The action comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt needs a long run to cover its $140 million production budget after debuting to a mere $28.5 million domestically.
- May 6, 2024
AceShowbiz - "The Fall Guy" is crash landing on its debut weekend. The action comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt has kicked off the summer movie season with a lukewarm opening, earning an estimated $28.5 million from 4,002 North American venues.
Despite taking over the first place of the chart, the movie fell short of expectations, having been projected to earn at least $30 million to $40 million. However, David A. Gross of movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research says it's still "fair" enough.
"This is a fair opening for a big action-comedy," Gross weighs in. "Action comedies are solid performers overseas, and with this cast, foreign business should be good. At [its] cost, 'The Fall Guy' is going to need a long run."
"The Fall Guy" opened to $36.9 million overseas, bringing its global total to $65.4 million. With positive reviews from critics, 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an average grade of A- from audiences surveyed by CinemaScore, the movie may rely on word of mouth for its long run.
The film's director David Leitch, however, may not be sweating over it as his prior film, 2022's "Bullet Train" starring Brad Pitt, overcame similar box office odds. The assassin thriller, which cost $90 million to produce, started slow with $30 million in August but ended up with $130 million domestically and $239 million globally.
"We are incredibly proud of this film," says Universal's president of domestic distribution Jim Orr of "The Fall Guy" domestic performance. "It's an exciting, charming film that I have no doubt will have a robust run."
It also should be noted that is the first time in over a decade that Marvel isn't kicking off the summer season, so comparisons are tough to the same weekend as before. Last year, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" started things off with $118 million. Without a tentpole film like a superhero movie, this marks the softest start to a blockbuster season in roughly 15 years.
"For over a decade and a half, a Marvel movie provided the spark to ignite the summer movie season," says senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "This year, without such a blockbuster title, apples-to-apples comparisons to the same weekend a year ago are rendered moot."
Another newcomer this week is "Tarot", which lands in the fourth place with approximately $6.5 million. It also opened overseas with $3.7 million, bringing its global tally to $10.2 million so far. It, however, is not a bad start because the film only cost $8 million to produce.
In honor of May the Fourth, which is known as Star Wars Day, "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" returned to 2,600 domestic theaters. It brought in an estimated $8.1 million, enough to bring the movie to the second place.
Last week's winner "Challengers" has to accept its defeat as it falls to the first place with an estimated $7.6 million, down 49% from its opening. "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" rounds out the first place with approximately $4.5 million. The monster tentpole has grossed $188 million domestically and $546 globally, making it the year's second highest-grossing movie so far.
Top 10 of North American Box Office (May 03-05, 2024):
- "The Fall Guy" - $28.5 million
- "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" 2024 Re-release - $8.1 million
- "Challengers" - $7.6 million
- "Tarot" - $6.5 million
- "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" - $4.5 million
- "Civil War" - $3.6 million
- "Unsung Hero" - $3 million
- "Kung Fu Panda 4" - $2.4 million
- "Abigail" - $2.3 million
- "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" - $1.8 million
