The third-weekend box office of January brought a fresh shake-up to the box office. Two highly anticipated new releases dominated the charts, giving audiences a mix of horror chills and comedic laughs.
‘One Of Them Days’ Laughs Its Way to First Place
According to Box Office Mojo, Sony’s One of Them Days claimed first place with $11.6 million; which is slightly under my predicted amount. The comedy, starring a dynamic ensemble cast, leaned on sharp humor and relatable situations to connect with audiences. Despite limited pre-release promotion, strong word of mouth helped One of Them Days exceed expectations. Comedies can be a gamble at the box office. However, this one proved that the genre is far from dead when done well.
Not too far behind in second place was Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, which earned $11.5 million in its fifth weekend, bringing its domestic total to an impressive $209 million. The prequel continues to be a family favorite, though it saw an 18.9% decline compared to last weekend. Nostalgia remains a powerful driver for the film; its lush animation and heartfelt storytelling keep it afloat amidst strong competition.
‘Wolf Man’ Gets Defanged At The Box Office
Universal Pictures’ Wolf Man debuted at #3 this weekend, raking in an estimated $10.5 million. Directed by Leigh Whannell, the modern reimagining of the classic Universal Monster failed to capture audience attention. The movie wasn’t scoring high in terms of its Cinemascore, and critical reception was middling. It seems like the simplistic storytelling didn’t work for everyone. While it had a good cast and eerie visuals, it didn’t seem to be enough.
‘Sonic’ and ‘Den of Thieves’ Round Out the Top Five
Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 slid to fourth place with $9.3 million, a 24% drop in its fifth frame. The speedy blue hedgehog has maintained strong appeal with family audiences, and its domestic haul now stands at $218 million, solidifying its place as a major blockbuster of the season.
Meanwhile, Den of Thieves: Pantera, which topped last weekend’s box office, landed in fifth place with $6.6 million. Its sharp 56% decline isn’t unusual for an action sequel, but its total gross of $27 million signals that this gritty crime saga may not have the same staying power as its predecessor.
Next Weekend’s Predictions
Next week sees the release of Flight Risk and Presence.
There’s no official tracking for either film yet, but Flight Risk, a high-stakes thriller, benefits from the star power of Mark Wahlberg. Thrillers can be hit-or-miss in January, but with its solid marketing campaign, I predict it will open to around $7 million to $10 million.
Presence, on the other hand, is a slow-burn supernatural horror film. Elevated horror often finds a strong niche audience, but A24’s subdued promotional push might limit its reach. I expect it to pull in about $3 million to $6 million this weekend, likely coming in behind Flight Risk.
As always, we’ll find out next week!
