With Christmas eve falling on Sunday this year, the 3-day weekend box office will have a slight dip before bouncing back up on Christmas Day Monday. While a slew of new films join the festivities, Star Wars: The Last Jedi [STAR8] will remain the dominant force in the marketplace with possibly $120 million through the 4-day holiday weekend.
Dwayne Johnson [TROCK] and Kevin Hart [KHART] lead Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle [JUMNJ], Sony’s update of the 1995 original for the gaming crowd. Trailers and ads have conveyed a fun and crowd-pleasing adventure. The PG-13 rated opened on Wednesday, earning $7.2 million. Swinging into 3765 theaters, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle could score another $55 million.
Universal is marketing Pitch Perfect 3 [PTCP3] as the end of the all-female a cappella troupe the Bellas. Pitch Perfect 2 opened with a whopping $69.2 million, which turned out to be extremely front-loaded. Pitch Perfect 3 will likely only appeal to the diehard fans during a crowded opening weekend. Stepping up in 3447 theaters, Pitch Perfect 3 may hit $40 million.
Hugh Jackman [HJACK] toplines The Greatest Showman [TGSOE] target at musical lovers. Fox hopes Zac Efron [ZEFRO] and Zendaya [ZENDA] will draw in younger moviegoers, though reviews are mixed. The Greatest Showman opened on Wednesday in 3005 theaters with $4.6 million and should tally another $18 million over the long weekend.
Paramount opens the social satire Downsizing [DWNSZ] about living life on a miniature scale. The R-rated film has earned positive reviews through the festival circuit, and award buzz for co-star Hong Chau [HCHAU]. However, Matt Damon [MDAMO] has received negative press recently for his views on sexual harassment. Downsizing could gross $11 million from 2668 theaters.
Owen Wilson [OWILS] and Ed Helms [EHELM] star in the R-rated comedy Father Figures [BASTR], a title Warner Bros. was forced to change from Bastards due to objections from conservative markets. Either way, the film doesn’t look funny. Playing in 2902 theaters, Father Figures may settle for $10 million.
Two awards contenders in limited release expand wide on Friday. The Shape of Water [SHPWT] in 726 theaters and Darkest Hour [DARKH] in 806 theaters could each take in around $6 million over the holiday weekend.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor. Happy holidays!
Tag(s): STAR8, TROCK, KHART, JUMNJ, PTCP3, HJACK, TGSOE, ZEFRO, ZENDA, DWNSZ, HCHAU, MDAMO, OWILS, EHELM, BASTR, SHPWT, DARKH
