Delays aren’t always bad. Case in point is Mortal Kombat II. It was supposed to come out in October of last year before being delayed to this weekend. While months-long delays usually aren’t a great sign, in the case of Mortal Kombat II, it was delayed because WB/New Line thought it could become a summer blockbuster, similar to their Final Destinationrelaunch last summer. It actually has a solid chance of opening not too far off from what Bloodlines made last summer ($51 million), with it likely the sequel could open north of $40 million.
For reference, the last Mortal Kombat made $42 million when it opened in 2021, which was notable because it premiered day-and-date on HBO Max in the middle of the pandemic. Some box office forecasters think it has a shot at opening north of $50 million, but it has some big competition this weekend with The Devil Wears Prada 2 in its second week, while the massively successful Michael is also still cranking out big bucks.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 should make about $38 million or so — there is a chance it could beat Mortal Kombat, which would be a disappointment for WB/New Line, but the solid word of mouth and reviews should make the difference, as well as the hardcore Mortal Kombat fans who will turn out in droves. Michael should still be able to gross in the $25 million range, as the film has been a huge breakout hit for Lionsgate, becoming their biggest movie since the pandemic.
The new release, The Sheep Detectives, should easily hit fourth place with an estimated $12 million (the reviews have been great), while Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft should hit about $8 million, which is great for a concert movie (this one is directed by none other than James Cameron).
Here are our predictions:
What will you be seeing this weekend? Let us know in the comments.