While the Memorial Day weekend box office numbers didn’t reach adrenaline-pumping heights, attention is now shifting to the highly anticipated July 26 Disney-Marvel tentpole.
Furiosa and Garfield Lead the Charge
The Memorial Day weekend saw the release of two major Hollywood films: George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “The Garfield Movie” featuring Chris Pratt. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Furiosa” grossed $10.2 million on Friday from 3,804 theaters, while “Garfield” earned $8.4 million from 4,035 locations. These figures contribute to a projected total weekend gross of $31-$33 million, marking one of the lowest Memorial Day weekend earnings since 1995, when “Casper” opened with $22.5 million.
Furiosa Falls Short of Expectations
“Furiosa,” a prequel to the Mad Max saga, stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a younger version of Charlize Theron’s character. Despite high expectations, it is now projected to gross $40-$45 million over the four-day weekend, falling short of the $45.4 million three-day opening of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Other Top Performers
John Krasinski’s multi-starrer “IF” is positioned at No. 3, with estimated earnings of $20.7 million from 4,068 theaters. Despite competition from “Garfield,” “IF” maintains a strong performance.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Fall Guy
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is screening at 3,550 locations and is expected to bring in $15.5-$16 million over the four-day weekend, placing it at No. 4. “The Fall Guy” claims the No. 5 spot, with estimated earnings of $7.3 million from 2,955 theaters, despite its availability on digital platforms. The film’s three-day figures slipped by 32%, a relatively modest decline.
Looking Ahead: Deadpool & Wolverine
Despite the Memorial Day weekend’s underwhelming performance, there’s hope on the horizon. The cinematic landscape hasn’t fully recovered from last year’s industry strikes, but anticipation is building for the July 26 release of “Deadpool & Wolverine.” This Disney-Marvel collaboration is expected to reignite theater attendance and bring together fans from multiple fandoms, potentially delivering a much-needed boost to the box office.