The box office results for Project Hail Mary just keep getting better and better. While we cautiously expected it to have a modest week two decline with a $42 million weekend, moviegoers are flocking to see it. Now, Deadline is reporting that it might crack $53 million, which would be a terrific hold (less than 35% drop) from its bigger-than-expected opening. Most significantly, it would also mark a better second weekend result than Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which fell 46% in week two to $46.7 million. It’s also a better hold than Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, which fell 44% to $46.2 million.
It’s nearly a record for a non-franchise movie, with it beaten by Avatar, which had a second weekend in the $75 million range. While Avatar is a franchise now, at the time it was an original film. Of course, Amazon is likely hoping to sequelize Project Hail Mary (defeating the purpose of people liking it so much because it’s NOT a sequel), but time will tell.
Horror Stumbles as They Will Kill You Flops
Sadly, WB and New Line have themselves a rare horror flop with the Zazie Beetz-led They Will Kill You, which is only looking at about $5 million for the weekend. Ouch. This one clearly opened too hot on the heels of the similarly themed Ready or Not: Here I Come, which, in its second weekend, isn’t making that much less, with it on track for about $4 million, which would still be a steep 56% decline from its disappointing opening weekend. Pixar’s Hoppers, in its last weekend before meeting the family juggernaut that will be The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is in second place with a solid $11 million, with its $137 million cume catching up with the $140-ish million made by Pixar’s Elemental, which it’s now bound to surpass. It’s not a huge blockbuster for them, but it’s been more than a solid performer.
What Are You Watching This Weekend?
What are you seeing this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
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