Los Angeles, USA – Universal Studios is making a splash at the 2024 box office with the release of Blumhouse Productions’ latest horror film, “Night Swim.” The PG-13 thriller earned an impressive $5.2 million on its opening day and preview screenings. Industry projections estimate that the film will make around $12.5 million over the three-day weekend.
“Night Swim” has proven to be a cost-effective venture for producers, with a budget of only $15 million before marketing expenses. Blumhouse, known for its horror films, including last year’s surprise hit “M3GAN,” has shown success in the early part of the year. This strategy has worked well for studios in the past, as there are few competing horror movies until the release of “Imaginary” in March.
The plot of “Night Swim” centers around a family who discovers supernatural qualities in their swimming pool. Directed by Bryce McGuire and starring Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, the film has received negative reviews and a lukewarm response from early audiences. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon for horror movies to face mixed reception.
Despite its strong opening, “Night Swim” is unlikely to surpass the box office dominance of “Wonka.” Warner Bros.’ musical has continued to perform well, earning an additional $4.3 million on Friday. With a domestic tally exceeding $150 million, “Wonka” is projected to quadruple its $39 million opening by the end of the weekend. This success bodes well for the Timothée Chalamet vehicle, which is expected to remain in theaters throughout January.
Universal Studios is also enjoying success with its film “Migration,” which is on track to earn $10.5 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to over $78 million. The Illumination production had a slow start over the holidays but has managed to maintain steady momentum in the weeks since.
Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is on the verge of crossing the $100 million mark in North America. While it experienced a 56% drop in earnings from the previous week, the film is still on track to become the highest-grossing DC Comics film of 2023. However, it has a long way to go to catch up with its predecessor, which earned an impressive $260 million after 17 days of release.
Rounding out the top five is Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone but You.” Surprisingly, ticket sales for the film are expected to increase from last weekend’s $8.7 million haul. This rare uptick is even more remarkable considering the film’s soft theatrical debut. With an anticipated weekend earnings of $9.5 million, “Anyone but You” is likely to surpass $43 million domestically.
In summary, Universal Studios’ “Night Swim” has made a strong start at the box office, earning $5.2 million on its opening day. The horror film is projected to make around $12.5 million over the three-day weekend. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” continues to dominate the box office, with a domestic tally surpassing $150 million. Other films, such as “Migration,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” and “Anyone but You,” are also performing well, further boosting the success of the 2024 box office.