The winter box office is heating up with the release of Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4. This latest installment is set to have the franchise’s second-highest domestic opening, with an expected $50M+ debut at 3,900 theaters. The film follows in the footsteps of the original 2008 movie, which opened to $60.2M. Not only is Kung Fu Panda 4 off to a strong start, but it’s also the second-biggest opening for a DWA title since Universal acquired the label from 20th Century Fox. The only other DWA title to surpass this was How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which debuted with $55M in 2019. The film is attracting a diverse audience, skewing towards both males and females under 25. Previews are set to begin on Thursday at 2PM, with no Rotten Tomatoes review rating available yet.
Legendary Entertainment/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two is also making waves at the box office, with $8.1M in earnings from bargain Tuesdays. This brings its total through five days to $98M, and the film is expected to cross the $100M mark today. Despite the strong start, industry insiders anticipate a slowdown in the low 50th percentile. Second weekend Imax presales are looking promising, hinting at a potential $39M weekend ahead. On the horizon, Lionsgate has the Blumhouse PG-13 title Imaginary set to open at 3,000 theaters. The $10M production has the potential to debut with $10M-$14M, targeting a key audience of women under 25. Previews for Imaginary start tomorrow at 6PM, with reviews yet to be released.
Angel Studio’s Cabrini, a biopic about an immigrant woman who rises to prominence in 19th century NYC, is poised for a mid-single digit to $10M opening. With a star-studded cast including John Lithgow and David Morse, the film has already garnered critical acclaim, boasting an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Targeting women 35 and up, Cabrini is set to start previews on Thursday at 6PM. Meanwhile, A24’s Love Lies Bleeding, featuring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian, is generating buzz as a Sundance World Premiere. The film, which follows a gym manager and amateur bodybuilder as they confront a dangerous family legacy, has earned a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Opening in select theaters in NYC and LA this weekend, Love Lies Bleeding is projected to have a strong per-screen average between $30K-$50K.
The weekend box office is shaping up to be a diverse and exciting mix of films, with Kung Fu Panda 4 leading the charge in terms of commercial success. As audiences flock to theaters, they have a variety of genres and stories to choose from, promising an engaging and entertaining cinematic experience for all.