As the holiday season sweeps in, box office charts reflect the festive spirit. Leading the pack this Christmas Eve, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” raced ahead of its competitors, garnering a significant $7.5 million from 3,700 theaters across North America. The animated film, which follows the adventures of a blue speedster, has a projected earning of $50 million from Wednesday to Sunday. Currently, the film stands at a domestic collection of $60 million and is set to premiere globally on Christmas Day.
In a close race, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” made $7.1 million on Tuesday, bringing its domestic total to $49.6 million and crossing the $150 million mark worldwide. This prequel to the classic “Lion King” is expected to yield around $45 million over the holiday period.
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This Christmas, viewers can expect fresh content with the release of three new films. These include Searchlight’s Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the remake of “Nosferatu” by Focus Features, and A24’s erotic thriller “Babygirl.” The films are set to premiere on Wednesday, with the first two offering afternoon previews on Tuesday. As this holiday season sees no major blockbuster releases like “Avatar,” “Star Wars,” or “Spider-Man,” exhibitors are relying on November releases such as “Moana 2,” “Wicked,” and “Gladiator II” to boost revenues during this peak movie-going period.
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“A Complete Unknown,” which stars Timothee Chalamet as the iconic musician and counterculture figure Bob Dylan, raked in $1.4 million from 1,880 locations on Tuesday. This number includes screenings in Imax and Alamo Drafthouse theaters in mid-December. Directed by James Mangold, known for “Walk the Line,” the film is expected to earn $15 million over five days from 2,500 locations. Despite its production cost of $60 to $70 million, the film is anticipated to do well, considering the popularity of musical biopics and Chalamet’s rising stardom following his roles in “Wonka” and “Dune: Part Two.”
Meanwhile, “Nosferatu” did not release any data on its Tuesday previews. The film, a gothic tale about a terrifying vampire and a haunted young woman, is expected to be the biggest opener among the new releases, with a projected earning of $25 million in the first five days. Directed by Robert Eggers and featuring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, and Lily-Rose Depp, the film cost approximately $50 million to produce, relying on its holiday performance for profitability.
On the other hand, “Babygirl,” featuring Nicole Kidman as a powerful CEO involved with an intern, did not have any previews on Tuesday. The film will start playing in 2,100 theaters on Wednesday and hopes to generate $7 million by Sunday.
In addition, “Wicked” and “Moana 2” each collected approximately $3 million on Tuesday and are expected to add between $20 million and $22 million to their earnings during the extended holiday period. “Wicked,” Universal’s adaptation of the Broadway hit, has so far grossed nearly $400 million domestically and $577 million worldwide. Meanwhile, “Moana 2,” initially intended for streaming, has emerged as a theatrical success, earning $366 million domestically and $800 million globally.
FAQ
What is the projected earning of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”?
From Wednesday to Sunday, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is projected to bring in $50 million.
Which films are set to premiere this Christmas?
Three new films, “A Complete Unknown,” “Nosferatu,” and “Babygirl,” are set to premiere this Christmas.
What is the expected earning of “Nosferatu” in its first five days of release?
“Nosferatu” is expected to earn $25 million in its first five days of release.
What was the Tuesday earning of “A Complete Unknown”?
“A Complete Unknown” earned $1.4 million on Tuesday from 1,880 locations.
Credit: variety.com
