LOS ANGELES (AP) — The domestic box office continues to face challenges as a winter freeze settles in and theaters struggle with a slowdown in product due to last year’s labor strikes and resulting production delays. One film managing to hold its own is Paramount’s “Mean Girls” musical, which maintained its top spot in its second weekend, earning an estimated $11.7 million from 3,826 locations and bringing its domestic total to $50 million. However, the film experienced a 59 percent drop from its first weekend, indicating a decline in audience interest.
In terms of new releases, Bleecker Street’s thriller “I.S.S.” made its debut. The film, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, centers around warring astronauts in rival space stations and stars Ariana DeBose and Chris Messina. Despite high hopes, “I.S.S.” only brought in $3 million from 2,250 locations, landing at number 7 at the box office. However, there is potential for the film to gain traction through home entertainment and international markets.
Meanwhile, Jason Statham-led action film “The Beekeeper” held strong at number 2 in its second weekend, grossing $8.5 million from 3,330 theaters. The film, distributed by Amazon and MGM, has earned a domestic total of $31.1 million and a global total of $75.2 million. Another film that continues to perform well is Warner Bros.’ Christmas hit “Wonka,” which earned $6.4 million domestically, bringing its total to an impressive $187.2 million in the US and over $500 million globally.
Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You” is also finding success, grossing over $100 million globally and becoming the highest-grossing R-rated comedy since 2016. The film’s performance demonstrates the enduring appeal of romantic comedies in theaters, rather than being confined to streaming platforms.
In the animated genre, Illumination and Universal’s “Migration” rounded out the top five at the box office, earning $5.3 million domestically and $191.6 million worldwide.
In the specialty box office, Neon and Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” made a solid debut, grossing $875,000 from 125 locations. The film, loosely adapted from Isabel Wilkerson’s book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” explores the theory of American racism. With a cast that includes Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, and Niecy Nash-Betts, “Origin” is resonating with audiences and proving to be a promising contender for awards season.
Elsewhere in the specialty market, Searchlight’s “Poor Things” has surpassed $20.4 million, a significant achievement for an independent film.
Despite the setbacks faced by the domestic box office, there are still success stories emerging, demonstrating the resilience and appeal of certain films. As the industry navigates the challenges posed by production delays and changing audience preferences, studios and theaters will continue to adapt in order to thrive.