Friday PM Box Office Report: A24’s “Civil War” Sets New Records
“Great number,” heralds one rival distributor about the weekend results for A24’s Civil War, which will easily become the studio’s biggest opening of all-time with an estimated $23M-$25M gross. On Friday and during previews, the movie made an impressive $10M. This opening surpasses the $13.5M start of Ari Aster’s 2018 film Hereditary.
Amir Garland’s Civil War and its Impactful Story
“Civil War” is a movie set against the backdrop of a divided U.S., a theme that resonates with audiences. While Blue States will clearly connect with the war photojournalists’ perspective, the film’s success in Red States is yet to be determined. The movie offers a thrilling theatrical experience, with its Act 2 and Act 3 climax.
According to critic Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post, “Garland’s movie is no more vital to the discourse than ‘The Purge’ and is about 1% as entertaining.”
Celebrating A24’s Success with Civil War
People on social media have mixed reactions to “Civil War,” much like the film itself. Audiences are divided on their feelings towards the movie. Fans are highly anticipating the next thriller from director Alex Garland, while others are excited about A24’s venture into the action genre. However, some moviegoers feel that the film hits too close to real life or that it is too divisive given the current political landscape.
What’s remarkable about A24 is that their brand alone can attract a solid portion of their weekend business, even if their fans are not familiar with the filmmaker or movie. The number of dedicated A24 fans attending varies from film to film.
Other Top Movies at the Box Office
In addition to “Civil War,” there are other movies making their mark at the box office. Legendary/Warner Bros’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is expected to earn between $14M-$15M in its third weekend, pushing its total gross to $157.4M. This installment in the Monsterverse franchise has outperformed its predecessors, with a strong showing in the domestic market.
Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” continues to do well, collecting $4.6M in its fourth weekend. The movie has a running total of $95.8M, entertaining audiences across the country.
IFC Films has released the Nicolas Cage dystopian thriller “Arcadian” in more than a thousand theaters. The film, which premiered at SXSW, has received positive reviews from critics, but audiences have a more mixed opinion. “Arcadian” follows a father and his twin teenage sons as they struggle to survive in a remote farmhouse at the end of the world. Despite its niche appeal, the movie aims for a decent start.
Box Office Updates for Other Movies
Legendary/Warner’s “Dune: Part Two” has reached a running total of $267.7M after six weeks in theaters. The movie continues to bring in audiences and represents a strong performance. Other movies, such as Universal’s “Monkey Man” and 20th Century Studios’ “First Omen,” also had a decent run at the box office.
