“Freakier Friday” Delivers Strong Opening, While Marvel’s “fantastic Four” Continues to Slide
LOS ANGELES, CA – August 11, 2024 – Disney’s sequel, “Freakier Friday,” starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, is off to a promising start at the North American box office, earning $12.7 million on its opening Friday and preview showings across 3,975 theaters. This performance suggests the film is on track to exceed initial weekend projections of $27-$30 million. The strong debut provides a much-needed boost for Disney amidst a summer season marked by uneven performance from tentpole releases.
context: The Summer Box Office Landscape & Legacy Sequels
The success of “Freakier Friday” highlights a continuing trend in the 2024 summer movie season: nostalgia and legacy sequels are proving to be reliable draws for audiences. The original “Freaky Friday,” released in 2003, grossed $160.2 million domestically, becoming a cultural touchstone for a generation. This new installment capitalizes on that existing fanbase and the enduring appeal of its stars. The film’s PG rating and positive critical reception, culminating in an “A” grade from CinemaScore, further contribute to its potential for a sustained run. A $42 million production budget means a strong opening weekend is particularly crucial for profitability.
However, the box office isn’t uniformly shining. Disney’s other major release this summer, “The Fantastic Four: First steps,” is experiencing a significant downturn. The superhero film added $4.5 million on Friday,a 62% drop from its opening day a week prior,and a steeper decline following a 67% drop in its second weekend.While the film is projected to reach a $229 million North american total by Sunday, surpassing “Captain America: Brave New World” ($200 million) to become the seventh-highest-grossing domestic release of 2024, it remains underperforming compared to previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments. Currently ranked as the 26th-highest-grossing MCU film domestically, “Fantastic Four” is unlikely to climb significantly higher, reflecting a broader trend of diminishing returns for the franchise.Other Weekend Performers:
“The Bad Guys 2” (Universal): The animated sequel earned $3 million on Friday and is expected to gross $10.7 million this weekend, a 51% decrease from its opening. Through its first ten days, the film is projected to reach $43.7 million domestically, slightly behind the original’s $44 million at the same point in its run, ultimately finishing with $97 million in North America.
“The Naked Gun” (paramount): The Liam Neeson-led reboot added $2.3 million on Friday and is projected to earn $8.4 million for the weekend, a 50% drop from its debut. The film is on track to reach a domestic total of $33 million by Sunday. This release marks the final project greenlit under paramount’s previous leadership before the studio’s acquisition by Skydance Media was finalized this week.
* “Sketch” (Angel Studios): The fantasy comedy, acquired by Angel Studios after its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, opened Wednesday in 2,006 locations and has earned $3.2 million to date. It’s currently projected to land in tenth place for the weekend.
Looking Ahead:
The performance of “Freakier Friday” offers a positive signal for Disney, while the struggles of “Fantastic Four” underscore the challenges facing the MCU in maintaining its previous level of box office dominance.The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether “Freakier Friday” can sustain its momentum and become a genuine summer hit,and whether Marvel can course-correct its trajectory with future releases. the box office will be closely watched for indicators of audience fatigue with superhero films and the continued appeal of established franchises.
