Today, we’re diving into the box office results of some recent releases, highlighting the success of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the challenges faced by “Book Club: The Next Chapter.”
Let’s start with the superhero extravaganza that has captured the hearts of fans everywhere—Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” In its second weekend, this cosmic adventure raked in an impressive $60.5 million domestically. Although ticket sales dropped by 49% from its debut, it’s worth noting that this is actually a remarkable hold for a superhero film. In fact, only a couple of Marvel movies, such as “Black Panther” and “Thor,” have enjoyed stronger second-weekend performances. While recent MCU releases experienced significant declines, “Guardians 3” managed to hold its ground. With a current North American total of $213 million and a global haul of $528 million, the final installment of the James Gunn-directed trilogy is cruising through space with great success.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the second highest rated Marvel movie of all time. A masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/sij7ZOWjh7
— New Rockstars (@NewRockstars) May 12, 2023
But now, let’s switch gears and discuss a different film that faced a more challenging theatrical landscape. “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” the sequel to the hit septuagenarian comedy, didn’t quite hit the mark with audiences this time around. Opening to $6.5 million from 3,507 theaters, it fell on the lower end of projections. Even critics weren’t completely charmed by the second installment, and audiences echoed this sentiment, giving it a “B” CinemaScore (a step down from the “A-” grade earned by the first film). With a modest budget of $20 million, the sequel now finds itself in a tougher position than its predecessor, which enjoyed a longer run in theaters after its $14 million opening. Surprisingly, opening ticket sales for “Book Club 2” were even lower than Paramount’s “80 for Brady,” another comedy targeting older female viewers, which opened earlier this year to $12.7 million. Industry expert David A. Gross suggests that older audiences tend to take their time when it comes to watching these types of movies, and for “Book Club 2” to be profitable, it will need that staying power.
Amidst these contrasting box office performances, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” continues to shine in its sixth weekend, earning a remarkable $13 million from 3,800 venues. This animated video game adaptation has amassed a staggering $535.9 million in North America and a jaw-dropping $1.21 billion worldwide. Another notable entry, Warner Bros.’ supernatural horror sequel “Evil Dead Rise,” claimed the fourth spot with $3.7 million from 2,821 theaters. With a modest box office success of $60.1 million in North America and $131 million globally, it seems to have struck a chord with horror enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, the coming-of-age film “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” earned a solid $2.5 million over the Mother’s Day weekend, bringing its North American total to $16.5 million. Lastly, “Hypnotic,” a sci-fi action thriller starring Ben Affleck and directed by Robert Rodriguez, had a disappointing debut, opening with only $2.3 million from 2,118 cinemas. Garnering a lackluster “C+” CinemaScore and a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it faces an uphill battle in terms of word of mouth. Costing around $65 million to produce, the film’s weak opening is a setback, especially considering it was conceived before the pandemic.
