taking $30.85m), 2019’s Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, 2004’s Jersey Girl (opened $8.3m taking $25.26m), 2002’s The Third Wheel, 2021’s The Last Duel (opened $4.75m taking $10.85m), 1992’s School Ties (opened $3.02m taking $14.71m) and most famously 1997’s Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting opened on platform $272,912 from 7 screens and $10.26m wide taking $138.43m. During promo for Air Ben Affleck and Matt Damon said that they were pitched a sequel for Good Will Hunting but they rejected it
It’s the fifth film directed by Ben Affleck after 2007’s Gone Baby Gone (opened $2.29m taking $20.29m); 2010’s The Town ($23.8m taking $92.18m and $154.02m); 2012’s Argo ($19.45m taking $136.02m and $232.32m); 2016’s Live By Night ($33,336 from 4 screens $5.1m wide taking $10.37m and $22.67m).
Warner Bros rushed the release of Live By Night to open it in 2016 probably hoping lightning would strike twice after Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning Argo, had more time been spent editing the film would have been a far better film. Ben Affleck was signed to direct The Batman next but after the disappointing performance of Live By Night he dropped out from directing the film and then several months later dropped out from starring in it and was replaced by Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson and the film was a critical and box office hit with sequel dated for 2025.
Air is the first film made by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company Artists Equity and the film had an advert during the Super Bowl in February.
Amazon started releasing films including Manchester by the Sea and The Big Sick in cinemas and also acquired several films from studios to release straight to streaming including Coming 2 America, Without Remorse, The Tomorrow War, Cinderella and Shotgun Wedding. Amazon also acquired MGM Studios for $8.5bn last year and Bloomberg recently reported they will spend $1bn making 12-15 films yearly.
Opened with $10.5m internationally from 59 territories and $30.7m worldwide; the film was always likely to struggle internationally.
- John Wick: Chapter Four – Lionsgate
Dropped 49% in the third weekend $14.46m and $146.93m.
327th biggest third weekend between Rush Hour and Split.
407th biggest film between Uncharted and As Good as it Gets; 823rd biggest inflated between Hot Shots! And Mortal Kombat (1995); 4th biggest 2023 film between Creed III and Scream VI; 10th biggest Lionsgate film between Divergent and Wonder; John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum #6 $171.01m.
Third weekends
2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum dropped 54.9% of $11.08m and $125.73m 73.5% of $171.01m and $328.34m
2017’s John Wick: Chapter Two dropped 42.3% by $9.35m and $74.77m 81.2% of $92.02m and $171.53m worldwide.
2014’s John Wick dropped 48.2% by $4.13m and $34.8m by 80.9% of $43.03m and $88.76m WW
John Wick Chapter 3 dropped 56.7% taking 33% of its total BO over the opening weekend; took $24.58m #2 and $101.22m 59% of the total against Aladdin #1 $91.5m.
If Chapter 4 holds like the previous it will take $180-$190m and Lionsgate will be dating John Wick Chapter 5 for 2025 within a few weeks.
Took $21.5m (dropped 38.6%) from 75 territories and $159m total and $306.6m worldwide; UK $15.6m; Germany $14.1m; Australia $11m; Mexico $11M.
595th biggest worldwide between Neighbors and The Firm; 16th biggest Lionsgate film worldwide between Divergent and The Expendables.
- Scream VI – Paramount Pictures
Dropped 36% in the fifth weekend $3.42m and $103.95m
995th biggest fifth weekend between Play It to the Bone and Stand by Me
Scream VI became the first Scream film since Scream 2 26 years ago to take $100m+ at the US BO but impossible to compare the two films as ticket inflation is over 100% since Scream 2 opened as well as budgets and marketing costs.
Fifth weekends
1996’s Scream dropped 1% #4 taking $7.34m and $59.47m 57.7% of $103.04m and $173.04m worldwide; had an extraordinarily strong word of mouth and held very strongly staying in the top 10 for 9 weeks)
1997’s Scream 2 dropped 50.8% $3.58m #9 and $90.78m 89.5% of $101.36m and $172.36m WW
2000s Scream 3 dropped 43% $2.86m #15 and $82.15m 92.1% of $89.14m and $161.83m WW.
2011’s Scream 4 dropped 60.5% of $277,103 #27 and $37.5m 98.2% of $38.18m and $97.23m WW
2022’s Scream dropped 37.8% $2.95m #7 and $73.29m 89.7% of $81.64m and $137.74m WW
Scream film series has taken almost $520m in the US and over $900m worldwide. Paramount Pictures will surely be announcing Scream 7 very soon and dating it for 2024.
719th biggest film between Phenomenon and The Princess and the Frog; 1,328th biggest inflated between History of the World: Part I and Jagged Edge; 5th biggest 2023 between John Wick: Chapter 4 and M3gan; 22nd biggest horror between Interview with the Vampire and Paranormal Activity 3; 99th biggest Paramount Pictures film between The Lost City and Daddy’s Home 2.
Took $1.6m (dropped 54.3%) internationally from 54 territories $57.8m total and $162.2m worldwide; 1,122nd biggest worldwide between Midnight in Paris and The Magnificent Seven; 47th biggest horror between Saw III and The Ring Two; 127th Paramount Pictures between The Spiderwick Chronicles and Payback.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
Super Mario Bros will be the first film since Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to be #1 for more than a week and will likely remain #1 until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 opens in three weeks.
Super Mario Bros will have a strong second weekend as all family films do in the second weekend of the Easter holidays, but unlike many other films that often see a slight increase due to its opening being inflated with £6,943,163 from previews will have a second-weekend drop of 40%-50% which will be similar to its opening Fri-Sun £8,861,810. Took £4.1m on Easter Monday, £2.9m on Tuesday and £3m+ Wednesday, and then likely upwards of £3m Thurs-Sun so could take £35m by Sunday.
Vampire action-comedy Renfield will open #2. The film has received mixed reviews with many highlighting Nicolas Cage’s performance as Dracula. After playing himself last year in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, it looks like he has his mojo back. As away from vocal roles in The Croods, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, it’s more than a decade since he starred in films that attracted a wide audience. While Nicolas Cage starred in three huge action films in the 90s, The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off have more in common with Johnny Depp than Tom Cruise with many quirky film choices.
Look to a similar opening as 2009’s Zombieland £1,240,984 (sequel opened similarly a decade later) taking £3,375,412 and 1996’s From Dusk Till Dawn opened at £501,303 (£1,094,737 inflated) taking £2,458,967 (£5,369,852 inflated). With Evil Dead Rise opening next weekend Renfield as The Pope’s Exorcist will likely be front-loaded.
Dungeons & Dragons will drop 25%-30% again holding well due to the Easter holidays taking £1.1m-£1.3m as it gets close to taking £10m. While it has performed well in the UK due to being heavily promoted by eOne will this be enough to justify another film as its budget was $150m and won’t likely take more than $200m?
Much will surely depend on the future of eOne as Hasbro put it up for sale last year only 3 years after acquiring it. This reminds me of the situation Polygram were in in the late 90s they had strong growth and was close to buying MGM but then a new boss came in at Philips who wasn’t interested in the film industry and sold Polygram off to the highest bidders with Universal Pictures acquiring Working Title and MGM acquiring Polygram film library.
John Wick: Chapter Four released by Lionsgate (who have reportedly made a bid for eOne) will have another 50% drop in its fourth weekend taking £600k-£800k.
Opening in two weeks
- Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 – Disney
32nd MCU and third film of the Guardians of the Galaxy film starring an ensemble cast of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki and Sylvester Stallone and directed by James Gunn.
After directing and writing the second film in 2017 James Gunn was announced to return to direct and write the third film but Disney fired him in 2018 after Tweets, he wrote a decade earlier resurfaced, (surely Disney must have known about these Tweets before they hired him to direct the first film in 2013?)
Had its world premiere in Los Angeles on April 6th curiously there hasn’t been a social media reaction to the premiere despite reports that the film tested strongly in March, but of course have to take premiere reactions with a pinch of salt as audiences are always so hyped up and giving immediate reaction, they are always far more positive than if they are given time to think.
2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 opened £6,363,110 (including £1,372,109 previews) taking £28,326,152
2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 opened £13,092,657 (no previews) taking £40,839,462
The 31 MCU films have made £1.04bn since 2008 and £1.2bn inflation inflated.
After the disappointing Phase 4, Phase 5 started also disappointingly with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania having the worst MCU opening since Eternals and despite opening with £8,834,435 more than double Ant-Man and almost double Ant-Man and the Wasp failed to take £20m+ at the UK BO. This was followed by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever taking a third less than the first film. So, there are big questions if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 can match the success of the last film.
It will of course open with £12.5m+ in the UK and $150m+ in the US but the question for MCU is more about how it will hold over its second weekend as fans will always rush out to see the latest MCU over opening weekend and when Guardians 3 does that industry reaction will see audiences still love the MCU.
