Two new wide releases are providing a much-needed bump at the domestic box office this week, in the otherwise limbo-like month of January.Opening at the number one spot is the third major musical in about as many weeks, Paramount’sMean Girls, an adaptation of the hit Broadway show, which in turn was based onthe cult 2004 teen comedy. Directed bySamantha JayneandArturo Perez Jr., and written byTina Fey,Mean Girlscomes on the back of two Warner Bros. musicals, the smash hitWonkaand the underperformerThe Color Purple.
Mean Girlsis poised to gross around $30 million across the traditional three-day weekend, and around $33 million across the extended four-day MLK weekend, after generating $11.6 million on opening day. This includes the $3.2 million that it made in Thursday previews.Reviews forMean Girlshave been mixed, with the movie sitting at a 70% score on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. It also earned a so-so B CinemaScore from opening day audiences, which could possibly be a result of the studio’s decision to downplay its musical aspects.
Overperforming at number two is directorDavid Ayer’s action-thrillerThe Beekeeper, starringJason Statham. The movie has been appreciated for its goofy escapism, and earned a B+ CinemaScore from opening day audiences at a67% score on Rotten Tomatoes.The Beekeepergrossed around $7 million on Friday, and is expected to generate approximately $17 million across the three-day frame, and $20 million across the extended holiday weekend. Statham is coming off two bombs,Operation Fortune: Ruse de GuerreandExpend4bles, and a hit,TheMeg 2: The Trench.
‘Anyone But You’ and ‘Wonka’ Competed for the Third Spot
After dominating the domestic box office for the better part of a month,Wonkaslipped to the third spot. The hit musical franchise-starter directed byPaul Kingand starringTimothée Chalametin the lead role grossed around $2 million on its fifth Friday, and should be able to hit double-digits across the extended holiday weekend.Wonkais looking at a running domestic total of over $175 million by Monday, with a $200 million lifetime haul being totally on the cards.
The fourth and fifth spots went to Sony’s word-of-mouth hitAnyone But Youand Universal’s horror titleNight Swim.Anyone But Youhas been out-performingWonkaover the last week and consistently topping the domestic charts. StarringSydney SweeneyandGlen Powell, the movie grossed around $2 million on its fourth Friday, and is looking at a running domestic total of just under $60 million by Monday.Night Swimwill most likely surrender the fifth spot to fellow Universal titleMigrationover the weekend. The animated film is expected to gross around $6 million across the extended weekend, taking its running total to $85 million. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Mean Girls
Cady Heron is a hit with the Plastics, an A-list girl clique at her new school when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
