The domestic box office has witnessed a remarkable surge, thanks to the release of the movie musicals ‘Mean Girls‘ and ‘Wonka.’ This boost has led to a record-breaking weekend, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in the 2020s.
‘Mean Girls,’ an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical and the 2004 teen comedy hit, along with ‘Wonka,’ an original musical starring Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka, have played pivotal roles in this box office revival. According to Deadline, ‘Mean Girls’ took the number one spot at the domestic box office, with 16 other movies grossing over $1 million in their opening weekend.
This achievement is significant, marking the first time since 2019 that the second weekend in January has seen so many movies hit this milestone. The top five films of the weekend included ‘Mean Girls’ with $28 million, followed by ‘The Beekeeper,’ ‘Wonka,’ ‘Anyone But You,’ and ‘Migration.’
Overcoming Weather Challenges
Impressively, these figures were achieved despite adverse weather conditions. Winter Storm Gerri led to the closure of some Midwest theaters, potentially impacting the earnings of ‘Mean Girls’ and other releases.
Nevertheless, the box office thrived, with titles like ‘Aquaman 2,’ ‘Night Swim,’ and ‘The Boys in the Boat’ surpassing the $1 million mark. This resilience highlights the enduring appeal of cinema, even in the face of challenges.
A Look at the Box Office Landscape
While this weekend’s success is noteworthy, the overall outlook for the 2024 box office remains uncertain. Many of the films that contributed to this record are holdovers from 2023, and as they begin to drop off the charts, there aren’t many major 2024 releases scheduled to take their place in the upcoming weeks.
The Henry Cavill spy comedy ‘Argylle’ and the Marvel movie ‘Madame Web’ are set for release in February, but the next significant blockbuster, ‘Dune: Part Two,’ won’t arrive until March.
This sparsity of major wide releases throughout the year can be partly attributed to the delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, where writers and actors fought for fair pay. These strikes disrupted production and promotion schedules, leading many major releases to be postponed to 2025, creating a gap in the 2024 film calendar.
