Ares Claims top Spot at Box Office, While New Releases “Roofman” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman” Face Uncertain Futures
LOS ANGELES, CA – Ares, the action-fantasy film, debuted at No. 1 at the box office this weekend, earning $35.2 million from 3,705 theaters. The film’s success signals strong audience interest in the genre, and positive early reactions-a “B+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls and an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes-could extend its theatrical run.
Trailing behind, “Roofman” opened at No. 2 with $18.5 million from 3,200 locations, capitalizing on a unique marketing strategy centered around a hideout within a Toys “R” Us store.
Further down the chart,”Kiss of the Spider Woman,” a remake of the 1985 film,debuted at No. 5 with $4.2 million. Independently financed for $34 million before being acquired by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, the film’s financial prospects are unclear. The original “Kiss of the Spider Woman” grossed $17 million globally, and the new version, directed by Bill Condon and set in an Argentinian prison, may struggle to match those sales.
Sony’s faith-based film “Soul on Fire” landed at No. 6, earning $2.8 million from 1,720 theaters, bolstered by an “A” grade on cinemascore.
Among holdover titles, Leonardo DiCaprio’s “One Battle After Another” took third place with $6.8 million, bringing its North American total to $56.3 million and its global earnings to $125 million. However, with a production budget exceeding $130 million and a theatrical break-even point of roughly $300 million (due to the 50-50 revenue split with theaters), the film requires continued strong performance.
Dwayne Johnson’s “The Smashing Machine” experienced a meaningful drop, earning just $1.7 million in its second weekend-a 70% decline-and is currently shaping up to be a financial disappointment for A24, having grossed $10.1 million to date against a $50 million production cost.
In limited release, Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield, earned $154,467 from six screens, averaging $25,745 per location. Amazon MGM Studios will expand the film nationwide next weekend, providing a clearer indication of its commercial potential.
