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Moviegoers said no to WAR and didn’t crave KRAVEN.

Exhibitors were lucky to still have MOANA 2 & WICKED, which topped the boxoffice again despite competition from holiday shopping and partying.
This weekend’s domestic marketplace totaled $87.97M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 34.5% from the prior weekend, but up 10% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $8.12B, down 4.8% from $8.53B in 2023. The previous weekend in 2024 was down 5.3% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney’s PG animated comedy adventure MOANA 2 was #1 again in weekend 3 with $26.6M (-48%) at 4,000 theatres ($6,655), per Comscore. It’s done $337.5M domestically and $717M worldwide.

Universal/Marc Platt Productions’ PG fantasy musical romance WICKED was a strong #2 again in weekend 4 with $22.5M (-38%) at 3,689 theatres ($6,099). The Jon M. Chu film, which reportedly cost $150M to produce, has done $359M domestic and $525M worldwide.

Sony/Marvel Entertainment’s R rated action thriller KRAVEN THE HUNTER, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Russell Crowe, opened in third place to $11M, per Comscore, at 3,211 theatres ($3,426). It also did $15M in 60 international markets for a global cume of $26M.

Hollywood handicappers expected KRAVEN, which reportedly cost $110M to produce, to kick off to $15-20M. It’s tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (two points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics detest it at 15% and audiences are a blah 72%.

Paramount/Scott Free Productions’ R rated historical action adventure GLADIATOR II fell one notch to #4 in weekend four with $7.8M (-38%) at 3,224 theatres ($2,419). The Ridley Scott sequel, which reportedly cost $250M to produce, has done $145.9M domestic and $398.5M worldwide.

Warner Bros./New Line Cinema’s PG-13 animated adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM, opened in sixth place to $4.6M at 2,602 theatres ($1,768), per Comscore. It also did $4M in week two internationally for a global cume of $10.3M.  ROHIRRIM reportedly cost just $30M to produce.

Analysts were thinking maybe $15M. WAR is tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (three points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 51%, but audiences are happier at 83%.

Next weekend (12/20): Two family appeal wide studio openings will hit theatres as the holidays approach. Paramount/Original Film’s PG rated action adventure comedy SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is opening at about 3,600 theatres. It’s tracking best for first choice with men under 25 (15 points over norm).

Disney’s PG animated adventure MUFASA: THE LION KING will arrive at about 3,900 theatres. It’s tracking best and equally well for first choice with women under & over 25 (seven points over norm).