“Mean Girls” Musical Adaptation Solidifies Opening Weekend, “The Beekeeper” and “The Book of Clarence” Show Mixed Results
Introduction:
Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the box office sees Paramount’s musical adaptation of “Mean Girls” making a solid start with an $11.6 million opening day, projecting a 4-day weekend of around $31 million. In contrast, Sony Pictures experiences mixed results with “The Beekeeper,” featuring Jason Statham, garnering an estimated $18 million opening, while “The Book of Clarence” struggles to enter the top 10, expected to earn just $3 million over the extended weekend.
Key Highlights:
“Mean Girls” Musical Adaptation:
- Paramount’s “Mean Girls” opens with an $11.6 million first day and is on course for a 4-day weekend of approximately $31 million.
- The opening aligns with pre-release projections and provides some relief for theaters facing a challenging post-holiday period.
- The film, moving from a straight-to-streaming release to theaters, received mixed-to-positive word-of-mouth with a B on CinemaScore and 71% on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences.
“The Beekeeper” with Jason Statham:
- Amazon MGM’s action film “The Beekeeper” starring Jason Statham is projected for an $18 million opening from 3,303 theaters.
- The David Ayer-directed film, with a conspiracy theme, earned $6.7 million on Friday and received somewhat positive reviews with a B+ on CinemaScore and 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Struggles for “The Book of Clarence”:
- Sony Pictures’ release “The Book of Clarence” from Legendary Pictures struggles to enter the top 10, grossing $1 million on Friday.
- The biblical dramedy, directed by Jeymes Samuel and starring LaKeith Stanfield, is estimated to earn just $3 million over the 4-day weekend.
Continued Success for “Anyone But You”:
- Sony’s “Anyone But You” continues its success, heading towards an estimated $9 million 4-day total, with a projected domestic total of around $57.5 million after four weekends.
“Wonka” Maintains Top Position:
- Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” remains the top film of the season, estimated to earn $10 million over the extended weekend, crossing $175 million in domestic grosses and $500 million worldwide.
Conclusion:
The MLK Jr. weekend at the box office showcases a solid opening for “Mean Girls,” providing some respite for theaters amid a challenging post-holiday season. However, mixed results are observed with “The Beekeeper” and struggles for “The Book of Clarence.” The overall industry landscape reflects the impact of film choices and audience reception during a period without major tentpole releases.
