Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Makes a Splash at Box Office

Warner Bros.' highly anticipated superhero film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, took the top spot at the box office during the Christmas movie weekend, raking in an impressive $28.1 million in ticket sales in North America by Sunday.

This thrilling sequel follows the success of the 2018 superhero movie and once again features the charismatic Jason Momoa as the titular character. Industry experts predict that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will continue its strong performance, with a projected domestic total of $40 million over the four-day weekend. The film's international success is also apparent, with a remarkable $80.1 million earned, resulting in a staggering global debut of approximately $120.1 million, according to figures provided by the film's distributors and confirmed by Comscore.

Warner Bros., a subsidiary of media giant Warner Bros. Discovery, has been making waves in the industry. Recently, talks of a potential merger with Paramount Global have been circulating, further amplifying their influence in the entertainment sphere.

In second place at the box office was another Warner Bros. production, Wonka. Inspired by Roald Dahl's beloved book and featuring the talented Timothée Chalamet, the film grossed an estimated $17.7 million in domestic ticket sales during its second weekend. Wonka has amassed a cumulative total of $75.2 million thus far, with its worldwide earnings projected to reach an impressive $254.9 million by Monday, as reported by Comscore.

Not far behind, Universal Pictures' family-friendly animated adventure, Migration, captured third place. This PG-rated film follows a lovable family of mallards who embark on a journey to Jamaica but end up navigating the bustling streets of New York City. Experts expected Migration to achieve $12.3 million at the box office, with a projected total of $17.1 million over the extended holiday weekend, according to Comscore.

Analyzing moviegoer data from EntTelligence, it was determined that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom garnered the most attention, accounting for 26.8% of foot traffic during Friday and Saturday. Wonka followed closely behind, capturing 20.4% of moviegoers' interest, while Migration held a solid 14.5% of foot traffic.

Sony's R-rated comedy, Anyone But You, secured fourth place at the box office. The film managed to earn a respectable $6.2 million in domestic ticket sales over the weekend and is projected to reach a total of $8.8 million to $9 million by Monday, based on Comscore's data.

As the year comes to a close, Warner Bros.' Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has left an indelible mark on the box office, solidifying its position as an audience favorite and setting the stage for more thrilling cinematic adventures in the future.

International Cinema Shines at the Box Office

Two Indian and two Japanese films have made their mark in the domestic top 10, making this Christmas weekend a truly global affair at the box office. According to Comscore, the film industry analytics company, Prathyangira Cinemas' Salaar Part 1—Ceasefire secured the fifth position with an expected earning of $6.3 million over the four-day weekend. A24's The Iron Claw followed closely behind with an estimated earning of $7.5 million by Monday.

Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst at Comscore, described this as a monumental moment for international cinema. He highlighted that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom generated a remarkable 67% of its debut revenue from outside North America. Dergarabedian specifically mentioned Indian cinema titles such as Salaar Part 1—Ceasefire by Yash Raj Films and Dunki, along with GKIDS' The Boy and the Heron, and Toho Co.'s Godzilla Minus One.

Comscore's estimation places the total domestic box office earnings for this weekend at $94.6 million. Moreover, their projections indicate that the year's box office revenue will reach $8.73 billion by Sunday, marking a 21% increase compared to the same period last year.

Christmas Day will see the release of several anticipated films, including Warner Bros.' adaptation of Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple, which inspired Steven Spielberg's renowned 1985 film. Amazon MGM Studios will also premiere The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney, which depicts the University of Washington rowing team's quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Additionally, Neon will release Ferrari, based on the captivating biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine.

With a total of seven wide releases this week, including three yet to open on Christmas Day, there is truly something for everyone at the multiplex. Comscore's Dergarabedian emphasized that the final stretch towards the end of the box office year will be an exhilarating ride.