The upcoming weekend at the box office is set to be an exciting one, with “Despicable Me 4” leading the market as new releases “Longlegs” and “Fly Me to the Moon” make their debuts. The second week of “Despicable Me 4” is expected to dominate, while the new entries vie for attention.
“Despicable Me 4,” from Universal and Illumination, had a strong opening with a $75 million 3-day debut and a $122.6 million 5-day gross over the July 4 holiday weekend. Despite a projected drop of over 50% in its second weekend, the film is still expected to perform well, with a weekend range of $32 to $38 million. The franchise, which has grossed $4.88 billion globally, continues to be a significant player in the family entertainment market. The film’s success is bolstered by strong merchandise sales, including a $30 Minion popcorn bucket that contributed to AMC’s third-highest food and beverage sales for any Wednesday in its history.
The family demographic is likely to remain loyal to “Despicable Me 4” throughout the summer, especially with no major family films releasing until Sony’s “Harold and the Purple Crayon” on August 2. However, the film’s 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest in the series, could indicate some franchise fatigue. Despite this, a 90% audience score and an “A” CinemaScore suggest that audiences are still enjoying the antics of Gru and the Minions.
In comparison, previous entries in the franchise have seen significant drops in their second weekends, with “Minions” (2015) and “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022) both experiencing 57% declines. “Despicable Me 4” is expected to follow a similar pattern, but it remains a strong contender in the market.
Meanwhile, “Inside Out 2” from Disney/Pixar continues to perform well in its fifth week, with a projected weekend range of $18 to $22 million. The film has already grossed $1.24 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing Pixar film of all time. It is expected to surpass the first “Frozen” ($1.27 billion) by Sunday and could potentially challenge “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($1.36 billion) and “Frozen II” ($1.45 billion) for the top spot among animated films.
Despite its success, “Inside Out 2” is unlikely to reclaim the number one spot from “Despicable Me 4” unless the latter experiences an unexpected drop. Domestically, “Inside Out 2” has grossed $537.9 million and is on track to surpass “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($574.9 million) but may fall short of “Incredibles 2” ($608.5 million).
The new releases this weekend, “Longlegs” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” are both aiming for the number three spot. “Longlegs,” a horror film from Neon, is expected to gross between $15 and $20 million. Directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, the film has generated significant buzz with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Cage’s recent films have struggled at the box office, and the horror genre has seen a decline in recent years.
“Fly Me to the Moon,” a romantic comedy-drama from Sony/Apple, is projected to earn between $12 and $17 million. Directed by Greg Berlanti and starring Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, the film was originally intended for AppleTV+ but received a theatrical release due to positive test screenings. While the film has a decent 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, its 1960s Apollo 11 backdrop may limit its appeal to younger audiences.
Overall, “Despicable Me 4” is set to lead the market, with “Inside Out 2” continuing to perform strongly. The new releases “Longlegs” and “Fly Me to the Moon” will compete for the third spot, adding variety to the box office lineup. As the summer progresses, the box office landscape will continue to evolve, with upcoming releases like “Twisters” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” expected to make significant impacts.
Source: The Boxoffice Podium
