Image: Night Swim movie poster
Universal Studios is starting off the 2024 box office season with a splash, as Blumhouse Productions’ horror film “Night Swim” dives into second place on its opening day. The PG-13 thriller earned an impressive $5.2 million, including preview screenings, and is projected to reach around $12.5 million over the weekend.
A Promising Start for “Night Swim”
“Night Swim” is making waves without breaking the bank, with a modest budget of $15 million, excluding marketing costs. While it may not match the success of last year’s killer doll movie “M3GAN” by the same production company, Blumhouse’s strategy of releasing horror films early in the year continues to pay off. With no other horror movies on the horizon until March, “Night Swim” has a clear advantage.
The film follows a family who discovers supernatural elements lurking in their own backyard swimming pool. Directed and written by Bryce McGuire, it stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon. Although early reviews have been negative and audiences have given it a “C” grade, such mixed reactions are not uncommon in the horror genre.
“Wonka” Remains on Top
Image: Wonka movie poster
Despite the strong opening of “Night Swim,” Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” maintains its lead at the box office. The sugar rush musical earned an additional $4.3 million on Friday, a mere 51% drop from the previous week. With a domestic total exceeding $150 million, “Wonka” is set to multiply its $39 million opening earnings by the end of the weekend. Timothée Chalamet’s captivating performance ensures that this movie will continue to attract audiences throughout January.
Other Contenders at the Box Office
Universal Studios also secures third place with “Migration,” a film that continues to soar, adding another $10.5 million to its domestic tally, totaling over $78 million. This Illumination production initially had a slow start during the holiday season but has maintained a steady course since then.
In fourth place, Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is inching closer to the $100 million mark in North America. With a weekend earning of $3 million, the film is on track to surpass the 2023’s highest-grossing DC Comics adaptation, “The Flash.” However, it still has a long way to go to catch up to its 2018 predecessor, which achieved an impressive $260 million in just 17 days.
Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone but You” looks to round out the top five. Surprisingly, the film is expected to see an increase in ticket sales, following its $8.7 million haul last weekend. This upward trend is particularly noteworthy as it defies the usual decline that occurs after the holiday season. The chemistry between Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell drives the film, which is projected to earn around $9.5 million, pushing its domestic total beyond $43 million.
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