Hello everyone,
BOX OFFICE: After doing poorly last weekend, “Mufasa” suddenly roared into action going neck and neck with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” all week last week. One of them was #1 and the other was a close #2 all week except for Christmas Day when “Mufasa” was #1 and the new release “Nosferatu” was #2. Over the final weekend of the year, “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” had a slight lead with $37 million – down 38% from the previous weekend. “Mufasa” was right behind it with $36.8 million – which is about 4% HIGHER than its opening weekend box office.. However, due to its opening weekend, the total box office for “Mufasa” is still approx. $23 million behind “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”. Of the new openings, “Nosferatu” was #3 with $21 million and a total of almost $41 million since it opened on Christmas Eve. “A Complete Unknown” was #6 with $11.65 million over the weekend and $23.2 million since it opened on Christmas Eve.
Total domestic box office was $163 million for the final weekend of 2024. That’s approx. 15% higher than the previous weekend and 44% higher than the final weekend of 2023.
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE Worldwide, where “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” is a new release in most foreign countries, the box office was also neck and neck between that movie and “Mufasa”. However, “Mufasa” was playing in foreign countries last weekend. It made an additional $77 million internationally so it’s worldwide total is approx. $328 million. “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” was close to it making approx. $74 million but it’s worldwide total is only slightly above $210 million. Meanwhile, “Moana 2” is approaching a worldwide total of $900 million but it still will be the #4 movie for 2024 since “Despicable Me 4” is at $969 million.
RELEASE DATE CHANGES: For some reason, they recently announced that a “The Batman” sequel that was scheduled arrive in Oct 2026 (22 MONTHS AWAY) is now coming A YEAR LATER in Oct 2027. In closer release date news, Warner Bros also announced that “Mickey 17”, which has been rescheduled A LOT is now scheduled a month earlier. It moves from April 18 to Mar 7. The movie “Sinners” is the other movie in the swap which now moves to April 18.
Kevin Costers’ “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” will premiere on Netflix in January but “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” is still not scheduled for theatrical or streaming release in the US yet. So much for Kevin Costner saying “It will come out this year”. The only screening so far was at the Venice Film Festival in October. However, it is scheduled to be released in Russia and Germany in April 2025 according to some release schedules.
OTHER NEWS:
Universal has decided to release “Wicked” online THIS YEAR. Although it’s still doing well in theaters, it will be available to purchase on video-on-demand (NOT on streaming) on Dec 31, about a month after it’s theatrical release.
LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR:
Q: What do you say to Simba when he’s moving too slow?
A: “Mufasa!”
I can’t explain why, but this made me laugh for a good 5 minutes. Get it? Move – faster
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
LOS ANGELES FILM REVIEW 