Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is projected to earn approximately $38 million on its first day, including previews, with an expected opening weekend gross between $90 million and $95 million. There is a possibility of exceeding $40 million today and possibly crossing the $100 million mark for the weekend, depending on the ongoing interest from walk-up ticket sales.
The only film to achieve a first-day total above $40 million, along with an opening in the $90 million-$99 million range, is 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious,” which had a first day of $45.6 million and a three-day total of $98.7 million.
Despite strong preview results for the sequel featuring Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, the film’s performance was somewhat impacted by last night’s NFL game and the media attention surrounding Taylor Swift. However, there is optimism that the film will regain traction.
If “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” exceeds $91 million but remains under $123.4 million, it would become the second-highest September opening, a noteworthy accomplishment for Warner Bros. The Tim Burton-directed sequel is set to screen in 4,575 theaters. Few female-oriented PG-13 franchise sequels compete in September, but current projections are reminiscent of Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” which had a Friday opening of $38.1 million and a three-day total of $95.5 million.
In second place, Disney/Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” earned $1.8 million today, totaling $6.7 million for the weekend, marking a 57% decline, with a running total of $613.5 million after seven weekends.
Showbiz Direct’s “Reagan” wrapped up the week with $13.3 million, finishing third overall. It hopes for an estimated $4.7 million in its second frame, down 39%, bringing its ten-day total to $18 million.
“Alien: Romulus,” produced by 20th Century Studios, is also in fourth place, aiming for $1.1 million in its fourth Friday and $4 million for the weekend, resulting in a total of $97.2 million, making it the second highest-grossing film in the franchise after “Prometheus.”
Sony’s “It Ends With Us” is projected to earn $1.1 million on its fifth Friday, with a total running around $141.3 million.
A24’s horror film “The Front Room” is struggling, expected to gross around $1.15 million after a $500,000 Friday, reflecting poor reviews.
Warner Bros. has officially reported $13 million for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” With high audience scores of 4.5 stars from fans and five stars from parents and children under 12, projections for the sequel stand at $90 million, with potential for growth.
The audience for the sequel primarily consists of females, comprising 59% of ticket buyers, with 73% over 25. Additionally, among child viewers, girls represented 62% of the total. Notably, 36% of the audience were Latino and Hispanic moviegoers.
RelishMix reported impressive social media engagement for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” standing 41% ahead of typical action comedy and sci-fi norms, with a total reach of 508.6 million followers across various platforms.
Fans have expressed positive sentiments on social media, praising the film’s uniqueness and nostalgia. Many newcomers are eager to see Jenna Ortega in this horror movie, while longtime fans of the original from 1988 are excited about the sequel.
Theaters are anticipated to see a lot of fan involvement this weekend, with various promotional tie-ins and collectible merchandise, including a special popcorn bucket modeled after the film.
In exclusive news, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” amassed around $12 million from Wednesday and Thursday night previews, indicating a strong box office start. While initial figures differ from prior films like “It,” they reflect strong interest, particularly among female audiences and Latino viewers.
Currently, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” holds a critics’ score of 78% and an audience score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the original 1988 film maintains an 82% rating from both critics and audiences. This sequel marks Tim Burton’s second sequel after “Batman Returns” in 1992 and boasts the widest release this year, with availability in 4,500 theaters across premium formats.
Further updates will follow as the situation develops.