The Super Bowl weekend has traditionally been known to impact box office results, often leading to a decline in Sunday business. However, in the past, this weekend has still proven to be lucrative for films targeting male audiences. This article will closely examine the current state of the Super Bowl weekend box office, delving into the performance of recent releases and analyzing their reception among different demographics.
Apple Original Films’ latest release, “Argylle,” directed by Matthew Vaughn, has received a lukewarm response from audiences. In its second weekend, the film experienced a significant drop of 62% and earned only $6.6 million. With a total of $28.9 million over ten days and screenings in 3,605 theaters, “Argylle” fails to match the success of previous films released during the Super Bowl weekend, such as “American Sniper” in 2015, which raked in $30.7 million.
To counterbalance the weak performance of “Argylle,” Focus Features has released “Lisa Frankenstein,” a teenage genre comedy targeting young women and arthouse audiences. The film, written by Academy Award-winning writer Diablo Cody, follows a girl who develops feelings for a deceased person and embarks on a quest for love, happiness, and missing body parts. While “Lisa Frankenstein” falls short of being another “Mean Girls,” it shares similarities with 2019’s “Booksmart,” which made a modest debut of $6.9 million. With screenings in 3,143 theaters, “Lisa Frankenstein” earned $4 million during its opening weekend.
Critics have not embraced “Lisa Frankenstein” wholeheartedly, giving it a Rotten Tomatoes score of 51%. However, the film manages to resonate better with audiences, receiving a more favorable audience score of 73%. Despite the mixed reception, the film’s Thursday previews contributed $700,000 to its $1.8 million Friday earnings. However, the box office performance of “Lisa Frankenstein” remains at the lower end of tracking estimates, which predicted earnings of $4-6 million.
In its fifth weekend, Amazon MGM’s action-packed film, “The Beekeeper,” starring Jason Statham, secures the third spot at the box office. The film earned $950,000 on its Friday release and is projected to reach $3.3 million for the weekend, amounting to a running total of $54.1 million. These figures outperform several of Statham’s previous action titles, including “Crank” and “The Mechanic,” but fall short of his solo benchmark, “The Meg 2,” which grossed $83 million.
Warner Bros’ “Wonka,” featuring Timothée Chalamet, maintains its strong presence at the box office in its ninth weekend. Earning $800,000 on Friday, the film is predicted to add $3.3 million to its running total, bringing it to an impressive $205.2 million domestically. “Wonka” now stands as Chalamet’s highest-grossing movie to date, solidifying the actor’s prominence in the industry.
Illumination/Universal’s animated film, “Migration,” secures the fifth position at the box office during its eighth weekend. With a steady decline of 28%, the film accumulates $3 million, resulting in a total of $109.9 million. Although not a standout performer, “Migration” showcases decent staying power amidst tough competition.
The Super Bowl weekend box office has historically presented mixed results for films, challenging their ability to attract audiences amid the sports spectacle. “Argylle” and “Lisa Frankenstein” experience varying degrees of success, with the former struggling to resonate with viewers and the latter managing to engage its intended demographic. Meanwhile, “The Beekeeper” and “Wonka” continue to showcase consistent performances, surpassing expectations and solidifying the success of their respective stars. As the Super Bowl weekend evolves, it remains an intriguing time for the film industry, where counterprogramming and unique releases have the potential to capture the attention of audiences seeking an alternative to the sports-centered festivities.