‘Wonka’ gears up for $35m Christmas premiere – box office

UPDATE, Friday afternoon: Warner Bros. Wonka expected to hit $12 million to $13 million on Friday, including last night’s $3.5 million previews, heading to one $35 million+ opens at the domestic box office in 4,203 locations. It’s a good start for this time of year when moviegoers are still locked out of holiday activities, and it’s a good start for a feature that currently surpasses the 2008 total by three days. Mamma Mia! ($27.7 million) and Hair spray ($27.8 million).

In fact, after such musical missteps as In the heights ($11.5 million), west side story ($10.5 million) and Dear Evan Hansen ($7.4 million), Wonka is a definite comeback for feature films.

Social media analytics company RelishMix reports on a social media universe for Timothée Chalamet’s film op. This SMU is higher than films like Mary Poppins returns (229.4 million), but still lower Cruella (424.7 million).

The remaining top photos of this frame are as follows

2.) Hunger Games: Songbirds and Snakes (LG) 3,291 theaters, Fri $1.65m (-37%), 3 days 6 million dollars (-35%), overall $145.4 million/ week 5

3.) Boy and the heron (GKIDs) 2,325 theaters, Friday $1.2M (-79%), 3 days $4.7 million (-64%), total $22.8 million/week 2

4.) Godzilla minus one (Toho) 2,622 theaters, $1.2M Friday (-45%), 3 days $4.4 million (-48%), total $33.7 million/week 3

5) Trolls unite (Uni/DWA) 3,154 theaters, Friday $900,000, 3 days 4 million dollars (-34%) Total $88.7 million/ week 5

BEFORE, Friday morning: Warner Bros.’ Wonka grossed $3.5 million in previews across 3,500 locations. The Timothée Chalamet feature expands to 4,203 theaters and is aiming for a $30 million to $40 million opening.

Interestingly, when it comes to competition, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opened in mid-December 2018 at the same location and posted a $3.5 million Thursday preview before a $35 million three-day run. This film achieved a multiple of more than five times at the domestic box office with $190.2 million.

Wonka is one of three major Warners films in which the Burbank studio is expected to take the top three spots at the domestic box office during Christmas week. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom next weekend with a four-day outlook of $45 million to $50 million, and The color purple on December 25 with an opening projection of $8 million.

Wonka could be the first Hollywood tentpole to launch a fire-breathing marketing campaign six weeks in advance. Other films like the one from Lionsgate The Hunger Game: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Although there was a tentative agreement between SAG and AFTRA, they only made a last-minute casting announcement about a week after the actors’ strike ended in November. Disney’s The wonders I had two days with the plaster before it opened.

Wonka is certified 83% fresh by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Early Departure audience on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak is solid: 84% positive and 63% definitely recommended with 5 stars from parents and children under 12. The audience last night was 52% male, 48% female and 33% male over 25, 30% women over 25, 22% women under 25 and 16% men under 25.

After Chalamet’s Oscar nomination for best actor Call me by your name In 2018, there was a frantic effort in Hollywood to make him a blockbuster. For $41 million, Warner Bros./Legendary’s dune remains its top opening in the United States with $41 million; The current theatrical debut of this picture, where HBO Max realizes its full commercial potential. Various sources believe so Dune: Part Two the first weekend of March 2024 is the tent pole that will finally set the year on fire.

Elsewhere at the box office, Gkids’s and Studio Ghibli’s The boy and the heron earned $970,000 yesterday, down 26% from Wednesday, for an $18 million first week from 2205 theaters. The animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki is expected to earn around $50 million this weekend.

Ballad of songbirds and snakes In 3,665 theaters, there was a fourth Thursday with $830,000, down 12% from Wednesday, for a fourth week with $13.1 million for a total of $139.4 million.

Tohos Godzilla minus one The film was booked in 2,540 theaters, earned $750,000 on its second Thursday, down 22% from Wednesday, and finished Week 2 with $12.3 million and a running total of $29.3 million.

Fathom starts Christmas with the chosen ones Tuesday in 2,128 theaters and earned $689,000 on its opening day, $486,000 on Wednesday and $560,000 on Thursday, for a total of $1.7 million.

AMCs Renaissance: A Beyoncé Movie Yesterday, she returned for her third Thursday after resting Monday through Wednesday, earning $485,000 for a running total of $29 million.