Title: Box Office Update: "Bob Marley: One Love" Dominates Competition as New Releases Struggle
This weekend, the film "Bob Marley: One Love" continues to hold its position as the leading film at the domestic box office. The biopic, which chronicles the life of the legendary musician, has managed to outshine a trio of new releases, including the highly anticipated anime adaptation "Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba — To the Hashira Training," the faith-based drama "Ordinary Angels" featuring Hilary Swank, and the quirky crime comedy "Drive-Away Dolls" directed by Ethan Coen.
"One Love" has reported an additional $3.7 million in earnings this Friday, which reflects a moderate 51% decrease compared to its revenue from the previous week. Since its debut on Valentine’s Day, this film has collected a commendable total of $61 million within its first ten days in theaters across North America. In comparison to similar biographical films, "One Love" is performing slightly better than "Rocketman," which garnered $50 million during the same timeframe in 2019, but trails behind "Elvis," which achieved an impressive $66 million in its first ten days in 2022. Globally, "One Love" has crossed the $100 million mark, solidifying its success on an international scale.
On the other hand, the latest installment in the "Demon Slayer" franchise, "To the Hashira Training," is projected to secure the second spot at the box office. The film, which debuted in 1,949 theaters, has accumulated $5.5 million from Friday and preview screenings. Importantly, this latest release is a cinematic adaptation of two episodes from the beloved "Demon Slayer" television series, and it is now anticipated to exceed $10 million in its opening weekend.
While the "Demon Slayer" franchise has enjoyed significant success in the past, it is unlikely to replicate the remarkable achievement of its first feature film, which opened with over $21 million domestically in 2021 shortly after the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. The subsequent entry, "To the Swordsmith Village," still performed well with a $10.1 million debut last March. Adaptations of long-standing manga series have proven to be reliable draws at the box office, and this new chapter seems to be no exception.
Faith-based films have also shown consistent appeal, particularly in recent years. Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s "Ordinary Angels" has reported a Friday intake of $2.3 million from 3,020 locations, including preview screenings. Early reviews suggest a positive reception, as indicated by an A+ rating from audience survey firm Cinema Score. The film aims to achieve projected opening weekend earnings between $5 million and $7 million.
"Ordinary Angels" is inspired by a true story, featuring Hilary Swank as a hairdresser who decides to assist a father and his two daughters, one of whom is in dire need of a liver transplant. Directed by Jon Gunn, the screenplay is a collaborative effort by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, who previously directed "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret."
In stark contrast, Focus Features’ "Drive-Away Dolls" is struggling significantly, having reported a meager $1.01 million so far. The Ethan Coen-directed road comedy opted not to disclose its Thursday preview earnings. This lackluster performance suggests that the film is unlikely to exceed $3 million over the course of its opening weekend – a disappointing start for any film, particularly for a specialty label. For context, the Coen brothers’ "Hail, Caesar!" managed to reach $11 million in its opening three days back in 2016, which was considered underwhelming at the time.
While reviews for "Drive-Away Dolls" are generally positive, they haven’t reached a level that captivates audiences. The film holds a C grade on Cinema Score, which could hinder its ability to attract viewers. The story revolves around two women, played by Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan, who find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy involving murder and political corruption in Florida.
Meanwhile, Sony’s "Madame Web" is struggling to maintain its theatrical presence after a disappointing six-day domestic opening of $26.2 million. The Marvel Comics adaptation garnered just $1.57 million on Friday, marking a staggering 63% decline from its previous week’s earnings. Negative reviews and poor audience reception have proven to be challenging obstacles for the film, which may be fortunate to surpass a total domestic gross of $35 million this weekend, a concerning figure given its $80 million production budget along with substantial marketing and distribution expenses.
In the race for the final position in the top five box office spots, Universal’s animated feature "Migration" and Apple’s "Argylle" are both projected to earn around $3 million. Movie theaters are eagerly anticipating next weekend’s release of "Dune: Part Two," which is expected to breathe new life into the box office landscape.
As it stands, "Bob Marley: One Love" continues to captivate audiences while new releases face challenges in gaining traction. This weekend’s box office illustrates the evolving dynamics of audience preferences, where established franchises and compelling narratives can often outperform fresh entries, underscoring the competitive nature of the film industry.
