Was it that quiet of a weekend? It dependes on how one chooses to perceive it. Here's a rhetorical question for the reader: Can herons fly?
Certainly, they can. Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and The Heron” experienced a more than healthy opening weekend, totaling $12,972,683 million. This marks the first instance of the film's distributor, GKIDS, topping the box office charts.
Here is some context: this figure surpasses the final domestic earnings of several Miyazaki films. Additionally, it opened 37% higher than 2022’s “One Piece Film: Red,” which premiered at $9.3 million. Notably, “One Piece Film: Red” had a substantial number of theaters at its opening, approximately 2,367. Furthermore, “The Boy and The Heron” opened 99% higher than 2012’s “The Secret World of Arrietty,” which debuted with a modest $6.4 million.
While “The Boy and The Heron” enjoyed a remarkable first weekend, the question remains: can it sustain the momentum for its sophomore debut? In an upcoming article, we will delve deeper into our predictions and forecasts for the forthcoming weekend.
In second place, “Hunger Games: B.S.S.” secured an impressive $9.3 million. Whether by fate or luck, this film has displayed remarkable staying power, surpassing other contenders in the box office arena, securing top spots in both the first and second weekends.
Experiencing a mere 35% drop since the previous weekend, this powerhouse has treated it as a minor hiccup. Not only has it instilled hope among fans for more from Lionsgate, but it has also demonstrated its potential to fill the void left by superhero fatigue that Hollywood is starting to experience. Lionsgate is undoubtedly pleased with the unexpectedly enduring success of a film they initially deemed the 'one and only' for the franchise.
Closely following was “Godzilla Minus One,” accumulating $8,591,413 in its second weekend, suffering only a 24.8% decline from the preceding weekend. This film has proven to be a sleeper hit, exceeding $25 million on a $15 million budget, with the company consistently expanding and extending its success.
Toho International Distribution has expanded the film's theaters by 232, bringing the total to 2,540. The film faces competition now that "The Boy And The Heron" has hit theaters, but Toho shouldn't be overly concerned. With a small budget and a non-extensive U.S./Canada marketing campaign, "Godzilla Minus One" stands out as a box office winner.
Another noteworthy point amidst a seemingly quiet weekend at the box office is that "Troll: Band Together" raked in over $6 million in its third weekend, while "Wish" garnered just over $5 million in its second weekend. These figures add more salt to the already bleeding wounds for Disney.
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