ZAMM.COM

Moviegoers hit the multiplexes over the holidays, giving exhibitors a new lease on life for 2025.

With something for everyone playing in cinemas that were mostly empty earlier this year, audiences came to celebrate with movies & popcorn. The three day domestic marketplace totaled $163.3M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, up 13.9% from the prior weekend and up 43.9% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $8.66B, down just 3.56% from $8.98B in 2023. The previous weekend in 2024 was down 4.38% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Focus Features’ R rated horror fantasy NOSFERATU opened #3 to an over-performing $21.2M at 2,992 theatres ($7,069), per Comscore. Its estimated 5-day cume is $40.3M. NOSFERATU is tracking best for first choice with over-25 men (seven points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are happy at 86%, but audiences are just okay at 75%.

Searchlight Pictures’ R rated bio-drama A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, kicked off strongly in sixth place to $11.6M at 2,835 theatres ($4,092), per Comscore. Its estimated 5-day cume is $23.1M. UNKNOWN is tracking for first choice below norm with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 78%, but audiences are singing its praises at 96%.

A24’s R rated crime drama BABYGIRL, starring Nicole Kidman, opened #7  to $4.4M at 2,115 theatres ($2,077). Its estimated 5-day cume is $7.2M.  It’s tracking best for first choice with over-25 women (equal to norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 77%, but audiences hate it at 53%.

MGM/Amazon’s PG-13 sports bio-drama THE FIRE INSIDE debuted #10    to $2M at 2,006 theatres ($1,012). Its estimated 5-day cume is $4.3M. FIRE is tracking for first choice below norm with all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics love it at 94% as do audiences at 95%.

Paramount/Original Film’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 was #1 in weekend two with $38M (-37%) at 3,769 theatres ($10,082). S3, which reportedly cost $122M to produce, has done $137.6M domestic and $211.5M worldwide.

Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING was #2 in weekend two with $37.1M (+5%) at 4,100 theatres. MUFASA, which reportedly cost $200M+ to produce, has done $113.5M domestic and $328M worldwide.

Universal/Marc Platt Productions’ WICKED was #4 in weekend 6 with $19.5M (+37%) at 3,177 theatres ($6,122). It reportedly cost $150M to produce and has done $424.2M domestic and $634.4M worldwide.

Disney’s MOANA 2 came in #5 in weekend 5 with $18.2M (+38%) at 3,410 theatres ($5,337). It’s done $304.6M domestically and $882.5M worldwide.

Next weekend (1/3): No new wide studio openings.