- Wonka – £7,214,019 – £30,918,549
Took £2.02m 28.01% (up 54.2% £1.31m) Friday; £2.31m 32.04% (14.1% drop £2.69m) Saturday; £2.81m 38.97% (up 19.1% £2.36m) Sunday.
8th biggest third weekend between Avatar: The Way of Water and Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (close to Barbie, Spectre, Beauty and the Beast (2017) and LOTR: Return of the King) and 23rd biggest inflated between Monsters, Inc. and Beauty and the Beast (2017) (close to Jurassic Park, A Bug’s Life, The Lion King (1994) and Alice in Wonderland).
With Wonka playing in 740+ cinemas and 1,521 screens and Aquaman 2 1,165 screens these two films were playing in over half of the screens in the UK.
David Heyman has had the Midas Touch this year producing two of Warner Bros biggest films Barbie and Wonka both shot at Leavesden Studios. David Heyman had huge success for Warner Bros producing Harry Potter films and developed Paddington at the studio for many years before they dropped the project and Studiocanal acquired it and both films were critical and box office success with a third film set for release next November. David Heyman also has the long-development I Am Legend sequel starring Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan which could go into production next year with a 2025 release.
2014’s Paddington dropped 24% £2,909,674 #2 from 557 screens and £14,306,197 37.7% of £37,965,541; was #1 for 2 weeks; in the top 5 for 8 weeks and in the top 10 for 12 weeks; took £2m+ for 6 weeks and £1+ for 7 weeks.
2017’s Paddington 2 dropped 31% £4,545,218 #2 from 638 screens and £22,990,836 53.9% of £42,643,286; #1 for 3 weeks split over 5 weeks, opened #1, then dropped #2 for 2 weeks before returning #1 in early December; top 5 for 8 weeks and top 10 for 10 weeks; took £2m+ for 4 weeks and £1m+ for 9 weeks.
Roald Dahl’s film adaptions play strongly to children and families, but the casting of Timothée Chalamet as Wonka will attract tweens/teens and as musicals are also very popular it should play to almost all demographics. While also musicals always perform well in the UK, even Cats took £11,987,192, In the Heights £4,286,073
Paul King chose to direct Wonka instead of directing Paddington 3 after directing the first two Paddington films, both David Heyman produced Wonka and Paddington 3.
Roald Dahl’s film adaptions have been extremely popular in the UK.
Third weekends
1990’s The Witches dropped 53% £107,565 (£373,015 inflated) and £1,096,416 51.3% of £2,135,460 (£7,405,372 inflated)
1996’s Matilda dropped 2.9% £957,052 (£2,089,995 inflated) and £4,242,159 41.5% of £10,227,163 (£22,333,913 inflated)
1996’s James And The Giant Peach down 44.6% £246,795 (£538,947 inflated) and £2,311,419 40.2% of £5,750,628 (£12,558,128 inflated)
2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dropped 35% £2,886,352 (£5,539,602 inflated) and £26,058,703 69.7% of £37,354,584 (£64,081,749 inflated)
2009’s Fantastic Mr Fox dropped 49.2% £1,164,817 (£1,164,817 inflated) and £6,831,974 73.7% of £9,260,892
2016’s The BFG dropped 49% £1,713,088 and £20,207,813 65.8% of £30,694,086
British audiences love seeing musicals even films that underwhelmed have performed stronger in the UK including most recently In The Heights taking 4x £1,073,687 opening and Cats (3.75x £3,207,471 opening). So, with the combination of a musical, a prequel of a beloved children’s film, Roald Dahl, similarities to Paddington and a strong British cast it was a no-brainer that Wonka was going to have long legs.
Wonka can also be compared to 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns dropped 40% £4,444,023 #1 from 718 screens and £34,295,862 77% of £44,541,719. The difference was Mary Poppins Returns opened the weekend before Christmas and its third weekend was the first weekend of January.
137th biggest between Thor: Ragnarok and The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 (close to Sing 2, Slumdog Millionaire, The BFG and La La Land); 144th £30m+ film; and 305th biggest inflated between Monsters vs. Aliens and Fast & Furious 6 (close to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, A Fish Called Wanda, Happy Feet and A Christmas Carol).
29th biggest Warner Bros film between It Part 1 and Man of Steel (close to Fantastic Beasts 2, The Lego Movie, A Star Is Born and Elvis; by Sunday Wonka will have taken £40m+ and depending on how it holds it could take £60m as Wonka could be #1 for 6 weeks until mid-January.
- 2. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom £2,489,068 – NE
Includes £561k from previews Thursday (22.5%)
Took £665k (26.7%) Friday; £645k (25.9%) Saturday; £598k (24.02%) Sunday.
654th biggest opening between Total Recall and Wild Wild West (close to King Arthur, Captain Underpants, National Treasure 2 and Free Guy) and 1,077th biggest inflated between A Fish Called Wanda and 28 Weeks Later (close to Dick Tracy, Cool Runnings, The Green Hornet and The Golden Child); strange coincidence Aquaman 2 opened in the UK and UK similar to 1999’s Wild Wild West.
13th biggest DC opening between Birds of Prey and Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (close to The Flash and Shazam!).
88th biggest comic-book opening between Blade 2 and Kick-Ass 2 (close to Batman Returns (£2,774,796), Fantastic Four (2015), Green Lantern (£2,472,969) and Batman (£2,058,159) and 98th biggest inflated between Dick Tracy and The Green Hornet (close to Blade, Kick-Ass 2, Super Mario Brothers and Superman IV).
31st biggest 2023 opening between Killers Of The Flower Moon and Wish (close to Scream 6, The Equalizer 3, Shazam 2 and M3gan).
Aquaman 2 opened in 749 cinemas and 1,165 screens.
Expectations were very low ahead of the opening, Warner Bros seemed to have little faith in the film with the embargo ending on Thursday afternoon several hours after screenings had started in the UK.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom was the widest Warner Bros opening 746 cinemas ahead of last year’s Elvis, but while Elvis had long legs Aquaman 2 will likely be played out of cinemas within a couple of weeks.
Aquaman opened 5 years ago at £5,230,285 #1 from 604 screens including £1.4m from previews on Wednesday £842k and Thursday £552k; 14th biggest opening of 2018 and Warner Bros’ second biggest of the year after Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald; taking £22,066,309; opened against Spider-man: Into The Spider-verse at £2,279,995 #2.
Shazam! Fury Of The Gods opened £2,397,953 #1 (657 screens) taking £5,892,663 almost half of 2019’s Shazam! £4,067,068 #1 (599 screens) taking £13,151,121 as well as The Flash £4,252,532 #1 (660 screens) taking £8,856,170; Blue Beetle £1,189,812 #3 (549 screens) taking £4,326,979 and MCU’s Ant-Man 3 £8,834,435 #1 £19,263,938 and The Marvels £3,465,783 #1 taking £7,095,634.
Other recent DC openings include.
Wonder Woman opened 2nd June 2017 with £6,179,616 (including £1,219,884 previews); Baywatch opened against opening with £4,631,244 (including £2,719,710 previews)
Suicide Squad opened on 5th August 2016 with £11,252,225 and had the weekend to itself opening the week after Jason Bourne
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opened with £14,621,007 and opened against Zootropolis with £5,306,726 (including £1,733,638 previews) two films targetting different demographics.
The 16 DC Extended Universe films have taken £325n+ since Man of Steel in 2013 and £350m+ inflated.
Normally would expect Aquaman 2 to drop up to 70% in its second weekend but the weekend after Christmas sees films holding far stronger as seen with Aquaman 2 taking £460k on Boxing Day and £657k on Wednesday taking £3.59m after 7 days. That said it will likely take less than The Flash and Birds of Prey but will overtake both Shazam! Fury Of The Gods and Blue Beetle over the next week.
While Aquaman 2 sees the end of the current DC Extended Universe, James Gunn’s DC slate of films starts with Joker: Folie á Deux opening in October 2024 a musical sequel to the 2019 hit, Superman: Legacy July 2025 and The Batman – Part II October 2025.
As with MCU what will be more interesting to see is what James Gunn does with the lesser-known DC films as Batman and Superman films have always been popular at the box office in all the different versions that have been made over the years on the big and small screen.
- 3. Dunki £707,408 – NE
Took £183k (25.9%) from previews.
Took £173k (24.46%) Friday; £171k (24.2%) Saturday; £171k (24.2%) Sunday.
While the industry heralds 2023 as the year of Barbenheimer and Taylor Swift it is the year Bollywood became a major part of the UK BO, Bollywood films have been released in UK cinemas regularly for the last 20+ years. This year has seen three £1m+ openings Pathaan £1,967,854; Jawan £1,346,689 and Leo £1,157,367. Along with several others opening £500k+ including Animal £719,022 and Dunki £707,408.
These films open in about 200 cinemas about a third of the size of the release of most other films. With a population of 1.8m in the UK and these films mostly shown in standard formats fans of Bollywood films are probably seeing more films in UK cinemas than other audiences in the UK.
On Christmas Day selective cinemas were open in the UK including several Cineworld cinemas and Odeon and Cineworld Leicester Square and Dunki #1 taking £35k; Salaar #3 £23k and Animal #5 £5k
Bollywood films are normally front-loaded and last only a week in the top 10 that said Animal recently stayed in the top 10 for three weeks taking £2,064,200.
- 4.Wish £653,908 – £7,904,952
Up 11.3% in the fifth weekend.
Took £211k (32.3%) Friday; £218k (33.4%) Saturday; £221k (33.8%) Sunday.
Analysts are often too quick to call a film a flop as most Disney animated films have long legs, Strange World and Encanto both had soft openings, but they took 4.6x and 4.3x openings.
338th biggest fifth weekend between Kung Fu Panda and Home Alone (close to The Muppets, 22 Jump Street, Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile) and 571st h biggest inflated between Phone Booth and A Beautiful Mind (close to Fantastic Mr. Fox, She’s All That, The Princess Diaries and Jerry Maguire).
13th biggest Disney animation fifth weekend between Zootropolis and Chicken Little (close to The Lion King (1994), Lilo & Stitch, Bolt and Pocahontas) and the 19th biggest inflated between Mulan and The Little Mermaid (1990) (close to Beauty and the Beast (1992), Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and Planes).
Fifth weekends
Strange World dropped 25% £143,572 #9 and £2,551,442 #9 and £2,551,442 of £3,828,252; in the top 10 for 7 weeks.
Encanto dropped 56% £157,074 #6 and £5,465,843 of £7,556,060; in the top 10 for 8 weeks taking a third of its BO after being released on Disney+.
2016’s Moana was up 47% £1,620,268 #5 and £13,701,447 and £9,833,507 of £20,041,031; Moans opened a week after Thanksgiving, so the fourth weekend was over Christmas.
21st biggest Disney animated film between Mulan and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (close to Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast (1992), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and Treasure Planet) and the 26th biggest inflated between Planes and Meet The Robinsons (close to The Little Mermaid (1990), Atlantis, Encanto and Strange World).
The 34 Disney animated films since Oliver & Company have taken over £460m and £725m+ inflated.
903rd biggest between Muriel’s Wedding and What Happens in Vegas… (close to One Direction: This Is Us, Back To The Future Part III, The Santa Clause 2 and The Jungle Book 2) and 1,460th biggest inflated between Salmon Fishing in Yemen and A League of Their Own (close to Grease (1998 RE), Team America: World Police, Wild Child and Nine Months).
144th biggest animated film between Captain Underpants and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (close to The Polar Express, Bee Movie, Hotel Transylvania and The Jungle Book (1993 re-issue) and 176th biggest inflated between Team America: World Police and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (close to Peter Pan (1992 re), Bambi (1993 re), The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Aristocats (1994 RE).
- 5. Salaar – £394,548 -NE
Took £163k from previews.
As with Dunki it’s another strong opening for Bollywood film that said its opening was front-loaded from previews.
Without previews Elf incredibly would have climbed to fifth, over recent years Elf has become a modern-day Christmas re-release classic as It’s A Wonderful Life has been for many more years. Incredible to see a film that’s regularly on TV across December still finds an audience in the cinema.
Christmas re-releases
- Elf (20th Anniversary) #6 £388,759 taking £1,465,141.
- Home Alone #8 £302,917 taking £2,903,257.
- It’s A Wonderful Life (75th Anniversary) #9 £266,592 taking £1,276,099.
- The Polar Express #10 £252,674 taking £1,317,243.
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (30th Anniversary) #13 £203,145 taking £929,678.
- Die Hard (30th Anniversary) #14 £110,783 taking £978,299.
- Home Alone 2: Lost In New York #15 £91,619 taking £726,102
It’s A Wonderful Life has been regularly re-released in cinemas for Christmas over the last 20 years and has been joined over recent years by many other Christmas set films from Home Alone to Elf, surprisingly despite tickets being regular prices they continue to find audiences each year.
What this does again show if people want to see films in cinemas they will see them in the cinema despite being available to watch at home. All of the Christmas re-releases are shown over Christmas for free on TV.
UK box office in detail
This weekend’s top 10 box office took £12,979,322 up 31.1% from last weekend’s £9,899,366: 1,580,916 admissions up 32.4% from 1,193,796 admissions.
13th biggest weekend of the year out of 51 weeks between 30 June 2023 #1 Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (£7,144,441) and 27 October 2023 #1 Five Nights at Freddy’s (£5,379,587)
32nd biggest since cinemas reopened out of 162 weeks between 30 June 2023 #1 Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (£7,144,441) and 01 April 2022 #1 Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (£4,986,334)
351st biggest top 10 of the last 21 years (out of 1,134) between 19 August 2016 #1 Finding Dory £2,868,459 (22.09% of top 10) and 20 January 2017 #1 La La Land £4,373,249 (33.71% of top 10) and 645th biggest inflated between 06 December 2013 #1 Frozen £4,704,940 (44.19% of top 10) and 17 June 2005 #1 Batman Begins £4,427,802 (57.77% of top 10)
The top 3 took (£10,410,495) 80.2% of the top 10; Wonka 55.58% (£7,214,019); Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom 19.18% (£2,489,068); Dunki 5.45%% (£707,408);
194th highest #1 percentage (55.58%) between 13 December 2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (55.71%) and 01 August 2003 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (55.58%)
309th biggest admissions #1 (905,147) between 02 October 2015 The Martian (905,927) and 31 March 2017 and Beauty and the Beast (901,202)
Up 65.1% from 2022 (£7,861,021); no new releases 2-day weekend as Sunday was Christmas Day; #1 Avatar: The Way of Water 2nd week £4,974,004 732 screens (63.27% of top 10)
Up 53.1% from 2021; (£8,478,878); The Matrix: Resurrections (£2,686,785); #1 Spider-Man No Way Home £4,619,518 2nd week 84% (76% not previews) drop 656 screens (54.5% of top 10)
Up 14,153.7% from 2020 (£91,059); #1 Wonder Woman 1984 £72,674; #2 Home Alone £3,840; #3 Come Away £3,245; #1 Wonder Woman 1984 £72,674 214 screens 2nd weekend (79.8% of top 10)
Down 58% 2019 (£30,884,264) Cats £3,207,471; #1 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 740 screens (£20,864,500) 1st week
Down 21.5% from 2018: (£16,539,374); Mary Poppins Returns (£8,181,541); The Nutcracker – Bolshoi Ballet 2018 (£258,038); #1 Mary Poppins Returns £8,181,541 1st week 735 screens (39.4% of the top 10)
Down 56.2% from 2017: (£29,632,571); Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (£8,154,548); Pitch Perfect 3 (£4,334,525); Ferdinand (£3,644,748); #1 Star Wars: The Last Jedi £10,158,640 2nd week 706 screens 64% drop (35.3% of top 10)
Up 4.1% from 2016: (£12,473,395); Passengers (£2,418,976); Ballerina (£1,094,317); It’s a Wonderful Life (Re-release) (£130,016); #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story £5,652,730 2nd week 680 screens 67% drop (45.3% of the top 10)
Down 26% from 2015; (£17,525,083); Snoopy and Charlie Brown: A Peanuts Movie (£3,639,383); Daddy’s Home (£1,628,219); In the Heart of the Sea (£570,543); #1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens £10,164,805 2nd week 665 screens (58% of top 10)
Down 20.8% from 2014: (£16,382,437); Exodus: Gods and Kings (£2,607,453); Annie (£2,310,453); Unbroken (£656,991); Big Eyes (£135,582); #1 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies £4,249,226 3rd week 601 screens 21% drop (25.9% of top 10)
Down 27.4% from 2013: (£17,885,304); Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (£4,545,934); Walking with Dinosaurs (£982,023); The Harry Hill Movie (£549,736); Moshi Monsters: The Movie (£334,748); Sleeping Beauty – Bolshoi 2011 (£86,942); American Hustle platform (£39,595); #1 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug £5,358,380 2nd week 594 screens 43% drop (30% of top 10)
Down 11.8% from 2012 (£14,717,807); Life of Pi (£3,610,604); Pitch Perfect (£952,107); Home Alone (Re: 2012) (£43,544); West of Memphis (£1,103); #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey £5,979,241 2nd week 601 screens 48% drop (40.6% of top 10)
Up 80% from 2011 (£7,210,571); no new releases; #1 Arthur Christmas £2,047,463 7th weekend up 52% 549 screens (28.4% of top 10)
Up 117.1% from 2010: (£5,980,170); Little Fockers (£3,035,717); Arthur and the Great Adventure (£83,875); #1 Little Fockers £3,035,717 1st week 488 screens (50.7% of top 10)
Down 6.7% from 2009; (£13,907,548); Alvin And The Chipmunks II (£5,347,191); Sherlock Holmes (£3,439,616); 3 Idiots (£437,554); Nowhere Boy (£148,157); #1 Alvin And The Chipmunks II£5,347,191 1st week (38.4% of top 10)
Up 41.3% from 2008; (£9,184,877); Yes Man (£2,331,490); Bedtime Stories (£1,551,605); Australia (£1,294,414); #1 Yes Man £2,331,490 1st week (25.4% of top 10)
Up 22% from 2007: (£10,638,757); St. Trinian’s (£1,832,594); Alvin and the Chipmunks (£1,433,937); P. S. I Love You (£224,096); I’m Not There (£58,491); #1 Enchanted £2,547,975 2nd week 1st week #1 24% of top 10)
Up 61.8% from 2006; (£8,021,487); Flags of Our Fathers (£97,765); #1 Happy Feet £2,048,266 3rd week 475 screens 1% up (25.5% of top 10)
Up 117.8% from 2005 (£5,961,400); No new releases; #1 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe £2,843,353 3rd week 2nd 1 over 3 weeks 525 screens 41% drop (47.7% of top 10)
Up 308.1% from 2004 (£3,180,924); National Treasure (£312,784); House of Flying Daggers (£251,498); The Aviator (platform) (£23,835); #1 The Polar Express 4th week 1st #1 41% drop 452 screens (21.6% of top 10)
Up 7.4% from 2003 (£12,084,935); Peter Pan (£1,359,372); Cold Mountain (£380,994); Out of Time (£311,508); #1 Lord of the Rings: Return of the King £7,149,427 2nd week 59.2% of top 10)
Down 26.8% from 2002 (£17,727,804); Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (£13,063,560); Sweet Home Alabama (£758,267); Hey Arnold (£35,881); #1 Lord of the Rings: Two Towers £13,063,560 1st week 501 screens (73.7% of top 10)
Down 10.7% from 2001 (£14,532,108); The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (£11,058,045); The Princess Diaries (£587,677); #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings £11,058,045 1st week 470 screens (76.1% of top 10);
Next week: (£14,337,250); Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody £3,325,458; Corsage £203,121; Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2022 £54,784; #1 Avatar: The Way of Water £7,643,764 3rd week (53.31% of top 10)
UK BO 2023
Universal Pictures is currently the #1 studio in the UK in 2023 taking £215m, and Warner Bros is #2 taking £207m, (£211m+ Weds) Wonka and Aquaman 2 will see Warner squeeze past Universal Pictures by Sunday); Disney #3 with £159m; Sony Pictures £78m; Paramount Pictures £76m; Lionsgate/eOne £66m.
Will probably be the first time since 2011 Warner Bros were #1 UK distributor as over the last decade it’s been mostly Disney #1. Warner Bros have a strong 2024 slate including Dune: Part Two (£30m+), Mickey 17 (new film from Parasite director Joon-ho Bong), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Furiosa, Beetlejuice 2 and Joker: Folie á Deux.
US BO 2023
Much has been made about audiences returning to cinemas this year in the US and UK, while they returned to see films like Barbie and Oppenheimer the problem has been they are being selective in the other films they see. US BO might squeeze past $9bn this year as it has squeezed past £1bn in the UK but admissions will be the lowest in the US for over 50 years less than 850m. While in the UK they will be about 120m over 50m less than their highest 177m in 2018. The US industry average is $10.53 but with about 40% of BO of films like Aquaman 2 and Wonka coming from IMAX/PLF Entelligence average is about a third more $13.20 which would see admissions about 500m.
As cinemas are in the popcorn business not the film business admissions are far more important than BO as more cinemagoers mean more of the highly profitable popcorn and syrup sold as happened on National Cinema Day when cinemas sold more than twice as much as a normal day. While many heralded the success of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with the standard price of $19.89 and $22 for Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé their performances weren’t as impressive as they seemed especially given the popularity of both. Surely Eras Tour should have taken two or three times as much and with Renaissance opening only 6 weeks afterwards it likely affected its potential BO as did the $22 price.
With exhibitors complaining about a lack of tentpoles in the first 6 months of 2024 why wasn’t Renaissance held back till 2024, likewise Eras Tour would have surely performed better internationally after Taylor Swift’s live international concerts in the summer as fans have paid £200+ to see the concerts wouldn’t want to spoil it seeing the film first.
IMAX has taken $1bn in 2023 for only the third time after 2018 ($1.03bn) and 2019 ($1.11bn); the biggest IMAX films Oppenheimer ($185m) and Avatar 2 ($110m) with $231m from local language films worldwide.
There are big questions over 2024 while there are some big films most open in the last 6 months and it lacks any potential Barbie or Oppenheimer, that said Wicked could be next year’s Wonka.
US Box Office
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – Warner Bros
Opened $27.7m/$38.3m 4 days; received poor reviews (36% Rotten Tomatoes); B CinemaScore.
Similar to Black Adam 39%; Other recent DC Aquaman 66%; The Flash 63%; Shazam 2 66%; Blue Beetle 78%;.
Took $4.5m from Thursday previews; Aquaman $9m; The Flash $9.7m; Wonder Woman $11m; Black Adam $7.6m; Shazam! $5.9m; The Marvels $6.6m; Morbius $5.7m; The Suicide Squad $4.1m
693rd biggest opening Along Came Polly and Wild Wild West (close to Alita: Battle Angel, The Matrix, After Earth and Real Steel).
Took 41% from IMAX/PLF
2023’s The Flash opened $55.04m and $108.13m and $270.63m worldwide
2023’s Blue Beetle opened $25.03m and $72.48m and $129.28m worldwide
2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods opened $30.11m and $57.63m and $133.83m worldwide.
2018’s Aquaman opened $67.87m and $335.06m and $1.151bn worldwide
DC Extended Universe took $2.68bn in the US and $6.78bn worldwide.
2023 comic-book films
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania $200m budget; $476m WW
Shazam! Fury of the Gods – $125m; $134m WW
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – $250m budget; $846m WW
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – $150m budget; $691m WW
The Flash $220m budget; $271m WW
Blue Beetle $125m budget; $130m WW
The Marvels $220m budget; $205m WW
And Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s $205 million budget
Opened with $80.1m from 73 territories and $108.2m WW; China $30.4m (Aquaman $94m); Mexico $5m; France $3.2m; UK $3m; Korea $2.9m; Brazil $2.8m; Germany $2.5m; Taiwan $2.3m; Malaysia $2.1m; Thailand $2.1m; Spain $1.4m.
IMAX took $9.9m internationally including $6m from China; global IMAX took $14m from 1,522 screens.
The Flash opened with $75m from 78 territories and $139m worldwide; China $13.8m; Mexico $9.4m; UK $5.3m; Korea $3.7m; Brazil $3.5m; Australia $3m; France $2.8m; Indonesia $2.6m; India $2.5m.
Shazam 2 opened with $34m from 77 territories (ahead of opening expected to open with $80m-$85m worldwide) taking $5.1m worldwide from IMAX including $2.5m internationally.
Man of Steel opened with $116.61m taking $291.04m; Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opened with $166m taking $330.3m; Suicide Squad opened with $133.68m taking $325.1m; Wonder Woman opened with $103.25m taking $412.56m and Justice League opened with $93.84m taking $229.9m
#ShangChi’s 56.2M, #TheMarvels 63.3M, #TheFlash’s 75M, #BlackAdam’s 75.9M, #BlackWidow’s 78.8M.
- Migration – Universal Pictures
Opened $12.45m/$17.8m 4 days #3; received mixed reviews (69% Rotten Tomatoes); A CinemaScore.
Took $1.5m from Thursday previews; Trolls Band Together $1.3m; The Bad Guys $1.15m
Ahead of opening Migration was expected to open similar to last year’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish $12.42m having very strong legs taking $185,53m and $481.07m worldwide. The other comparison was 2021’s Sing 2 opening $22.32m taking $162.79m and $408.4m worldwide.
The question is will it have the legs of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
The 13 Illumination Entertainment films have taken $3.72bn in the US and $9.45bn worldwide.
Opened with $7.9m from 17 territories; France $4.2m; Mexico $3.6m; Italy $2.5m; Germany $2m; China $1.8m.
- Wonka – Warner Bros
Dropped 54% in its second weekend taking $18.05m/$28.3n #2 and $75.55m
541st biggest second weekend between Daredevil and Superbad (close to Lightyear, The Pacifier, Green Lantern and Mamma Mia!).
According to EnTelligence average price $13.20 25% more than the industry average ($10.53m)
Wonka’s budget was $125m and its global marketing costs were probably as much so the film would surely need to take $600m+ worldwide, but the new post-COVID order is that $400m is the mark of success. The problem is there are so many so-called industry experts but much of it is speculation as football transfer fees and player’s wages, It is hard to know what fact or fiction is. As industry seemed to low-balled expectations of what is a success, but only studio accountants knew, that said Hollywood accounting has famously twisted numbers to show hits and flops.
Wonka is a musical, but you wouldn’t have known that from the trailers as Deadline reported test screen audiences hate musicals, the only way to get people into cinemas is to trick them which makes no sense. Both Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story ($10.5m opening) and In the Heights ($11.5m opening) were sold as musicals but was impossible for them not to be.
While a family film opening the weekend before Christmas will have long legs as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and The Greatest Showman in 2017, Wonka opened a week earlier than those films so will likely have a second weekend drop of 45% with Migration and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom opening, but then have a much smaller drop in the third weekend.
Except for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl’s film adaptions haven’t performed strongly in the US as they do internationally
Second weekends
2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dropped 49.7% $28.25m and $114.05m of $206.45m and $474.96m WW
2009’s Fantastic Mr Fox dropped 58.1% $2.91m and $14.08m of $21m and $46.47m WW
2016’s The BFG dropped 58.4% $7.8m and $38.94m of $55.48m and $195.24m WW
1996’s Matilda dropped 38.9% $5.01m and $18.93m of $33.45m
1996’s James And The Giant Peach dropped 30.1% 55.26m and $14.84m of $28.94m
In the UK Wonka is performing similarly to Paddington
2015’s Paddington dropped 35.3% $12.26m and $39.93m of $76.27m and $282.43m WW
2017’s Paddington 2 dropped 27.2% $8m and $24.81m of $40.9m and $227.3m WW
2018’s Mary Poppins Returns up 20.5% $28.35m and $99.26m of $171.95m and $349.54m WW
Took $33.2m (down 33%) from 77 territories $171.3m total and $254.9m worldwide; UK $38.1m; Mexico $15.3m; Germany $9.7m; Australia $9.5m; Japan $8.9m; France $8.8m; Spain $8.1m; China $6.3m; Brazil $6.1m; Italy $6m; Holland $3.7m.
- Anyone But You – Sony Pictures
Opened $6m/$8m 4 days #4; received mixed reviews (47% Rotten Tomatoes); B+ CinemaScore.
80% of the audience was female.
Showing how the bottom has dropped out of romcoms over the last decade opened similar to 1996’s One Fine Day $6.22m taking $46.15m and $97.52m
Took $1.2m from Thursday previews; Trainwreck took $1.8m; Bad Moms $2.05m; No Hard Feelings $2.15m; Sex and the City $2.5m; Taylor Swift The Eras Tour $2.8m; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again $3.4m; Ticket to Paradise $1.1m.
It’s been called a sorta sequel to 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding (opened $21.67m taking $127.12m and $299.28m worldwide) as it features Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths as parents of Sydney Sweeney (aged 26). The film has been compared to Much Ado About Nothing and 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You (opened $8.33m taking $38.17m and $53.47m worldwide.
Will Gluck’s previous films took $380m in the US and $890m worldwide.
2009’s Fired Up opened $5.48m and $17.23m and $18.6m worldwide
2010’s Easy A opened $17.73m and $58.4m and $76.2m worldwide
2011’s Friends with Benefits opened $18.62m and $55.8m and $146.59m worldwide
2014’s Annie opened $15.86m and $85.91m and $139.82m worldwide
2018’s Peter Rabbit opened $25.01m taking $115.23m and $346.72m worldwide
2021’s Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway opened $10.1m taking $40.5m and $150.97m worldwide
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes – Lionsgate
Dropped 48% in the sixth-weekend #7 $3.04m/$4.01m 4 days and $152.35m.
694th biggest sixth weekend between The Devil Wears Prada and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (close to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Dick Tracy, Bring It On and The Divergent Series: Insurgent).
399th biggest between Mad Max: Fury Road and Scooby-Doo; 952nd inflated between The Good Dinosaur and Couples Retreat; 16th biggest 2023 between Elemental and Fast X; 9th biggest Lionsgate film between Knives Out and La La Land.
The Hunger Games films have taken over $1.6bn in the US and $3.26bn worldwide.
Fifth Weekends
2012’s The Hunger Games dropped 26.3% $10.81m and $372.01m of $408.01m and $695.22m WW
2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire up 14.8% (Christmas) $10.06m and $390.98m of $424.66m and $865.01m WW
2014’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 up 27.7% (Christmas) $10.06m and $306.71m of $337.13m and $755.35m WW
2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 dropped 10.4% $5.27m and $264.54m of $281.72m and $659.54m WW
Taking less than half of the previous Hunger Games films worldwide and similar to Fantastic Beasts 3 the question is whether will it be enough to justify further instalments, post-COVID it’s a new normal when studios will greenlight sequels with films taking less than $400m and Lionsgate need tentpoles like Hunger Games and John Wick so there will likely be a Hunger Games sequel in November 2025.
In 2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent took similar worldwide and the film series ended before the final film was made, so 8 years later can Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes taking less than $350m surely mean a sequel will happen?
2016’s Fantastic Beasts dropped 42.5% $2.91m and $214.22m of $234.03m and $816.03m worldwide; $582m internationally 71.3%
2018’s The Crimes of Grindelwald dropped 76.2% $$900,784 and $154.49m of $159.55m and $655.775m worldwide; 75.7% internationally $496.2m
2022’s The Secrets of Dumbledore dropped 23.6% $1.95m and $93.11m of $95.85m and $407.15m worldwide; internationally 76.5% $311.3m
Took $3.9m from 84 territories $162m total and $315.6m worldwide.
535th biggest worldwide between Annabelle: Creation and Wrath of the Titans; 19th biggest 2023 between Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Five Nights at Freddy’s; 15th biggest Lionsgate film between Wonder and The Divergent Series: Insurgent…
- Poor Things – Searchlight
Up 65% adding 716 screens taking $2.11m #11 from 800 screens taking $5.05m
Yorgos Lanthimos previously directed The Favourite took 6 weeks to expand into 800 screens; expanding into 91 screens in its third weekend taking $1.5m and $3.54m showing that Poor Things has probably expanded far too quickly into 800 screens after having a strong platform, this often happens when studios expand these films far too quickly.
It will be interesting to see how it expands over the coming weeks as The Favourite didn’t expand to its widest point until into over 1,500 screens; taking $34.36m and $95.91m worldwide.
2017’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer opened in $115,120 from 4 screens (expanded into 238 screens after 4 weeks); taking $2.29m and $6.93m worldwide.
- The Iron Claw – A24
Opened with $7.53m received positive reviews (87% Rotten Tomatoes) and A- CinemaScore
Took $670k from Thursday previews.
Surprisingly the film opened wide as would have expected a more limited release for this well-received film to build word of mouth the problem is with several more films opening on Christmas Day it is likely to get lost in the crowd.
Platform opening
- All of Us Strangers – Searchlight Pictures
Opened with $132k from 4 screens in NY/LA average $33k; received critical acclaim (93% Rotten Tomatoes). Had a better screen average than The Zone of Interest $32,483; American Fiction $32,067 and Anatomy of a Fall $23,569.
- The Zone of Interest – A24
Down 36% adding 2 screens $82,732 and $293,033.
Jonathan Glazer’s films receive critical acclaim (sometimes polarised) but struggle to play beyond art-house. While The Zone of Interest will play well on limited release, the question is how wide it will go and when it expands over 100+ screens will it find a wider audience.
Receiving 3 Golden Globe nominations will help as will its likely Best Foreign Film win, while it will also likely receive similar BAFTA and Oscar nominations in January if the expansion is time with Golden Globe award and Oscar nominations that will of course help it find a wider audience. The Zone of Interest received widespread critical acclaim (92% Rotten Tomatoes) since the Cannes Film Festival premiere.
2001’s Sexy Beast opened $170,356 from 9 screens; expanded into 194 screens after 7 weeks (widest) taking $6.94m and $10.04m
2004’s Birth opened $1.28m #13 from 550 screens (widest) taking $5.09m and $23.92m worldwide
2014’s Under the Skin opened $133,154 #29 from 4 screens; expanded into 176 screens (widest) after 3 weeks taking $2.61m and $5.83m worldwide
- American Fiction – MGM
Up 91% adding 33 screens taking $429,182 from 40 screens and $750,821
American Fiction received its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival receiving critical acclaim (95% Rotten Tomatoes) and received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Film Comedy or Musical and Best Actor for Jeffrey Wright.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
Wonka will likely hold #1 for a fourth weekend despite the new releases all having a 6-day opening (Tues-Sun).
The four new releases all have three days of previews over the most lucrative week of cinema in the year which will help inflate their openings to open almost double what they would normally do as films will do similar business Tues-Thurs as Fri-Sun.
Micheal Mann’s biographical sports drama Ferrari will likely lead the new releases after it received huge media coverage with Sky Cinema heavily promoting the film having a big London premiere and the Surprise Film at the London Film Festival. Unlike other Sky Cinema acquisitions, they aren’t releasing it same day in cinemas which has seen major exhibitors book the film, unlike other Sky Cinema films.
Michael Mann previously directed many films including Public Enemies, Miami Vice, Collateral, Ali, The Insider, Heat and The Last of the Mohicans. Most of his films have had strong openings in the UK; his biggest opening in 2009’s Public Enemies opened £2,228,291 #2 from 458 screens taking £6,686,950; 2006’s Miami Vice opened £2,231,684 #1 from 408 screens taking £6,873,370; 2004’s Collateral opened £2,238,200 #1 from 450 screens taking £8,192,302.
While 2019’s Le Man’s 66 opened with £2m; 2013’s Rush £2.1m and 1990’s Days Of Thunder £590,553 (£2,046,395 inflated) taking £3,430,086 (£11,885,994 inflated) while most recently Gran Turismo opened with £1,045,838.
Ferrari took £261k on Tuesday and £319k on Wednesday and will take about £900k going into the weekend so could open similar to Le Man’s 66 and Rush between £1.7m-£2m.
Hayao Miyazak’s The Boy And The Heron broke records for Japanese animated films when it opened earlier in the month in the US and within a day it took more than Spirited Away open in the UK in 2003 £152,504 from 51 screens and it will likely open with more than Spirited Away took £972,527. 2010’s Ponyo opened £171,857 #17 from 221 screens
Similar to Godzilla Minus One opened £816,891 almost four times more than 2004’s Zatoichi opened #12 £137,049 from 48 screens the previous biggest Japanese live-action film.
Rom-com Anyone But You had a slow start in the UK taking £104k Tuesday and £188k Wednesday and will struggle to find a wide audience, it has opened more than Will Gluck’s excellent 2010’s Easy A opened £277,975 #8 203 screens and £773,795 but will likely open with about half of 2011’s Friends with Benefits opened £1,947,272 #2 from 432 screens and £6,241,762 and 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding £1,424,928 (£2,790,338 inflated) taking £8,488,511 (£16,622,465 inflated) as with Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths starring as the parents some have called it a sorta sequel.
Disney used to have a lot of success from feelgood sporting films in the 80s to 00s, but Next Goal Wins highlights the issues Disney have had with these films over the last decade as while it tested higher than Harry Potter and received positive reaction from CinemaCon screening but struggled to find an audience opening a few months later.
2014’s Million Dollar Arm opened £150,050 #15 from 236 screens; 1994’s Cool Runnings opened £1,017,581 from 205 screens (£2,495,422 inflated) taking £9,506,926 (£23,313,908 inflated); 1997’s Fever Pitch opened £463,386 (£907,417 inflated) from 223 screens taking £1,672,141 (£3,274,438 inflated); 2009’s The Damned United opened £618,929 #5 from 236 screens taking £2,179,291
Aquaman 2 will drop about 60% in its second weekend a bit lower than it would normally do outside of the Christmas holidays as seen by it taking £460k Tuesday and £657k Wednesday which is similar to Shazam! Fury Of The Gods £1,094,707. While Wish will have a small drop in its sixth weekend as it gets close to taking £10m after opening with £2.4m as most Disney animated films it has had strong legs while far from the hit it was expected to be it is far from the flop it was called after opening.
After having 7 Christmas re-releases in the top 15 they are all likely to drop out of the chart again as they always do the week after Christmas as audiences don’t want to see a Christmas film after Christmas, that said National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation opened in the UK as Winter Holiday in May 1990.
Opening in two weeks
- Mean Girls – Paramount Pictures (Wednesday)
Musical comedy starring Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, Christopher Briney, Tina Fey and Tim Meadows and directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
It’s based on the Broadway musical which in turn was based on Mark Waters’s 2004 comedy film. It was originally made to be released on Paramount+ (as Smile) but in September Paramount dated it for January. Tracking to open with $27m in the US which is slightly more than the original film opened in 2003’s $24.43m $86.06n and $130.12m worldwide.
As with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Concert being released internationally before her international live concerts, Mean Girls is being released internationally before the Broadway musical opens internationally. The musical opens in the UK in June.
The original film opened 20 years ago with £1,393,494 #3 from 364 screens taking £5,411,323 over the years since its popularity has grown, research In 2019 found the Machiavellian-like plot popular with adolescents as adolescents place a lot of emphasis on popularity and they are keenly aware of the difference between being liked and being popular. Similarly, films like Heathers and most recently Saltburn are also very popular with the demographic.
The question is will this version of Mean Girls be as popular as the original film from the trailers it reminds me of the awful TV reboot of Heathers which missed the point of the original film. While international audiences haven’t seen the musical will they have any interest in this new version, with Wonka the film is a musical but there’s no music in the trailers which makes even less sense than Wonka as everyone knows it based on the stage show musical.
The trailers have been awful so far, I know that I’m far from the target demographic, but the original film was very funny and dark. While also a huge fan of many 90s teen films including Clueless, Bring It On, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, Never Been Kissed, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Josie and the Pussycats, The Princess Diaries, Legally Blonde,
The best teen films play beyond demographics, but that’s been the problem with many films over recent years they don’t play to the wider audience, by trying too hard to target a teen audience they alienate others, but as with Pixar films they can play to both.
- The Book of Clarence – Sony Pictures
Biblical comedy-drama starring LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, and Marianne Jean-Baptist and directed by Jeymes Samuel. S
Had world premiere at the London Film Festival receiving positive reviews (935 Rotten Tomatoes)
- The Holdovers – Universal Pictures
Comedy-drama film starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa and directed by Alexander Payne
Premiered at the Telluride Film Festival receiving positive reviews (96% Rotten Tomatoes) from critics taking $17m since its opening in October. Received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Film Musical or Comedy, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Alexander Payne previously directed.
1999’s Election opened £65,113 taking £168,090
2003’s About Schmidt opened £757,325 #7 220 screens taking £3,201,355
2005’s Sideways opened £349,642 #8 72 screens taking £2,676,546
2012’s The Descendants opened £1,797,939 #2 403 screens taking £7,790,001
2013’s Nebraska opened £151,332 #10 122 screens taking £344,756
2018’s Downsizing opened £1,131,687 #9 389 screens taking £1,922,405