The upcoming weekend at the box office promises to be an exciting one, with two new films vying for the top spot. Paramount’s musical biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” is expected to make a splash, projected to earn between $30 million and $35 million from Wednesday through President’s Day on Monday. In comparison, Sony’s comic book adventure “Madame Web” is expected to generate $22 million to $25 million during the same six-day period.
Despite these figures not being as encouraging as hoped, considering the hefty budgets of both films, the presence of these new releases is a welcome boost for cinemas. However, it may not be enough to revive the domestic box office, which is currently down 15% from 2023. The comparison to last year’s President’s Day release, Disney’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which opened to $120 million but quickly saw a decline in ticket sales, further highlights the challenges faced by the industry. It seems that moviegoers may have to wait until Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated sci-fi sequel, “Dune: Part Two,” arrives on March 1 for a potential rebound.
“Madame Web,” despite featuring Dakota Johnson, who is no stranger to the Valentine’s Day box office with her previous success in the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, is arriving at a less favorable time for superhero movies. Recent Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, such as “The Marvels,” and DC films have struggled at the box office, making the landscape unpredictable. Sony’s Marvel offshoots have also had mixed results, with “Venom” and its sequel being big hits, but “Morbius” failing to capture audiences’ attention. Unfortunately, early reviews and a low 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes suggest that “Madame Web” is unlikely to follow in the footsteps of the successful “Venom.”
On the other hand, “Bob Marley: One Love” has received more positive reviews, although it is not without its flaws. Kingsley Ben-Adir’s portrayal of the iconic reggae singer has been praised for capturing Marley’s essence, even if the film itself falls short in fully exploring his journey. With director Reinaldo Marcus Green at the helm, the movie provides insights into the life and times of the Jamaican legend.
As audiences gear up for an exciting weekend at the movies, all eyes will be on whether “Bob Marley: One Love” can secure the top position at the box office, surpassing the competition from “Madame Web.” To find out how the weekend unfolds, make sure to catch these two films in theaters. For more updates on the world of entertainment, visit F5mag.com.
Source: Variety