Weekend Box Office Update: September 2024
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Edges Closer to a Milestone
In its fourth weekend, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is on the verge of reaching a significant box office milestone. The film, a much-anticipated sequel by Tim Burton, initially opened with an impressive $111 million, marking it as the third-best debut of the year. This weekend, it’s projected to bring in an additional $16 million, pushing its domestic earnings to near $250 million. This achievement positions the film to soon surpass Batman’s $251.4 million, making it Burton’s second highest-grossing film in North America, trailing only Alice in Wonderland.
New Releases: The Wild Robot vs. Megalopolis
Among the new releases, The Wild Robot, an animated feature from DreamWorks, outperformed Megalopolis significantly. The Wild Robot, about a robot learning to adapt to a desert island, is expected to debut with $35 million, making it the third-best September opening for an animated film. In contrast, Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious Megalopolis, with a self-funded $120 million budget, struggled with a projected $4 million debut, placing it at No. 6 and outside the Top 5 for the weekend.
Top 5 Box Office Chart
While Megalopolis missed the Top 5, another new film managed to break in. Devara: Part 1, an Indian action film featuring N. T. Rama Rao Jr., grossed $6.7 million from 1,040 theaters, outperforming Megalopolis despite its wider release in 1,854 theaters. The Wild Robot, showing in 3,962 theaters, had the broadest reach of the new films.
Transformers One and Speak No Evil
Transformers One slid from No. 2 to No. 3, earning $9.1 million, a 63% decline from its opening. Similarly, Speak No Evil saw a modest 27% drop, moving from No. 3 to No. 5 with $4.3 million in its third weekend.
Departures from the Top 5
Two films exited the Top 5 this week. Deadpool & Wolverine dropped to No. 7, generating $2.8 million in its tenth week. Never Let Go fell from No. 4 to No. 8, with a 53% decrease to $2.1 million, which is relatively mild for a horror film in its second weekend.
Implications for The Wild Robot and Megalopolis
The Wild Robot’s Promising Start
The Wild Robot’s strong opening suggests a successful run, potentially reaching around $295 million worldwide, given its $78 million budget. Typically, films need to earn about 2.5 times their budget to be profitable, setting The Wild Robot’s break-even point at approximately $195 million.
Megalopolis Faces an Uphill Battle
Megalopolis, however, faces financial challenges. Despite Lionsgate not being responsible for the $120 million budget, Coppola’s personal investment, funded partly through selling part of his winery, hasn’t seen a promising return. With a meager opening, the film is unlikely to recoup its costs in theaters.
Conclusion: Megalopolis’ Struggles Against Successful Rivals
While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and The Wild Robot are set for continued success, Megalopolis may exit the Top 10 quickly. With a D+ CinemaScore and 41% Rotten Tomatoes audience rating, coupled with the upcoming release of Joker: Folie à Deux, the future looks bleak for Coppola’s sci-fi epic.
Source: Variety
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Comedy
- Supernatural
- Fantasy
- Horror
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
The Wild Robot
- Animation
- Drama
- Sci-Fi
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O'Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
Megalopolis
- Drama
- Sci-Fi
Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect's utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit's resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.
