In a sluggish box office environment, Warner Bros.’ Furiosa has managed to reclaim its second-place position from Paramount’s IF. Despite a significant 59% drop in its second weekend, Furiosa grossed $10.785 million, edging out IF‘s $10.5 million. This development underscores the challenges the box office faces, with no major releases until Father’s Day weekend.
Deadline writes that Sony’s The Garfield Movie continues to lead, earning $14 million over the weekend, a 42% drop from its previous haul. With a total of $51.5 million through ten days, Garfield outperformed Furiosa in both ticket sales and revenue, showcasing its family-friendly appeal.
Furiosa, directed by George Miller and starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, has generated mixed reactions. Its current domestic total stands at $49.7 million, and it faces skepticism about reaching the $100 million mark.
Despite its high production cost of $168 million, the film’s limited audience appeal has been a critical factor in its performance. As one industry insider noted, “Mad Max was never an MCU title. It’s a finite appealing IP in a market that craves infinite-appealing IP.”
Meanwhile, IF continues to show resilience. Written, directed, and produced by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds, the film has accumulated $80.4 million, narrowly ahead of Reynolds’ previous hit Free Guy at the same point in its run. Its success hinges on its potential performance in China, where Free Guy excelled post-COVID with $94.8 million.
The broader box office landscape remains bleak, with total earnings down 67% from last year. The ongoing strikes have disrupted the release pipeline, affecting the availability of new content. This downturn has sparked debates about the viability of theatrical releases versus streaming.
Sony’s Crunchyroll release, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, debuted with $3.5 million, reflecting the niche but dedicated audience for anime films in the U.S.
In contrast, other films like IFC’s In a Violent Nature and Roadside Attractions’ Summer Camp struggled to make a significant impact. The industry is eagerly awaiting the return of major event films to revive box office fortunes.
