Next weekend brings us two massively anticipated tentpoles. The following week brings Moana 2, which could blow everything out of the water. No wonder people chose to stay home this weekend. They’re saving their movie money.
Our number one film, really by default, is Red One. Much has been said about this one, about how Amazon Prime is throwing money away by releasing such an expensive Christmas outing that was never going to match its budget theatrically. That’s just it, though. Amazon did release it theatrically. Despite The Rock claiming that Red One was “made to be seen on the biggest screen possible” because he thought it would be a game changer on IMAX…it wasn’t. Red One was made to be watched on your smartphone and laptop. It wasn’t intended for theaters until after Amazon had positive test screenings.
In other words, a $34 million opening for this kind of film is fine. Yes, yes, there’s that $200 million price tag, but like it or not, Amazon Prime simply doesn’t function like other studios in this regard. I’ve given lumps of coal to Apple TV+ for spending such extravagant money on films people just don’t want to see, but they aren’t nearly as popular as a streaming service. Be glad that Amazon gave Red One a theatrical run at all, as they got a lot of deserved criticism for refusing to do the same for their well-received Road House remake earlier this year.
That said…why the fuck were other studios playing chicken with Red One? There was no reason for other big movies to avoid directly competing with this one, and yet they did. Universal could’ve given Wicked: Part One this slot and had two weekends to breathe before Moana 2 steals its target audience (sorry, but kids are more interested to a sequel to a movie they like than a prequel to one their parents do). And it would’ve let Gladiator II stand on its own instead of being a potential party pooper for it. Wicked isn’t Barbie, and expecting it to perform that way is ridiculous. And as I’ve said before, hiding that this is a two-parter is eventually going to bite Universal in their green-skinned bottom.
I’m sorry, what were we talking about? Oh right. Red One. Is it going to have legs? Is it on the box office naughty list? Does Amazon even care? The answer to all three questions is no. Also, Red One has a polar bear. Polar bears are kind of cool.
Anyway, see you next week for a report of the biggest showdown since that stupid Logan Paul/Mike Tyson fight. Here are the top ten, via Deadline
- Red One (AMZ MGM) 4,032 theaters, Fri $10.9M Sat $13.2M Sun $9.9M 3-day $34M/Wk 1
- Venom: The Last Dance (Sony) 3,421 (-484) theaters, Fri $1.5M Sat $3.5M Sun $2.2M, 3-day $7.3M (-54%), Total$127.5M/Wk 4
- Best Christmas Pageant Ever (LG) 3,020, Fri $1.35M Sat $2.35M Sun $1.7M, 3-day $5.4M (-50%), Total $19.9M/Wk 2
- Heretic (A24) 3,230 (+9) theaters, Fri $1.3M Sat $2.2M Sun $1.5M 3-day $5.1M (-52%), Total $20.4M/Wk 2
- The Wild Robot (Uni) 2,894 (-157) Fri $940K Sat $2M Sun $1.32M 3-day $4.3M (-35%), Total $137.7M/Wk 8
- Smile 2 (Par) 2,462 (-360 theaters Fri $735K Sat $1.39M Sun $825K 3-day $2.95M(-42%), Total $65.6M/Wk 5
- Conclave (Foc) 2,377 (+94) theaters, Fri $790K Sat $1.25M Sun $810K, 3-day$2.85M (-31%), Total $26.5M/Wk 4
- Hello, Love, Again (ABR) 248 theaters, Fri $930K Sat $846K Sun $550K 3-day $2.4M/Wk 1
- A Real Pain (SL) 1185 (+1173) theaters, Fri $750K Sat $908K Sat $642K, 3-day $2.3M, Total $3M/Wk 3
- Anora (NEON) 1,500 (+396) theaters, Fri $525K Sat $730K Sun $584K, 3-day $1.83M(-27%), Total $10.5M/Wk 5