'The Garfield Movie' Scores Box Office Victory Amidst Slow Weekend

Movie

As Hollywood's box office struggles through a slump, the animated movie claws its way to the top, outpacing 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' and keeping young audiences entertained.

June 3, 2024

AceShowbiz - Last weekend was particularly slow for North American theaters, dominated by the underperformance of newly released films "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" and "The Garfield Movie". Sony Pictures' animated feature, "The Garfield Movie", managed to pull ahead, claiming the number one spot with an estimated $14 million haul. This pivot was unexpected following its debut just a hair behind Warner Bros.' "Furiosa" during Memorial Day weekend.

"The Garfield Movie" saw a 42% drop in its second weekend, a relatively modest decline compared to the 59% plunge for "Furiosa". Critics might have been harsh on the animated film for its "lazy and generic story," awarding it a 36% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences have shown a warmer reception, giving it an 81% Audience Score and a "B+" grade on CinemaScore surveys. The film's total domestic gross now stands at $51.57 million, with a global tally hitting $152.2 million.

In contrast, "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" suffered a significant drop in its second weekend, earning just $10.7 million. This brings its total domestic earnings to $49.7 million and $114.4 million worldwide, a figure far below expectations for a film with a reported $168 million budget. Optimism for its financial recovery remains low, although its critical reception with an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it may find a second life in home viewing markets.

Director George Miller's "Furiosa" joins a long list of anticipated blockbusters that failed to live up to their predecessors. Its predecessor, "Mad Max: Fury Road", was a beloved hit, grossing $153.6 million domestically and earning plaudits from both fans and critics alike. The tepid response to "Furiosa" has sparked concern for the film's future profitability.

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Additionally, Paramount's "IF", featuring Ryan Reynolds, took second place with $10.8 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to over $80.4 million.

The animated features seem to be having a moment at the box office. Anticipation for Pixar's "Inside Out 2" is already building, with early projections suggesting a strong opening weekend. Moreover, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" continues to perform well, crossing over $300 million globally despite its modest weekly earnings of $8.8 million domestically.

The overall slow box office performance has experts worried about the future of summer releases. However, family-friendly films like "IF" and "The Garfield Movie" suggest that all is not lost; these films may not dominate their opening weekends, but they show a notable staying power over time.

Hollywood hopes upcoming high-profile releases, including "Inside Out 2" and the newest "Bad Boys" installment, will reignite interest and pull the 2024 box office out of its current slump.

Top 10 of North American Box Office (May 31-Jun. 02, 2024):