The weekend box office saw a clash of cinematic titans, with vastly different results. Universal's 'Him,' a Faustian football thriller directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, secured a solid second-place debut, grossing $6.47 million on Friday, including previews. While this falls short of initial projections exceeding $18 million, the $15 million projected weekend total is still respectable considering its $27 million budget. However, the film's critical drubbing and a poor CinemaScore grade of C- raise serious concerns about its long-term box office potential, particularly with upcoming horror competition like 'The Strangers – Chapter 2.' The film stars Tyriq Withers as a rising quarterback tempted by Marlon Wayans's character to sell his soul for greatness.
In stark contrast, Sony's 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,' a cosmic romance starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, suffered a catastrophic opening. With only $1.4 million from Friday and previews across 3,330 locations, the film is far from its projected $8 million debut and unlikely to recoup its $45 million acquisition cost. Despite boasting a Black List script, acclaimed director Kogonada, and the star power of Farrell and Robbie (fresh off her 'Barbie' success), the film failed to resonate with critics and audiences alike, receiving largely negative reviews and a disappointing CinemaScore grade of B-.
Meanwhile, the reigning champion, 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,' continues its impressive run, albeit with a significant drop-off. Friday's $4.56 million haul, while substantial, projects a 77% weekend decline to an estimated $16.3 million. Even with this decrease, it's projected to remain at the top of the box office, crossing the $100 million domestic milestone – solidifying its place as the highest-grossing anime film in North American history.
Rounding out the top five are 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' in third place, exhibiting a 56% drop but still strong with $3.7 million on Friday, 'The Long Walk' in fourth, and 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale' in fifth, both experiencing significant drops likely due to strong early viewership. 'The Senior', a faith-based football film, opened in seventh place with a promising A CinemaScore grade.
The contrasting performances of 'Him' and 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' highlight the unpredictable nature of the box office and the crucial role of critical reception and audience engagement in a film's success. The strong performance of 'Demon Slayer' reinforces the enduring power of established franchises and the immense appeal of the anime genre.
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Originally published at: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/box-office-him-opening-day-a-big-bold-beautiful-journey-1236525032/
