Japan’s animated action fantasy franchise hopes to continue cutting into the American box office when Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira premieres on February 23rd. Haruo Sotozaki, who helmed previous entries Mugen Train (2021) and To the Swordsmith Village (2023), returns.
The trilogy of manga offerings is spawned from the anime TV series that ran from 2016-2020. While their profits are larger overseas, domestic grosses have impressed. In April of 2021, Mugen took in $21 million in its opening weekend with just under $50 million for the overall haul. In March of last year, Swordsmith‘s earnings were a cut below. It made $10.1 million out of the gate and the abbreviated run ended at $16.9 million.
I’m forecasting that Hashira will experience similar numbers to Swordsmith. I don’t anticipate a significant drop-off and it could even slightly exceed its predecessor’s start.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira opening weekend prediction: $10.5 million
As for the trailer for prequel A Quiet Place: Day One debuted this week, multiplexes themselves were even quieter over the Super Bowl weekend. With the Valentine and President’s Day holiday hitting, studios are hoping business gets louder. We have Spider-Man Universe flick Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson and musical biopic Bob Marley: One Love looking to place 1-2 when they open on February 14th. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on them here:
The top 3 should all be newbies with faith-based The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 4-6 beginning on Thursday. On the day before, Madame Web hopes to break a recent run of so-so starts for comic book adaptations. That could be a tall order. I have it opening in the low 20s over the 4-day with low30s when counting the six-day output.
Marley might be close behind with low 20s from Friday to Monday and high 20s when counting Wednesday and Thursday. If it manages to over perform (which could be tricky considering the lackluster reviews), it might contend for the top spot if Web doesn’t match its fairly meager expectations.
Episodes 1-3 of The Chosen‘s fourth season made nearly $6 million from Friday to Sunday in the first weekend of February. Grosses could be about the same even with the extra day thrown in.
Holdovers Argylle and The Beekeeper are likely to populate the remainder of the high five with last weekend’s newcomer Lisa Frankenstein dropping out altogether (more on that below).
Here’s how I think it’ll look and keep in mind that these projections are for Friday thru Monday:
1. Madame Web
Predicted Gross: $21.5 million (Friday to Monday estimate); $30.7 million (Wednesday to Monday estimate)
2. Bob Marley: One Love
Predicted Gross: $19.2 million (Friday to Monday estimate); $28.9 million (Wednesday to Monday estimate)
3. The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3
Predicted Gross: $6.1 million
4. Argylle
Predicted Gross: $4.5 million
5. The Beekeeper
Predicted Gross: $2.6 million
Box Office Results (February 9-11)
It was the weakest frame since early December 2022 as spy action comedy Argylle plummeted 64% and still managed to stay #1. It made $6.2 million and was right on target with my $6.1 million prediction. The subpar two-week take is $28 million.
Horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein was the only newcomer and it was DOA in second with a putrid $3.6 million. That’s well below my $6.8 million forecast and it should experience a hefty decline in subsequent frames.
The Beekeeper was third at $3.3 million (I said $3.5 million) as Jason Statham’s steady grosser hit $54 million after five weeks.
Holiday holdover Wonka was fourth with $3 million, a shade under my $3.4 million projection. The total is $205 million in its ninth go-round.
Finally, animated Migration rounded out the top five in weekend #8 with $2.9 million compared to my $3.2 million guesstimate. It’s up to $110 million.
Paramount hopes fans of the title character turn out for Bob Marley: One Love when it debuts on February 14th. Kingsley Ben-Adir is the legendary reggae singer with Lashana Lynch as wife Rita. Reinaldo Marcus Green, who last directed King Richard, is behind the camera. James Norton, Tosin Cole, and Anthony Welsh are among the supporting players.
Originally slated for January, the studio opted to push it back to the long holiday weekend encompassing Valentine’s and President’s Day. Reviews are mixed to negative with an RT score of 36% thus far.
Despite the critical reaction, Marley has a devoted fanbase and competition is light save for Madame Web. I believe a four-day take in the high teens to low 20s is doable with high 20s for the six-day tally.
Bob Marley: One Love opening weekend prediction: $19.2 million (Friday to Monday); $28.9 million (Wednesday to Monday)
Dakota Johnson headlines as the title character in Madame Web, Sony’s fourth feature in their Spider-Man Universe on February 14th. The studio is hoping its grosses are closer to Venom and its sequel than Morbius. S.J. Clarkson directs with a supporting cast including Sydney Sweeney (hot off Anyone but You), Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, and Tahar Rahim.
Ms. Johnson is no stranger to the Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend frame considering the Fifty Shades trilogy. Web will attempt to bring in a female contingent, but also a sizable male crowd craving some comic book action.
Debuting on Wednesday, my forecast includes the Friday to Monday long weekend projection along with its two extra days. A best case scenario might be in the $35-40 million neighborhood for the six-day total. I’m skeptical it gets that high. A low to mid 20s start for the four-day and high 20s to low 30s range over the longer haul sounds likelier.
Madame Web opening weekend prediction: $21.5 million (Friday to Monday); $30.7 million (Wednesday to Monday)
For my Bob Marley: One Love prediction, click here:
Horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein looks to top the charts in what should be a sleepy box office frame. It’s the only new wide release hitting cineplexes and you can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:
While I don’t have Frankenstein even achieving $10 million, my forecast is enough to put it in first position. Let’s be frank – Sunday should especially be a dead zone as many moviegoers will be preoccupied by the Chiefs and 49ers.
Argylle was ushered in as the champ this past frame (more on that below), but it underwhelmed. With a troubling C+ Cinemascore grade, I’m thinking a sophomore plummet in the range of 60% is possible.
The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3 had a fruitful runner-up beginning. Yet it appears poised to drop from the high five considering its decline should be massive (probably in the 75-80% arena like its previous episodic releases).
That could leave holdovers The Beekeeper, Wonka, and Migration in their current 3-5 places. This is with a big caveat: Dune is scheduled to be re-released this weekend ahead of the sequel’s March bow and I’m waiting to see a count. I certainly believe it’s feasible that it manages a top 5 showing. Disney is also putting Turning Red back in venues. I’m less convinced it makes the five, but it’s doable. I will edit this post if I put either of them in (probably on Wednesday).
Here’s how I see it playing out:
1. Lisa Frankenstein
Predicted Gross: $6.8 million
2. Argylle
Predicted Gross: $6.1 million
3. The Beekeeper
Predicted Gross: $3.5 million
4. Wonka
Predicted Gross: $3.4 million
5. Migration
Predicted Gross: $3.2 million
Box Office Results (February 2-4)
As mentioned, Matthew Vaughn’s spy action comedy Argylle had a hollow victory at #1 with $17.4 million. That’s a tad under my $18.3 million call and not an impressive gross considering the reported king’s ransom of $200 million that Apple paid for the rights.
The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3 had pleasing viewership with $5.9 million from Friday to Sunday – just ahead of my $5.4 million take. Counting its Thursday start, it has earned $7.3 million.
The Beekeeper was third in weekend #4 with $5.2 million (I went with $4.8 million) for $49 million total.
Wonka was fourth after 8 weeks with $4.6 million. My prediction? $4.6 million! The overall tally is $201 million.
Migration rounded out the top five at $4.1 million and I incorrectly had it on the outside looking in. The animated tale is up to $106 million after 7 weeks.
Mean Girls fell from 1st to 6th after three weeks atop the charts with $3.8 million compared to my $4.3 million projection. It has made $66 million.
Lisa Frankenstein hopes to bring the box office to life when it opens February 9th. The horror comedy marks the directorial debut of Zelda Williams with a script from Juno and Jennifer’s Body scribe Diablo Coby. Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse headline with a supporting cast including Liza Soberano, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest, and Carla Gugino.
The Focus Features production seeks out teens and horror fans, but could have trouble finding them. While the marketplace is starved for product at the moment, I don’t expect this to break the financial spell.
With a reported budget of only $13.5 million, Lisa should still manage about half of that figure for its start. I’m skeptical that it hits double digits out of the gate.
Lisa Frankenstein opening weekend prediction: $6.8 million
Matthew Vaughn’s star-studded spy comedy Argylle will end the Mean Girls three-week reign atop the charts as February kicks off at the box office. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:
After a dreadful end to January where filmgoers were especially preoccupied with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Brock Purdy, Lions, and Ravens, a low 20s start for Argylle should inject at least some life into multiplexes.
The runner-up spot could be another newcomer. Christian series The Chosen is debuting the first three episodes of its fourth season beginning on Thursday. I didn’t do an individual write-up for it, but the Friday to Sunday portion should get to mid or even high single digits. That would likely give it the 2 slot.
Holdovers will populate the rest of the top five. I’m assuming The Beekeeper and Wonka will have smaller declines than current champ Mean Girls. If my estimates pan out, that could mean a 1st to 5th place drop for said Girls.
Here’s how I have it playing out:
1. Argylle
Predicted Gross: $18.3 million
2. The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1-3
Predicted Gross: $5.4 million
3. The Beekeeper
Predicted Gross: $4.8 million
4. Wonka
Predicted Gross: $4.6 million
5. Mean Girls
Predicted Gross: $4.3 million
Box Office Results (January 26-28)
As mentioned, it was a tepid end to January as studios sat the weekend out. In fact, it was the weakest frame in nearly two years. The top five features did all manage to slightly exceed my projections.
Mean Girls took in $6.9 million for subdued bragging rights over my $6 million call. The three-week tally is $60 million as it hopes to match the $86 million earned by the original 20 years ago (not adjusted for inflation).
The Beekeeper nearly grabbed the top spot at $6.6 million, dipping a mere 22% in its third outing. I went lower at $5.1 million. Its better than anticipated gross is $41 million.
Wonka was third with $5.6 million, in range with my $5.3 million call. The seven-week take for the largest holiday hit is $194 million. It should hit $200 million later this week.
Migration was fourth with $4.8 million (I said $4.5 million) as it crossed the century mark after six weeks with $101 million.
Anyone but You rounded out the top five as it continued its impressive run at $4.6 million (I forecasted $4.2 million). The rom com is up to $71 million since its Christmas bow.
Kingsman maker Matthew Vaughn appears to be in his comfort zone with Argylle, out February 2nd. The spy action comedy comes with a reported $200 million budget and hopes to spawn a trilogy. Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson fill out the eclectic cast. There’s even a Taylor Swift connection (sort of). Swifties speculated that the film’s author character (played by Howard) might in fact be the superstar/Chiefs fan, but Vaughn debunked the theory. Anytime Swift is in the mix, that means your movie is getting extra attention.
Argylle could also be helped by the dead zone that is the current box office landscape. There’s simply not much out there and this star-studded affair will be the highest profile option.
That said, I don’t think this will exceed expectations. Current forecasts have this in the high teens to low 20s and I think that sounds right. This means Argylle may need to rely on overseas grosses if it wants that trilogy.
The month of January seems destined to go out with a whimper as thriller Miller’s Girl with Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega is the sole wide release. You can peruse my detailed prediction post on it here:
The top five may look very similar to this previous frame except the earnings will be even smaller. Mean Girls could manage a third weekend at #1 with a drop close to 50%. If it drops more precipitously, that could open the door for Wonka or The Beekeeper to vault over it.
Migration and Anyone but You are likely to stay put in fourth and fifth.
You’ll notice I haven’t discussed Miller’s Girl yet and that’s because my $2.2 million leaves it on the outside looking in.
Here’s my top 5 forecast:
1. Mean Girls
Predicted Gross: $6 million
2. Wonka
Predicted Gross: $5.3 million
3. The Beekeeper
Predicted Gross: $5.1 million
4. Migration
Predicted Gross: $4.5 million
5. Anyone but You
Predicted Gross: $4.2 million
Box Office Results (January 19-21)
Mean Girls, despite a hefty 59% drop, was perched in 1st for the second weekend with $11.6 million. That’s just under my $12.6 million prediction as the ten-day gross reached $50 million.
Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper was the runner-up again with $8.6 million (right on target with my $8.7 million projection) for $31 million thus far.
Wonka was third with an additional $6.7 million (I said $6 million) to bring its haul to $187 million with $200 million approaching.
Migration made $5.4 million for fourth. I went with $4.9 million as the animated feature is getting to nine digits with $94 million.
Anyone but You continued its impressive run in fifth with $5.4 million, on pace with my $5.5 million call. The tally is $64 million.
Lastly, sci-fi thriller I.S.S. was a dud. It started off in seventh with $3 million, in range with my $2.6 million take.
Lionsgate is seeking viewers for Miller’s Girl when it opens on January 26th, but the challenge could be audiences even knowing it exists. The pic from debut director/writer Jade Halley Bartlett stars Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega. The trailer might remind one of a late 80s/early 90s style Fatal Attraction clone. Costars include Gideon Adlon, Bashir Salahuddin, Dagmara Domińczyk, and Christine Adams.
With a coproduction credit from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Girl hopes that Ortega’s Wednesday fans will turn up to watch her on a Friday-Sunday at the multiplex. I haven’t seen a theater count for this yet and that could alter my forecast. The marketing campaign seems scant and my prediction reflects it. Miller’s might not be crossing $3 million.
Miller’s Girl opening weekend prediction: $2.2 million
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