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Exhibitors sold $36M of hot DOG tickets this weekend as families snapped a month long boxoffice cold wave.

Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s PG action adventure DOG MAN, written & directed by Peter Hasting, was a big family draw as it’s based on the popular children’s book series by Dav Pilkey. It’s also the first family appeal release since the holiday season — and Universal did a doggone great job of marketing it!

With IP like Pilkey’s books, Hollywood handicappers expected success from the start and began by buzzing about $20M. Then they upped it to $30M and went to $33M mid-weekend.

This weekend’s other wide studio opening, WB/NL’s R rated sci-fi thriller COMPANION, was a distant #2 with $9.5M, at the high end of $8-10M  expectations.

Driven by DOG, it was a domestic theatrical weekend to woof-woof about with ticket sales of $85.5M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That was up 27.7% from the prior weekend and up 36% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $612.7M, up 14% from $537.9M in 2024. The prior weekend was up 11% vs. last year.

Before DOG, exhibitors weren’t expecting any boxoffice sizzle until Disney/Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD, arrives 2/14. Hollywood Buzz-ards anticipate $95M+ for the four day Presidents Day/ Valentine’s Day weekend.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s DOG MAN led the pack with $36M at 3,855 theatres ($9,266). Budget buzz: just $40M to produce. DOG will have long boxoffice legs and should spark a new franchise for Universal & Dreamworks Animation.

It’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 men (four points over norm) and next best with women over 25, the valuable moms-with-kids audience (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics like it at 76%, but audiences are much happier at 86%.

WB/NL’s COMPANION, which was second with $9.5M at 3,285 theatres ($2,892). Budget buzz: $10M to produce. It’s tracking best for first choice with women under & over 25 men (each two points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are cheering at 94% and audiences are nearly as pleased at 91% — none of which is reflected at the boxoffice.

On the streaming front: Amazon Studios’ R rated comedy YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED, starring Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon, launched on Prime 1/30. Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 48% and so do audiences at 37%.

Next weekend (2/7): Sony/Screen Gems/Spyglass Media’s R rated HEART EYES is opening at about 2,800 theatres. HEART’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (five points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are applauding at 91%.

Universal/87 North’s R rated action comedy LOVE HURTS is opening at about 3,200 theatres. It’s tracking best for first choice with under-25 women (one point above norm).