The Next Level begins as Jumanji garners $4.7 million on Thursday

According to box office analysts, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is swinging into its opening weekend with $4.7 million earned from the sequel's Thursday preview screenings. The follow-up to Sony's 2017 surprise smash is looking like it will be the star player at the box office this coming weekend, beating out films like Clint Eastwood's RICHARD JEWELL and Universal's BLACK CHRISTMAS reboot.

Sony is expecting to bank $35 million during THE NEXT LEVEL's opening weekend, thanks in part to the star power of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and the rest of the film's outstanding cast. While Sony has kept their expectations in check for their year-end event, other outlets suggest that the studio's latest adventure could earn anywhere from $40-50 million, depending on the pockets of Christmas shoppers and their need to take a break from patrolling for overpriced goods.

While JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is expected to perform well, Sony did take a risk by opening the film a week before the much-anticipated arrival of STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. It's to be understood that The Rise of Skywalker will force its way to the top of next week's box office, giving The Next Level exactly one week to dominate the charts.

In JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to rescue one of their own, the players will have to brave parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the world's most dangerous game.

Directed and co-written by Jake Kasdan with Jeff Pinker and Scott Rosenberg, JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Danny Devito, Danny Glover, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Madison Iseman, Ashley Scott, Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, and Colin Hanks, among others.

Will you be checking out JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL this weekend, or are you saving your energy for the release of STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER? Let us know your plans in the comments section below. And hey, if you want to find out what Chris Bumbray thought of Sony's latest excursion into the dangerous game of Jumanji, click here.