“Quiet Opening for ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ at Box Office as ‘Argylle’ Holds Top Spot”
The box office is experiencing a rather lackluster weekend as “Lisa Frankenstein” makes a quiet entrance, while “Argylle” manages to hold onto its top spot. The horror-aesthete romantic comedy, “Lisa Frankenstein,” earned $1.7 million on its opening day, including $700,000 from Thursday previews. However, it is predicted to fall behind the second weekend of “Argylle,” which had a disappointing debut.
Despite its modest production cost of $13 million, “Lisa Frankenstein” is not off to a strong start, with an estimated three-day frame earning of around $4 million. The film has received mixed reviews, and early audience surveys have given it a “B” grade according to research firm Cinema Score. This lukewarm response from both critics and audiences may impact its longevity in theaters.
“Lisa Frankenstein” is written by Diablo Cody and tells the story of a mad scientist teenager who decides to create her own boyfriend using a corpse. The film stars Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse, with Zelda Williams taking on the directorial role.
Looking at the broader theatrical landscape, it appears to be another quiet weekend at the box office in 2024. No domestic releases are expected to surpass $10 million in earnings. Super Bowl weekend is typically not a major event for studios, but this year has been particularly subdued. Last year, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” debuted with less than $10 million, and the total gross for all releases amounted to a meager $53 million. This year’s numbers are projected to be even lower.
Despite its underwhelming performance, Universal’s “Argylle” will maintain its position at the top of the box office. However, it is facing a significant drop of 62% from its disappointing $17.4 million opening weekend. The film has received negative reviews, and its box office prospects have been affected by the poor buzz surrounding it. Even with its popular genre material, star-studded cast, and a hefty $200 million investment from Apple, “Argylle” is unlikely to reach a domestic gross of $30 million within its first 10 days. This outcome is undoubtedly a disappointment for the tech giant.
In other box office news, Warner Bros. is re-releasing Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” in premium large formats ahead of the sequel’s debut on March 1. The sci-fi epic, which originally premiered in 2021, earned an impressive $402 million globally, despite simultaneously streaming on HBO Max in some regions.
Meanwhile, “Wonka,” featuring Timothée Chalamet, is still holding strong in its ninth weekend of release and is expected to secure a top-four position. Additionally, Amazon MGM’s action film “The Beekeeper” and Universal’s animated adventure “Migration” are projected to earn around $3 million, aiming for a spot in the top five several weeks after their respective debuts. Exhibitors are hopeful that the Valentine’s Day releases of “Madame Web” and “Bob Marley: One Love” will provide a much-needed boost to business.
Overall, the box office is experiencing a subdued period, with lackluster performances from new releases and a general lack of excitement among audiences. However, there are still a few films managing to hold their ground and provide some entertainment for moviegoers.
