Box Office Analysis: ‘Michael’ Leads with $26.1 Million

After two weeks in second place trailing ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ the Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ reclaimed its position as the No. 1 film at the North American box office. It brought in $26.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

The Lionsgate film has achieved significant success by grossing $703.9 million globally. It still needs to outperform ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ the leading musical biopic that earned $910.8 million worldwide.

Several new films debuted this weekend, including the relationship horror movie ‘Obsession,’ Guy Ritchie’s action picture ‘In the Grey,’ and the revenge saga ‘Is God Is.’ Despite new entries, holdovers continued to generate the most audience interest.

The dynamics could change next weekend when ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is released in theaters. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ took second place during its third weekend with $18 million, pushing its domestic total to $175.9 million and worldwide numbers to $546.2 million.

‘Obsession’ topped the newcomers by surpassing expectations with an estimated $16.1 million from 2,615 theaters. Directed by YouTube breakout Curry Barker, it tells the story of a hopeless romantic overwhelmed when his crush reciprocates his feelings. The film was favorably reviewed with a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore. Notably, Barker produced the film for $750,000, and Focus Features acquired it from the Toronto International Film Festival last year for roughly $15 million.

Lisa Bunnell, president of domestic distribution for Focus Features, attributes some of ‘Obsession’s’ success to the demand for fresh and original voices. It benefits from word-of-mouth and is drawing younger audiences. Horror films rarely achieve A- CinemaScores, yet ‘Obsession’ joins a successful group with another recent hit, ‘Weapons.’

‘Mortal Kombat II’ claimed fourth place at the box office with $13.4 million in domestic sales, marking a 65% decline from last weekend. The film has garnered $101.2 million globally from 80 markets.

Amazon MGM Studios had three films in the top 10, including ‘The Sheep Detectives’ in fifth place, ‘Project Hail Mary’ in seventh, and ‘Is God Is’ completing the top 10. ‘The Sheep Detectives’ enjoyed a modest 33% slump from its debut weekend, earning $10.2 million and raising its total to $30.5 million. ‘Project Hail Mary,’ available for home rental or purchase, earned $3.4 million in its ninth weekend.

‘Is God Is,’ a film adaptation of Aleshea Harris’s Obie-winning play about twins on a quest to confront their abusive father, made $2.2 million in its debut weekend. It boasts a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The action caper ‘In the Grey,’ released by Black Bear, earned $3 million from 2,018 locations. Starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González, it features a team of elite operatives on a mission. It currently holds a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore.

Several notable re-releases in theaters included ‘Top Gun,’ which made $3.1 million, and ‘Shrek,’ earning $1.3 million. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, commented that films like ‘Prada,’ ‘Michael,’ and ‘Top Gun’ in the top 10 demonstrate nostalgia’s strong appeal. ‘What’s old is new again, and audiences clearly love it,’ he said.

Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office

With final domestic figures released on Monday, estimates for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters according to Comscore are as follows:

1. Michael, $26.1 million.
2. The Devil Wears Prada 2, $18 million.
3. Obsession, $16.1 million.
4. Mortal Kombat II, $13.4 million.
5. The Sheep Detectives, $9.3 million.
6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, $4.5 million.
7. Project Hail Mary, $3.9 million.
8. Top Gun 40th Anniversary, $3.1 million.
9. In the Grey, $3 million.
10. Is God Is, $2.2 million.