2024 slow start – 'Wonka' returns to No. 1 at the box office for Billboard

Courtesy of Warner Bros

Timothée Chalamet and Wonka It topped the box office charts for the third time in four weekends in theaters. Warner Bros.' The family-oriented musical added $14.4 million in ticket sales, bringing its domestic total to $164.7 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday (Jan. 7).

„Wonka follows the tradition of a film like The Great Showmansaid Paul Tergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore. That Hugh Jackman musical dec. It opened under $9 million in 2017 and grossed $435 million worldwide.

„Wonka It's a perfect crowd pleaser released at the right time and it's going to ride that wave in January,” Tergarabedian said. „It's a perfect time for it to be in the market.”

After a strong finish to 2023, 2024 is off to a slower start than last year, with Universal/Plumhouse horror down about 16%. Night swim The only big new offering in theaters. The film stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon in a sinister, supernatural swimming pool.

Night swim It grossed $12 million in its opening weekend in 3,250 theaters in North America against an estimated $15 million production budget. Including international exposure in 36 markets, Night swim $17.7 million is heading toward a global debut.

„Not only did it do well at the box office, but it made every swimming pool look a little more tingly,” said Jim Orr, Universal's head of domestic distribution.

Horror movies are often a source of criticism, but with mostly negative reviews and a C CinemaScore rating, it's unlikely to repeat the viral success of last year's Demon Doll. M3GAN.

“We don't have it Avatar: WaterwayIt completely dominated the box office a year ago, or M3GANit made for a big weekend,” Tergarabedian said. „But it's a little early to call based on how the year is going to turn out.”

Warner Bros. and Universal also ranked third and fourth. Warner Bros.' DC superhero film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom It earned $10.6 million in its third weekend, pushing its domestic tally past $100 million. Universal Animation Migration It added $10.3 million, bringing its domestic total to $77.8 million.

Glenn Powell and Sidney Sweeney romantic comedy from Sony Nobody but you It ranks fifth with $9.5 million, up 9% from last weekend. The film has grossed $43.7 million so far.

Cineplexes are full of award contenders including Color is purple, Iron claw And the poorAnd Sunday night's Golden Globes telecast could help spread awareness for those and other films.

„The Golden Globes are like a 3-hour infomercial for the industry,” Tergarabedian said. „There's nothing wrong with having an attention-grabbing over-the-top broadcast at the movies.”

Estimated ticket sales at US and Canadian theaters for Friday through Sunday, according to ComScore. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.