In its fourth weekend in theaters, Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Wonka’ has once again dominated the box office, securing the top spot for the third time.
The family-oriented musical, produced by Warner Bros., added $14.4 million in ticket sales, bringing its total domestic grosses to an impressive $164.7 million.
‘Warner Bros.’ Musical Triumph
Industry experts are drawing parallels to the success of past films like ‘The Greatest Showman,’ suggesting that ‘Wonka’ is poised to continue its stellar performance well into January.
Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, notes that ‘Wonka’ follows the tradition of crowd-pleasing films like ‘The Greatest Showman.’
Released at a strategic time, the musical has become a perfect choice for audiences, contributing to its sustained success. Dergarabedian anticipates that the film will maintain its momentum and continue to be a significant player in the marketplace.
Despite ‘Wonka’s’ triumph, the overall box office for the beginning of 2024 is trailing behind the previous year by around 16%. The only major new release this weekend was the Universal/Blumhouse horror film ‘Night Swim,’ starring Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon.
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‘Wonka’ Shines While 2024 Struggles, ‘Night Swim’ Makes a Chilling Splash
The eerie tale about a supernatural swimming pool attracted an estimated $12 million in its debut weekend, contributing to a global debut of $17.7 million.
‘Night Swim’ proved to be a strong performer at the box office, even with mixed reviews and a C CinemaScore rating. Jim Orr, Universal’s head of domestic distribution, highlighted the film’s success, stating that it not only performed well financially but also left audiences with a lingering sense of unease around swimming pools.
Box Office Rankings:
- ‘Wonka: $14.4 million
- ‘Night Swim’: $12 million
- ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’: $10.6 million
- ‘Migration’: $10.3 million
- ‘Anyone But You’: $9.5 million
Other Notable Performances:
Warner Bros.’ ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ crossed the $100 million mark domestically, while Universal’s animated ‘Migration’ added $10.3 million to its running total. Sony’s romantic comedy ‘Anyone But You’ landed in fifth place with $9.5 million, marking a 9% increase from the previous weekend.
As cineplexes showcase numerous awards contenders, including films like ‘The Color Purple,’ ‘The Iron Claw,’ and ‘Poor Things,’ the industry anticipates potential boosts in awareness, especially with the Golden Globes broadcast shining a spotlight on these cinematic achievements.
The Golden Globes, often regarded as a three-hour infomercial for the industry, may contribute to increased interest in these acclaimed films.
With ‘Wonka’ leading the charge, the box office landscape continues to evolve in 2024. While the year has started slower than the previous one, the potential success of acclaimed films and the impact of award ceremonies like the Golden Globes could bring about positive shifts in the coming weeks.
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