A stronger Christmas continues to offer main dividends as 4 main household titles and three unusually robust specialised releases acquired 2025 off to an improved begin. “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Disney), #2 final weekend, took #1 for the primary time in its three-week run, forward of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” (Paramount). “Nosferatu” (Focus), #3 general, is tops among the many extra adult-appeal titles, and has an actual likelihood to hit $100 million in U.S./Canada totals.
The weekend complete of $106 million is 21 p.c higher than the primary 2024 weekend, made much more exceptional with no new extensive launch. Final 12 months, “Nightswim” opened to simply underneath $12 million. Although no single January 2025 launch appears to be like like a breakout (Common’s “Wolf Man” on January 17 appears to be like finest), the month may begin 2025 at 15 p.c or extra forward final 12 months.
Holdovers have been robust, notably in comparison with a vacation weekend. “Mufasa,” solely $200,000 behind “Sonic” final week, held higher with a 35 p.c drop in comparison with 43 p.c. That gave it $23.8 million, with a $2.6 million edge. Barry Jenkins’ reboot of “The Lion King” franchise is already at $168 million home and $476 million worldwide, whereas the third “Sonic” has hit $187.5 million home, $312 million complete.
The true shock is the power of the three wide-release specialised titles with performances that surpassed expectations and warmth to spare.
Most spectacular is Robert Eggers’ breakout “Nosferatu” (Focus). For a horror movie, a 39 p.c drop on week two is phenomenal. It overcame a B- Cinemascore and clearly developed sustained curiosity ($13.2 million this weekend, #3), with greater than $69 million up to now and a powerful likelihood to hit $100 million or extra home. Its worldwide rollout has been slower however is at $31 million up to now and #1 within the U.Ok./Eire market. Its success will rewrite Christmas launch methods.
James Mangold’s “A Full Unknown” (Searchlight) held even higher, off solely 31 p.c to take sixth place with $8 million and $41.7 million up to now. With the potential for important awards presence forward, this could maintain a long term forward with a shot at doubling that complete. These are the most important post-Covid successes for Focus and Searchlight. Pre-Covid, “Full” would seemingly be a platform opener. As a substitute, a dangerous extensive Christmas launch has labored.
At a decrease stage, Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl” (A24) had the most important rebound. With $4.4 million final weekend, the unlikeliest extensive launch initially regarded prefer it could be a misplay. As a substitute, it had no drop and it stands at $16.1 million. With this momentum, a $20 million reported price range, awards buzz for Nicole Kidman, seemingly main house viewing curiosity, this additionally appears to be like like an sudden success.
Of the 4 December 25 releases, the one one to lag is “The Fireplace Inside” (Amazon MGM). Regardless of an A Cinemascore, it fell 37 p.c. It sustained its #10 place with $1.2 million and $7.1 million up to now. In its favor is its $12 million price range in addition to its streaming worth for Amazon Prime.
Thanksgiving releases “Moana 2” (Disney) at #4 and “Depraved” (Common) at #5 each handed $400 million home. “Depraved” went to PVOD this week and its 48 p.c drop was the best within the high 10. That’s uncommon; preliminary advertising for house availability normally helps theaters.
“The Brutalist” (A24) is by far the strongest performer amongst restricted runs. Now in eight theaters, it grossed $244,341 with a $30,543 common — made extra spectacular with a operating time meaning fewer reveals.
Nationwide Society of Movie Critics’ finest movie winner “Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM) expanded to 18 theaters and $151,000. This has potential for extra with hoped-for Oscar and different consideration forward.
“September 5” and “Higher Man,” Paramount’s two restricted movies, nonetheless are weak with per-theater averages underneath $5,000. Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Subsequent Door” (Sony Photos Classics) is considerably higher with $48,000 in six ($8,000 per theater).
“Move” has turn out to be Janus/Sideshow’s largest launch with $2.6 million and an actual potential so as to add significantly extra.
Warner Bros. and IMAX teamed for a thirtieth anniversary/pre-new house video launch of David Fincher’s “Seven.” It did $850,000 in 182 theaters.
High 10
1. Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney) Week 3; Final weekend #2
$23,836,000 (-35%) in 3,925 (-175) theaters; PTA (per theater common): $6,073; Cumulative: $168,601,000
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount) Week 3; Final weekend #1
$21,200,000 (-43%) in 3,746 (-23) theaters; PTA: $5,659; Cumulative: $187,508,000
3. Nosferatu (Focus) Week 2; Final weekend #3
$13,200,000 (-39%) in 3,132 (+140) theaters; PTA: $4,215; Cumulative: $69,401,000
4. Moana 2 (Disney) Week 6; Final weekend #5
$12,397,000 (-34%) in 3,345 (-65) theaters; PTA: $3,706; Cumulative: $425,152,000
5. Depraved (Common) Week 7; Final weekend #4; additionally on PVOD
$10,200,000 (-48%) in 3,287 (+110) theaters; PTA: $3,103; Cumulative: $450,750,000
6. A Full Unknown (Searchlight) Week 2; Final weekend #6
$8,067,000 (-31%) in 2,835 (no change) theaters; PTA: $2,846; Cumulative: $41,697,000
7. Babygirl (A24) Week 2; Final weekend #7
$4,492,000 (0%) in 2,164 (+49) theaters; PTA: $2,164; Cumulative: $16,113,000
8. Gladiator II (Paramount) Week 7; Final weekend #8; additionally on PVOD
$2,675,000 (-35%) in 1,748 (-117) theaters; PTA: $1,530; Cumulative: $168,867,000
9. Homestead (Angel) Week 3; Final weekend #9
$2,104,000 (-32%) in 1,700 (-69) theaters; PTA: $1,237; Cumulative: $17,475,000
10. The Fireplace Inside (Amazon MGM) Week 2; Final weekend #10
$1,229,000 (-37%) in 2,032 (+26) theaters; PTA: $605; Cumulative: $7,129,000
Different specialised/impartial titles
Movies (restricted, expansions of restricted) are listed by week in launch, beginning with these opened this week; after the primary three weeks, solely movies with grosses over $5,000 are listed. Metacritic scores and preliminary movie festivals recorded when accessible.
OPENING (platform)
Seven (Warner Bros. Discovery) REISSUE
$850,000 in 182 theaters; PTA: $4,670
The Damned (Vertical) Metacritic: 67; Festivals embody: Tribeca 2024
$801,000 in 732 theaters; PTA: $1,094
From Floor Zero (Cohen) Metacritic: 80; Festivals embody: Toronto 2024
$115,246 in 70 theaters; PTA: $1,746
HOLDOVERS
Higher Man (Paramount) Week 2
$27,000 in 6 (no change) theaters; PTA: $4,500; Cumulative: $89,000
Vermiglio (Sideshow/Janus) Week 2
$17,300 in 3 (+2) theaters; PTA: $5,767; Cumulative: $31,712
Santosh (Metrograph) Week 2
$4,801 in 1 theater; PTA: $4,801; Cumulative: $14,095
The Brutalist (Neon) Week 3
$244,341 in 8 (+1) theaters; PTA: $30,543; Cumulative: $1,171,000
The Room Subsequent Door (Sony Photos Classics) Week 3
$48,100 in 6 (no change) theaters; PTA: $8,017; Cumulative: $321,376
The Depend of Monte Cristo (Goldwyn) Week 2
$208,000 in 93 (+89) theaters; PTA: $2,237; Cumulative: $281,770
Nickel Boys (MGM Amazon) Week 4
$151,339 in 18 (+13) theaters; PTA: $8,408; Cumulative: $412,648
September 5 (Paramount) Week 4
$60,000 in 13 (+8) theaters; PTA: $4,538; Cumulative: $291,000
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) Week 6 18
$35,000 in 20 (+2) theaters; Cumulative: $302,580
Move (Janus/Sideshow) Week 7
$216,100 in 127 (+18) theaters; Cumulative: $2,606,000
All We Think about as Gentle (Janus/Sideshow) Week 8
$74,500 in 44 (+13) theaters; Cumulative: $752,290
A Actual Ache (Searchlight) Week 10; additionally on PVOD
$132,000 in 105 (+5) theaters; Cumulative: $7,870,000
Conclave (Focus) Week 11; additionally on PVOD and streaming
$65,000 in 56 (-1) theaters; Cumulative: $31,399,000
Anora (Neon) Week 12; additionally on PVOD
$147,000 in 105 (-10) theaters; Cumulative: $14,372,000