March 20-22 Box Office Predictions

Blogger’s Update (03/19): Upping my Project Hail Mary prediction from $59 million to $69 million and adding Dhurandhar the Revenge to the #5 spot at $7.8 million.

Amazon MGM space adventure Project Hail Mary looks to dominate the box office this weekend while Searchlight searches for horror fans to boost Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

With high star reviews, Mary appears poised for an impressive showing out of the gate (it will need it with the reported $200M+ budget). My prediction has it reaching nearly $60 million as it hopes for a long run in the coming weeks.

Barring a significant overperformance, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come should place third in low double digits behind the third frame of current champ Hoppers.

The remainder of the top five should go to holdovers Reminders of Him in its sophomore frame (more on its solid performance below) and Scream 7.

Here’s how I see it shaking out:

1. Project Hail Mary

Predicted Gross: $69 million

2. Hoppers

Predicted Gross: $18.4 million

3. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Predicted Gross: $11.2 million

4. Reminders of Him

Predicted Gross: $9.2 million

5. Dhurandhar The Revenge

Predicted Gross: $7.8 million

6. Scream 7

Predicted Gross: $5.3 million

Box Office Results (March 13-15)

As anticipated, Disney/Pixar’s Hoppers stayed in 1st place while newcomers managed to outdo my projections. Hoppers made off with $28.6 million, just ahead of my $27.2 million prediction. The two-week earnings jumped to $86 million.

Reminders of Him, the romantic drama based on the Colleen Hoover novel, came in at the high end of expectations with $17.9 million in second. That’s well beyond my $10.4 million call. Look for it to drop in the high 40s in its second week.

Low-budget Canadian horror pic Undertone was third with $9.3 million. Like Reminders, it started out at the top of its expected range and past my meager $4.9 million take. I do think it will drop out of the top 5 this weekend with a percentage dip in the high 50s or more.

Scream 7 was fourth with $8.5 million, ahead of my $6.9 million forecast for a three-week tally of $106 million. It will match the $108 million take of its 2023 predecessor this week.

Goat rounded out the top five with $4.6 million (I said $4.3 million) as the animated sports tale is nearly at nine digits with $90 million.

Finally, The Bride! plummeted 70% in weekend #2 with just $2 million. I was more generous at $2.6 million. The two-week total for the WB flop is $11 million.

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

Project Hail Mary Box Office Prediction

Project Hail Mary looks to throw down impressive grosses for Amazon MGM when it debuts March 20th. Drew Goddard adapts Andy Weir’s 2021 novel with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing. The sci-fi adventures stars Ryan Gosling with a supporting cast including Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub.

Critics have complimented the production on its Spielberg vibes with Rotten Tomatoes at 95% and 80 on Metacritic. With a reported budget north of $200 million, the studio is hoping for a high launch. Encouraging early word-of-mouth should assist.

One scenario is that it plays similar to 2015’s The Martian which is also based on a Weir book. That space tale with Matt Damon opened to $54 million. A best case might be closer to $80 million, but I’ll hedge and say high 60s is likelier.

Project Hail Mary opening weekend prediction: $69 million

For my Ready or Not 2: Here I Come prediction, click here:

Oscar Predictions: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary touches down in theaters March 20th looking to score impressive box office numbers. The sci-fi adventure comes from filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, best known for their involvement in the Lego, 21/22 Jump Street, and Spider-Verse franchises. Ryan Gosling headlines with Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub providing support.

Early reviews are encouraging with many critics calling this a big-hearted popcorn feast reminiscent of Spielberg. Rotten Tomatoes is fresh at 96% with Metacritic at 80. If Mary pops with audiences and becomes a financial hit, that could help with awards attention. Down the line nods including Daniel Pemberton’s score, Editing, Production Design, and especially Sound and Visual Effects are all possibilities.

How it fares in the major races is more of an open question. Under a best case scenario, Director, Adapted Screenplay (by Drew Goddard from the Andy Weir novel) could happen. This logic also applies to Best Picture like other space tales Gravity and The Martian (also based on a Weir story). It could also miss the big dance like other genre titles Interstellar and Gosling’s First Man. The leading man could make a play for a fourth acting mention.

The bottom line is that this Project could be one that Oscar voters notice. To what level remains to be seen. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…