The box office remained robust this weekend, led by a mix of anticipated sequels and newcomers. While some films experienced steep drop-offs, the overall performance suggests audiences are still turning out for a variety of genres.
The Top Three At The Box Office
According to Box Office Mojo, Moana 2 secured the top spot, earning $52 million in its second weekend despite a significant 62.8% drop. With a total domestic haul of $300 million so far, the sequel remains a major hit for Disney, reaffirming the studio’s dominance this year.
Wicked claimed second place with $34.85 million, marking a 57.1% decline from its debut. The film’s total gross has climbed to $320.5 million, making it one of the year’s top earners. Its appeal across demographics continues to drive solid returns at the box office.
Gladiator II came in third, adding $12.45 million to its total despite a steep 59.9% drop. With $132.7 million in domestic earnings, the historical epic faces stiff competition but maintains a respectable position.
Rounding Out The Top Five
Indian action-drama Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 made a notable debut, earning $9.3 million from just 1,245 theaters. Its strong per-theater average of $7,469 suggests solid demand at the box office among fans of the franchise.
Holiday-themed action-comedy Red One landed in fifth place with $7 million, a 45% drop from the previous weekend. Its total domestic gross of $85.8 million keeps it in the mix as audiences look for seasonal entertainment.
Next Week’s Predictions
Next weekend will see the release of two highly anticipated films at the box office, Kraven the Hunter and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
Kraven the Hunter is projected to open with $40 million to $55 million. Sony’s marketing for this Marvel antihero story has leaned heavily into its gritty tone and action-packed sequences, appealing to superhero fans hungry for something darker. While early buzz has been mixed, strong brand recognition from Spider-Man’s universe could help it secure the second-place spot behind Moana 2. I predict the movie will land in the lower end of its range at the box office, around $43 million.
On the other hand, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim faces more of an uphill battle. With a niche anime style and limited mainstream marketing, it’s tracking for a modest $8 million to $12 million debut. While fans of the Tolkien franchise may turn out, casual audiences might not be as invested. Its best-case box office scenario is capturing a spot in the top five, but I expect it to open closer to $9 million; and perhaps optimistically it’ll be in the fifth place spot, but if not, it’ll be not too far behind in the sixth or seventh place spot.
As always, we’ll find out next week!
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