The box office battle is on, but the results are not what was expected! Disney's highly anticipated sci-fi sequel, 'Tron: Ares', has underperformed on its opening day, despite the hype. With a budget of $180 million, the film only managed to bring in $14.3 million, falling short of its projected $45 million debut. But here's where it gets interesting: the original 'Tron' was a cult classic, but not a box office smash, and its sequel, 'Tron: Legacy', had a similar fate, grossing $400 million worldwide. So, is 'Ares' following in its predecessors' footsteps?
The film, starring franchise newcomers Jared Leto, Greta Lee, and Evan Peters, alongside the iconic Jeff Bridges, may have a tough road ahead. With mixed reviews and a B+ Cinema Score, it's banking on international audiences to turn things around. But the question remains: will it be enough?
And the surprises don't stop there! Paramount's 'Roofman', a comedic thriller starring Channing Tatum, is also falling short of expectations. With a modest $19 million budget, it earned $3.25 million on Friday, aiming for an $8 million debut. The film has received positive buzz and a B+ Cinema Score, but will it find its audience?
In other releases, Sony's 'Soul on Fire' is aiming for a fifth-place finish, with a projected $3 million opening weekend. The faith-based drama has an A Cinema Score, indicating strong approval from its target audience. But the R-rated musical adaptation, 'Kiss of the Spider Woman', is struggling to make an impact, earning just $343,000 on Friday. Despite its star-studded cast and Sundance debut, the film's $30 million production budget seems unlikely to be recouped at the box office.
Warner Bros.' awards contender, 'One Battle After Another', is holding strong, but its path to profitability is uncertain. The R-rated epic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has a domestic total of $49.8 million after 15 days, leaving many to wonder if it will find success at the Oscars instead.
As for Universal's 'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie', it's holding steady in fourth place, while 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' continues to perform well, adding to its impressive domestic total. But the biggest surprise is the rapid decline of A24's 'The Smashing Machine', starring Dwayne Johnson, which plummeted 72% from its opening weekend, raising concerns about its box office potential.
Are these underwhelming box office results a sign of changing audience preferences or a mere coincidence? What does the future hold for these films and their respective franchises?
