Thursday at the box office saw Deadpool & Wolverine pulling in an impressive $18 million, setting a new R-rated record for a non-preview Thursday. The film ended its first week with a total of $298.5 million, outperforming other Marvel hits like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With a projected weekend 2 take of $84-$100 million, it’s clear that audiences are still flocking to theaters to catch this action-packed duo in action.
M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” Hits Snag
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, “Trap,” brought in $2.2 million on Thursday, marking a strong start for the director post-Covid. However, with early critical reviews sitting at 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and audience exits hovering at 2 1/2 stars and 63%, it seems like the film may struggle to maintain momentum. Despite high interest levels, “Trap” is projected to open between $20-$23 million, falling short of the director’s previous hits like “Old.”
Sony’s “Harold and the Purple Crayon” Disappoints
On the other end of the spectrum, Sony’s “Harold and the Purple Crayon” failed to make a significant impact at the box office, earning a lackluster $725,000 on Thursday. With previews starting at 2,745 locations, the film’s PostTrak exits were average, with general audiences and parents rating it at 3 stars, while kids under 12 gave it a more favorable 4-star rating. Despite this, “Harold and the Purple Crayon” still falls short of Sony’s previous animated misfire, “The Emoji Movie.”
It’s clear from Thursday’s box office results that audiences are still drawn to familiar franchises like Deadpool & Wolverine, while original offerings like “Trap” and “Harold and the Purple Crayon” struggle to find their footing. As the weekend approaches, it will be interesting to see how these films fare against the competition and whether they can overcome their initial hurdles to find success in the ever-changing landscape of the box office.