“Mean Girls” continues to dominate the box office, securing its top spot for the second consecutive week. The Tina Fey-scripted musical raked in an impressive $11.7 million in ticket sales, pushing its total earnings past the $50 million mark. Not only is the film performing well domestically, but it has also garnered $16.2 million internationally, surpassing the numbers of its 2004 predecessor.
While “Mean Girls” reigns supreme, the weekend saw a lack of new releases, leaving audiences with limited options at the cinema. In fact, the top 10 films collectively only generated $51.3 million in box office revenue, according to Comscore. This underwhelming turnout may be indicative of a larger trend in Hollywood for 2024, as production delays from last year’s strikes have left significant gaps in this year’s movie calendar.
Taking second place is the Jason Statham thriller “The Beekeeper,” produced by Amazon MGM Studios. The film grossed $8.5 million in its second weekend, bringing its total earnings to $31.1 million. Warner Bros.’ “Wonka,” which has been a hit since its release six weeks ago, secured the third spot with $6.4 million in ticket sales, accumulating an impressive $187.2 million domestically.
Sony Pictures’ romantic comedy “Anyone But You” continues to perform well, crossing the $100 million mark globally in its fifth week of release. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, the film has become the highest-grossing R-rated romantic comedy since 2016’s “Bridget Jones’s Baby.” It earned $5.4 million domestically, securing the fourth position.
While new releases were scarce, attention shifted to expanding awards contenders. Ava DuVernay’s “Origin,” featuring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Isabel Wilkerson, author of “Caste,” had a strong start after its qualifying release in December. The film debuted in 125 theaters and grossed an impressive $875,000. Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark fantasy “Poor Things,” starring Emma Stone, expanded to 820 theaters and earned $2 million from 1,400 locations. The Searchlight Pictures release, which won the Golden Globe for best comedy-musical, has accumulated $33.7 million globally over seven weeks of gradual expansion.
Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction,” starring Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist, also saw expansion, reaching 850 screens and pulling in $1.8 million. With a total of $8 million in six weeks, the film hopes to receive a boost from Tuesday’s Oscar nominations. Jonathan Glazer’s Auschwitz film “The Zone of Interest” expanded to 82 screens, grossing $447,684 for A24.
However, not all awards contenders fared well. “The Color Purple,” despite its critical acclaim and the support of producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, experienced a rapid decline in audience interest. The Warner Bros. musical, directed by Blitz Bazawule and featuring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks, grossed a mere $720,000 in its fourth week of release. With a domestic total of $59.3 million, the film falls short of expectations for its $100 million budget.
As the industry braces for Tuesday’s Oscar nominations, the box office landscape remains uncertain. With limited new releases and production delays affecting the movie calendar, Hollywood may face a challenging year ahead. However, films like “Mean Girls” continue to captivate audiences and prove that even during a quiet weekend at the movies, there is still room for success and entertainment.
