Christmas Day is usually the busiest day of the year for moviegoing, and that pretty much held up in 2023. But with a huge number of new releases, the audiences were divided. Ultimately, the final DCEU film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, emerged as the winner, with $40 million over four days ($27.7M over three, including Thursday previews but not Christmas Day).
Not charting was The Color Purple, which was held from release until Christmas Day. But it should perform well this week and into next weekend as a lot of people are off work and kids are out of school.
As for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, it seems like a decent crowd-pleaser with a B CinemaScore. This is just slightly down from the first Aquaman‘s A-. That movie went on to make over a billion dollars. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score is 78% which isn’t stellar, but not awful. However, critics hate it, with a 36% Tomatometer ranking.
Unfortunately, a lot of the first Aquaman‘s success came from foreign markets and this sequel isn’t getting released in some of those same territories.
Lost Kingdom comes from Warner Bros., so that studio has the #1 and #2 spots. The Color Purple should chart next weekend. At #2 is Wonka the family-friendly musical prequel to one of the most beloved movies of all time. In its sophomore frame, it made $18M over three days and $28M over four.
Universal/Illumination’s animated Migration landed at #3 with $12.4M over three days and $17.5M over four. This is a record-low opening for Illumination, but this is a family/kid-skewing flick and should hold up well this week and next weekend.
Audiences love it with an A CinemaScore and an 89% audience score on RT. Its critical Tomatometer score is much lower but not completely awful at 69%.
While family movies thrive in this time, not everyone wants that. In counter-programming was the romantic comedy Anyone But You, starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. This picture took in $5.9M over three days and $8M over five.
Audiences liked it along the same lines as the Lost Kingdom, with a B CinemaScore and an 85% RT audience score. Its critical score is pretty terrible, though, at 49%.
Rounding out the Top Five is the Indian film Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire which took in $5.66M over three days and $6.9M over four.
Dropping out of the Top Five are The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The Boy and the Heron, and Godzilla Minus One.
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal. Here’s your Top Five:
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros.) – 3-day $27.7M/ 4-day $40M/ Wk 1
- Wonka (Warner Bros.) – 3-day $18M/ 4-day $28M/ Total $85.5M/ Wk 2
- Migration (Illuminations/Universal) – 3-day $12.4M/ 4-day $17.5M/ Wk 1
- Anyone But You (Sony) – 3-day $5.9M/ 4-day $8M/ Wk 1
- Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire (Pathyangira Cinemas) – 3-day $5.66M/ 4-day $6.9M/ Wk 1
While Christmas may be the biggest movie day of the year, New Year is the opposite. No one goes to the movies then. Therefore, nothing is really opening, but film-going should continue through the week. Will The Color Purple break into the Top Five? Who do you think will close out the year on top?
