Tag: DC Universe

November 13-15 Box Office Predictions

After nearly a decade away from headlining roles, Johnny Depp hopes to capture the top spot at the box office with the holiday themed Ebenezer. We also have David Leitch’s heist flick How to Rob a Bank hoping to steal away some bucks. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Ebenezer Box Office Prediction
How to Rob a Bank Box Office Prediction

My estimate has Ebenezer hitting its tracking, but not exceeding expectations at just over $20 million. That should certainly be enough to give Depp his first #1 title since 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Ti West’s take on A Christmas Carol will hope for small declines over the holidays.

Second place could be a battle between the second frames of Godzilla Minus Zero and The Cat in the Hat. The latter should see a lower sophomore frame decline than Zero which opened in line with expectations (more on that below). I’ll still say the green monster manages the runner-up position with Cat in third.

I’m not expecting How to Rob a Bank to reach $10 million and my meager prediction has it in fourth place for a subpar showing.

The top five might be rounded out by You Can See Everything as I anticipate Drummer Boy and Ramayana: Part 1 will fall further in their second outings that the acclaimed doc will in its fifth.

Another newcomer hitting multiplexes is the mid 19th-century set horror title Victorian Psycho. I skipped doing an individual post but I’ll say it makes $3 million.

Here’s how I have it shaking out:

1. Ebenezer

Predicted Gross: $21.3 million

2. Godzilla Minus Zero

Predicted Gross: $13.2 million

3. The Cat in the Hat

Predicted Gross: $12 million

4. How to Rob a Bank

Predicted Gross: $6.8 million

5. You Can See Everything

Predicted Gross: $6 million

Box Office Results (November 6-8)

Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to 2023’s critically heralded Godzilla Minus One, nearly tripled the opening gross of that predecessor with $30.5 million. That’s just under my $32 million projection as the kaiju tale should keep the franchise rolling along for Toho.

The animated rendering of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat was second with $20 million, falling a tad below my $22.5 million forecast. Featuring Bill Hader voicing the title role, Warner Bros seeks minimal percentage drops as this plays over Thanksgiving and beyond.

I didn’t give near enough credit to Drummer Boy from Angel Studios. The musical drama, set during the Revolutionary War, was a surprise third at $9.4 million. I incorrectly had it outside of my top five and didn’t even do a prediction post for it.

Hindi-language epic Ramayana: Part 1 completed a top four filled with newbies, whipping up $8.9 million over the traditional weekend and $12.4 million since its Thursday bow. That’s a solid result though I had it managing more with respective estimates of $11.9 million and $17.1 million.

Fifth place went to You Can See Everything with $8.4 million compared to my $7.3 million call. The doc grew to $79 million after four weeks.

Wildwood was sixth with $7.2 million (I said $6 million) as the Laika fantasy fell only 20% in weekend #3 for a tally of $40 million.

Clayface took seventh with $6.7 million, besting my $5.4 million guesstimate. The DC Universe body horror pic stands at $56 million after three weeks.

Finally, Martin McDonagh’s Oscar contender Wild Horse Nine was eighth with $5.9 million, galloping past my $3.9 million forecast. It’ll look for awards buzz to keep it afloat.

And that’s all for now, folks! Until next time…

November 6-8 Box Office Predictions

After October closed out with an expected whimper, four movies hope to kickstart a busy November at multiplexes. Toho sequel Godzilla Minus Zero, animated Dr. Seuss adaptation The Cat in the Hat, Indian action fantasy Ramayana: Part 1, and Martin McDonagh’s black comedy Wild Horse Nine all debut. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on them here:

Godzilla Minus Zero Box Office Prediction
The Cat in the Hat Box Office Prediction
Ramayana: Part 1 Box Office Prediction
Wild Horse Nine Box Office Prediction

There could be a battle for #1, but in the matchup of Godzilla vs. Hat, I’m giving the giant lizard the advantage. Predecessor Godzilla Minus One from 2023 debuted to $11 million. However, its reputation has grown and anticipation for the follow-up might have it tripling that start in the mid 30s.

The Cat in the Hat hopes to play well over the holiday season. I wouldn’t be shocked if my estimate is a tad high though I am giving it the benefit of the doubt with a premiere just over $30 million.

The biggest question mark is Ramayana: Part 1. Pre-sales are encouraging for the highly priced tagged epic. It opens on Thursday and that should contribute to a front-loaded total. I think it gets past $10 million from Friday to Sunday for a third place showing.

As for Wild Horse Nine, it may only get to lower single digits on around 1000 screens. It’ll hope for awards buzz to keep it in venues moving forward. My $3.9 million figure puts it outside the top five.

Holdover and current champ You Can See Everything should drop to fourth. Wildwood is likely to experience a smaller dip than Clayface and allow the former to be fifth. Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Godzilla Minus Zero

Predicted Gross: $32 million

2. The Cat in the Hat

Predicted Gross: $22.5 million

3. Ramayana: Part 1

Predicted Gross: $11.9 million (Friday to Sunday); $17.1 million (Thursday to Sunday)

4. You Can See Everything

Predicted Gross: $7.3 million

5. Wildwood

Predicted Gross: $6 million

6. Clayface

Predicted Gross: $5.4 million

Box Office Results (October 30-November 1)

In a Halloween frame where no new titles entered the wide release marketplace, buzzy documentary You Can See Everything vaulted to first after two weeks in second. A24’s Oscar contender took in $11.4 million, below my $12.9 million prediction for a three-week total of $64 million. It is doing numbers that the genre doesn’t do.

Clayface dropped to second with $11 million, under my $13.5 million projection. The DC Universe body horror flick has made $44 million after two weeks. That’s not bad considering the reported $40 million budget.

Laika Animation’s Wildwood eased only 27% in its sophomore outing with $8.9 million, a tad more than my $8 million take. The critically acclaimed stop-motion effort has $27 million in its coffers.

Wicker with Olivia Colman also held impressively with $4.3 million in weekend #2. I was close at $4 million as the ribald comedy has made $13 million.

Street Fighter rounded out the top five with $3.6 million (I said $4 million). The video game adaptation has $53 million after three weeks.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

October 30-November 1 Box Office Predictions

Halloween is typically a quiet time at the box office and that should play out in 2026 with it falling on a Saturday. There are no significant wide releases other than Christmas at the Kringles. I didn’t do an individual prediction post for the Briarcliff release. The comedic horror flick is slated to release on approximately 1800 screens and I don’t think it’ll make enough cash (maybe $2 to $2.5 million) to place in the top five.

That leaves holdovers for what could be a close contest between current champ Clayface and You Can See Everything, which has held the runner-up spot for two weeks in a row. I have the former dropping in the mid 40s with the latter easing in the mid 30s.

After kicking off on the higher end of its expected range, Wildwood should remain in third with Street Fighter and Wicker in a battle for fourth and fifth position. Here’s how I have it shaking out:

1. Clayface

Predicted Gross: $13.5 million

2. You Can See Everything

Predicted Gross: $12.9 million

3. Wildwood

Predicted Gross: $8 million

4. Wicker

Predicted Gross: $4 million

5. Street Fighter

Predicted Gross: $4 million

Box Office Results (October 23-25)

Sporting a reported $40 million budget (certainly small for the DC Universe), Clayface made $24 million for a slightly better debut than my $22 million prediction. The R-rated comic book adaptation’s results are alright considering the price tag as it hopes viewers will keep coming during the Halloween frame.

A24’s acclaimed doc You Can See Everything expanded wide and was second with $19.5 million. I went a little higher at $23.8 million though it can boast a better per theater average than Clayface. The probable Oscar contender has amassed $45 million.

Laika Animation’s Wildwood capitalized on rave reviews in third with $12.2 million. That’s still not great when factoring the $100 million plus budget, but it’s stronger than the lower forecasts including my own at $7.2 million.

Video game adaptation Street Fighter was knocked down from 1st to 4th in its sophomore outing with $8.5 million. That’s a whopping 72% plummet and under my $11.6 million projection. The two-week total is $46 million.

Wicker with Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård built a commendable female following in fifth with $5.7 million. I went with $4.9 million.

Jessica Chastain’s horror pic Other Mommy was sixth with $3.9 million. My guess? $3.9 million! The three-week tally is $51 million.

Seventh place went to Sense and Sensibility as the Jane Austen adaptation made $3.3 million, not matching my $4.2 million call. The ten-day gross is an underwhelming $13 million.

Whalefall sunk to eighth in frame #2 with $3 million (I said $3.7 million). The whale tale is also at $13 million.

Last (and least), Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun had a dark debut in 15th (!) with just $701,000 and an average of under $800 per venue. Oof. I said it would do $2.3 million.

And that’s all for now, folks! Until next time…

Oscar Predictions: Clayface

The latest DC Comics entry veers into full R rated body horror mode via Clayface which opens Friday. James Watkins directs the gory tale with Tom Rhys Harries in the title role and Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan providing support.

With 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 59 on Metacritic, Clayface is generating varied critical responses. This is not seen as an Oscar player for Warner Bros/DC with a notable exception. Those body horror effects could be rewarded in the Makeup & Hairstyling category. Recent ceremonies have seen the genre become more a player in that race with The Substance winning in 2024 and The Ugly Stepsister landing a nom last year. This could certainly make the contending quintet while a victory is likely out of reach. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

October 23-25 Box Office Predictions

**Blogger’s Update (10/21): I didn’t do an individual post for Wicker with Olivia Colman, but with the news that it is debuting on over 1400 screens, my $4.9 million puts it in fifth place on my chart.

Clayface from the DC Universe was, until very recently, expected to easily rule the box office charts this weekend. That may be challenged from a previously unanticipated source. We also have Laika Animation’s critically acclaimed Wildwood and Taika Waititi’s far from acclaimed sci-fi dramedy Klara and the Sun starring Jenna Ortega premiering. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Clayface Box Office Prediction
Wildwood Box Office Prediction
Klara and the Sun Box Office Prediction

Clayface could gross high teens for a floor to possibly mid to high 20s in the best case scenario. My estimate puts it right in the middle of the range in the low 20s. That’s far from impressive but not too shabby considering its reported $40 million budget.

As mentioned, that figure was thought to be enough to give it bragging rights at #1. Then You Can See Everything happened. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s documentary about imprisoned Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes exceeded all expectations with a sizzling #2 debut on 855 screens (more on its opening below). It is slated to grow to around 2600 venues this weekend. I think the word-of-mouth could mean a low to mid 20s output in its sophomore frame. That means I’m giving it the edge for the top spot.

Wildwood, despite glowing reviews, may fall under $10 million for a fourth place start. As for Klara, my meager $2.3 million guesstimate might mean it struggles to even make the top 10.

Current champ Street Fighter should be third with a low 60s percentage fall while holdovers Sense and Sensibility, Whalefall, and Other Mommy all post similar grosses.

Here’s how I see it all shaking out:

1. You Can See Everything

Predicted Gross: $23.8 million

2. Clayface

Predicted Gross: $22 million

3. Street Fighter

Predicted Gross: $11.6 million

4. Wildwood

Predicted Gross: $7.2 million

5. Wicker

Predicted Gross: $4.9 million

6. Sense and Sensibility

Predicted Gross: $4.2 million

7. Other Mommy

Predicted Gross: $3.9 million

8. Whalefall

Predicted Gross: $3.7 million

Box Office Results (October 16-18)

Video game based Street Fighter kicked off in line with expectations at $30.7 million for first, managing to outdo my $24.5 million take. I look for it to fade quickly.

A24 nailed down the second highest non-concert documentary opening in history behind 2004’s Fahrenheit 9/11 with You Can See Everything. With over $18k per screen, the doc (which no one knew existed until it surprise screened at Telluride) was runner-up with $15.6 million. That’s well beyond my $8.9 million prediction as its future looks rosy.

Other Mommy dropped to third with $8.2 million (a 70% plummet) compared to my $9.1 million call. The horror flick with Jessica Chastain sits at $44 million after two weeks.

Survival tale Whalefall flopped in fourth with $7.8 million, in line with my $8.2 million projection. Mixed reviews helped sink it.

Sense and Sensibility rounded out the top five with a respectable $7.2 million, ahead of my $5.3 million forecast. The latest Jane Austen adaptation may hold up fairly in subsequent weekends.

Finally, Verity was sixth with $6 million (I said $5.9 million) as the romantic thriller brought its three-week tally to $65 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Clayface Box Office Prediction

Clayface is not your typical DC Universe flick and it might not reach the numbers of most other entries in the franchise. The R-rated thriller containing elements of body horror comes from director James Watkins with Tom Rhys Harries as the title character. Costars include Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan.

It’s been a rough year for Warner Bros and DC was part of that with the massive underperformance of Supergirl. It opened to a less than expected $38 million and was heavily front-loaded with just $72 million domestically. Guesstimates aren’t as high for Clayface and it only sports a $40 million budget compared to Supergirl‘s (at least) $170 million.

Unless this picks up steam in the coming week, low to mid 20s is the likely result.

Clayface opening weekend prediction: $22 million

For my Wildwood prediction, click here:

Wildwood Box Office Prediction

For my Klara and the Sun prediction, click here:

Klara and the Sun Box Office Prediction

July 10-12 Box Office Predictions

Disney’s live-action version of Moana should top the charts, but it could face choppy waters in a marketplace with competition for kiddos and their parents. We also have Evil Dead Burn, the latest entry in that 45-year-old horror franchise and the nationwide expansion of Olivia Wilde’s acclaimed comedy The Invite. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Moana (2026) Box Office Prediction
Evil Dead Burn Box Office Prediction
The Invite Box Office Prediction

The Mouse House will easily achieve #1 but not bragging rights for Moana. My mid 50s forecast would cook up a disappointing start for Dwayne Johnson’s latest and that would mark the second lowball family flick debut in as many weekends.

I am referring to Minions & Monsters. Its unimpressive rollout (more on that below) was a Fourth of July surprise. If it eases in the mid 40s, the latest animated adventure in the series may have to settle for third.

That’s because Evil Dead Burn seeks a runner-spot slot as it hopes to post a $20M+ opening like its predecessors. I’m projecting it will get there.

Toy Story 5 and Young Washington should round out the top five and I have each declining in the mid 40s range.

As for The Invite, a mid single digits result in its nationwide expansion should mean sixth place.

Here’s how I have it shaking out:

1. Moana

Predicted Gross: $54.3 million

2. Evil Dead Burn

Predicted Gross: $21.9 million

3. Minions & Monsters

Predicted Gross: $20 million

4. Toy Story 5

Predicted Gross: $16.2 million

5. Young Washington

Predicted Gross: $11 million

6. The Invite

Predicted Gross: $6.4 million

Box Office Results (July 3-5)

With Minions & Monsters, Illumination Entertainment experienced the smallest debut of the seven Despicable Me/Minions movies with a far less than anticipated $37 million from Friday to Sunday and $62 million since its Wednesday bow. To put it mildly, I was more optimistic with respective estimates of $66.4 million and $106.5 million. The studio was obviously banking on more fireworks at the multiplex as this received stronger reviews than its predecessors.

Toy Story 5 slid to second after two weeks in 1st with $30.3 million, under my $35.4 million call. The three-week tally builds to $365 million.

Young Washington from Angel Studios took advantage of the holiday with its historical subject and earned $19.3 million in third. That’s on par with my $18.5 million take.

Supergirl crash landed once again in its sophomore weekend with a 77% fall to $8.6 million. I thought it might only crater in the mid 60s and went with $13.2 million. Summer’s biggest bomb has collected a piddly $57 million domestically.

Disclosure Day rounded out the top five with a 30% ease and $5.7 million. I incorrectly had Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi tale on the outside looking in and it crossed the century mark at $105 million after four weeks.

Obsession finally performed like a normal summer pic by decreasing 46% in sixth with $5.2 million (I said $6.8 million). The eight-week tally is $245 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

July 3-5 Box Office Predictions

Animation domination looks to be in order over the holiday weekend with Minions & Monsters debuting and Toy Story 5 sliding to the runner-up slot. Angel Studios is also releasing Young Washington focused on the formative years of America’s 1st POTUS. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

Minions & Monsters Box Office Prediction
Young Washington Box Office Prediction

The seventh feature in Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me/Minions franchise, Monsters is unleashed on Wednesday. The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday where many families will opt for literal fireworks instead of causing financial ones at the multiplex. I’ll project mid 60s for Friday to Sunday while topping nine digits over the five-day rollout.

Young Washington‘s projections are all over the map with some as low as $10 million and others in the $30 million range. The timing of release is hopefully shrewd for its studio. I’m basically splitting the difference with a high teens gross and that should be good for third.

Toy Story 5 may lose around 50% of its audience (especially with the Minions competition) for second place. The sophomore frame decline for Supergirl should be far more significant after a weak opening (more on that below). I have it plummeting in the mid 60s for low teens while Obsession should round out the top five.

Here’s how I envision it shaking out:

1. Minions & Monsters

Predicted Gross: $66.4 million (Friday to Sunday); $106.5 million (Wednesday to Sunday)

2. Toy Story 5

Predicted Gross: $35.4 million

3. Young Washington

Predicted Gross: $18.5 million

4. Supergirl

Predicted Gross: $13.2 million

5. Obsession

Predicted Gross: $6.8 million

Box Office Results (June 26-28)

Toy Story 5 fell an understandable 56% in weekend #2 to $70.8 million after a franchise best start. I had it holding stronger at $80.6 million though Disney/Pixar is perfectly happy with the $298 million in its domestic coffers.

The story of the week was the collective meh that audiences and critics greeted Supergirl with. The second pic in the newly configured DC Universe after last summer’s Superman, the stand-alone effort for the Man of Steel’s cousin brought in only $37.1 million compared to my $44.5 million call. To put that in perspective, Superman from last summer started off with $125 million.

Obsession was third with $9.7 million, a touch more than my $9 million forecast. The horror sensation has amassed $233 million after seven weeks.

No previous Jackass flick has earned less than $20 million out of the gate before now. However, series finale Jackass: Best and Last ensured it probably will be the swan song. It opened in fourth with a disappointing $8.4 million, under my $11.3 million projection.

Disclosure Day was fifth with $8.2 million (I said $8.4 million) for an underwhelming three-week take of $94 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Oscar Predictions: Supergirl

Supergirl marks the second feature in the new James Gunn curated iteration of the DC Universe behind last summer’s Superman reboot. Directed by Craig Gillespie, Milly Alcock (who briefly appeared in the Man of Steel’s 2025 adventure) plays the title character. David Corenswet appears as Supes with the supporting cast including Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, and Jason Momoa as bad guy Lobo (not Aquaman).

Box office expectations aren’t near as high for this DC effort compared to what was happening a year ago. Reviews were mixed on Superman. However, reaction to Supergirl is more negative. While Alcock is getting some decent ink, Rotten Tomatoes is at 57% with 48 on Metacritic.

The only awards races worth considering are Visual Effects, Sound, and Makeup and Hairstyling. Superman didn’t get into any of those despite being shortlisted in the first two. Supergirl‘s best shot might be in Makeup and Hairstyling where Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy managed three nominations. Interestingly critics are comparing Supergirl less with Guardians and more with Mad Max flicks. Like 2024’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the chances are strong this will receive zero noms. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Superman Box Office Prediction

After bringing lesser known superheroes to box office dominance over a decade ago, James Gunn helms a reboot with perhaps the most iconic one via Superman starting July 11th. Warner Bros hopes the latest reboot of the Man of Steel saga flies high with David Corenswet donning the tights, Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult handling villainous duties as Lex Luthor. The supporting cast includes Edi Gathergi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Skyler Gisondo, and Wendell Pierce.

With a reported budget of $225 million, hopes are high for the summer tentpole. Gunn’s contribution as director is in addition to his duties as head of DC Studios. He was given the role after successfully handling three Guardians of the Galaxy features for the MCU. Counting Supergirl, this marks the 10th overall feature in the Supes series that began in 1978.

The best opening of the bunch is 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which kicked off with $166 million. #2 on the board is 2013’s last proper restart Man of Steel, which made $116 million in its inaugural weekend. Opening above Justice would be a massive victory for WB while debuting below Steel would be a disappointment.

I’m guessing the opening will be somewhere in between, but closer to Steel than Justice.

Superman opening weekend prediction: $128.6 million