Weekend has brought a mixed bag to the box office, with Warner Bros.’ “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and Sony’s “The Garfield Movie” both starting slower than expected. As theaters close out an underwhelming May, these films are competing closely for the top spot.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Opening Performance: “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has had a lukewarm start, earning $10.2 million on its opening day across 3,804 locations, including Friday and preview screenings. Despite its availability in premium formats like Imax, the film is projected to fall short of the anticipated $40 million-plus over the four-day Memorial Day weekend.
Comparison to Predecessor: The film’s 2015 predecessor, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” opened with $16 million on its first day and went on to achieve a domestic opening weekend of $45 million, finishing with $153 million in North America and $369 million worldwide. “Fury Road” also enjoyed a significant multiplier effect, earning over three times its opening weekend gross by the end of its run.
Challenges and Hopes: With a production budget of $168 million, “Furiosa” faces the challenge of replicating its predecessor’s success, both critically and commercially. The hope is for the film to build momentum and achieve a long-tail success similar to “Fury Road.”
International Reception: In India, “Furiosa” has performed relatively well, earning ₹4.05 crore (approximately $500,000) in its first two days. The film had a strong start with ₹2.05 crore on its opening day and added another ₹2 crore on Friday.
US Premiere: In the US, “Furiosa” made $3.5 million from preview screenings, with projections for the four-day weekend ranging between $40 million and $45 million. Matching the success of “Fury Road,” which grossed $380 million worldwide and received 10 Oscar nominations, will be a tall order.
Cast and Plot: Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a young Furiosa, the film also features Chris Hemsworth as the villainous Warlord Dementus, along with Tom Burke and Alyla Browne. The plot centers on Furiosa and her sister Valkyrie, who are thrust into a dangerous world after their home is discovered by biker raiders.
Reception at Cannes: “Furiosa” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, receiving a six-minute standing ovation. The film has also performed well in South Korea, earning $575,000 from 75,400 ticket sales on its opening day, surpassing the local hit “The Roundup: Punishment.”
The Garfield Movie
Opening Performance: “The Garfield Movie,” an animated adaptation by Sony, opened with $8.4 million on its first day. While it trails behind “Furiosa,” it is still a contender for the top spot over the weekend.
Expectations: Given the popularity of the Garfield character and the appeal of family-friendly content, the film could see a boost in attendance over the remaining days of the holiday weekend.
Conclusion
Both “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “The Garfield Movie” have had underwhelming starts at the box office this Memorial Day weekend. While “Furiosa” aims to replicate the long-term success of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Garfield Movie” hopes to leverage its family-friendly appeal to boost its numbers. As the weekend progresses, it remains to be seen how these films will fare in the competitive summer box office landscape.
