Box Office: 'Chainsaw Man' Dominates, 'Black Phone,' 'Springsteen,' and 'Regretting You' Battle for Second Place
The highly anticipated Japanese anime film 'Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc' is making waves at the U.S. box office, with an impressive $14 million to $15 million opening weekend projection from 3,003 theaters. This marks a significant achievement, given its perfect 100% critics' score and 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with five-star ratings on PostTrak. Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the film follows the thrilling adventures of Denji, a teenager and demon hunter, as he battles the yakuza and a mysterious woman named Reza, whose true intentions are yet to be revealed.
'Chainsaw Man' surpasses early expectations, outpacing Blumhouse and Universal's 'Black Phone 2' in the race for the top spot. The sequel to the hit horror film earned $3.4 million in Thursday previews, but 'Chainsaw Man' quickly took the lead with its strong opening. Meanwhile, 'Black Phone 2' finds itself in a close competition for second place with 'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere' and the romantic drama 'Regretting You,' both of which are expected to gross between $9 million and $12 million over the weekend.
The impact of the World Series, a highly anticipated sporting event, on the box office remains to be seen. While NFL games typically pose more competition, 'Chainsaw Man' benefits from being a popular anime, especially in the large moviegoing market of Los Angeles. The World Series, however, has games in both Los Angeles and Toronto, which could affect the weekend's box office results.
'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,' a bio-drama based on the life of the legendary musician, grossed $850,000 in Thursday previews, reflecting its adult audience. The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen and has received positive reviews, with a 66% critics' score and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. With a wide release in 3,460 cinemas, including 250 IMAX runs, the film is expected to perform well.
'Regretting You,' a romantic drama based on a Colleen Hoover novel, faced a different challenge. Paramount hosted a special fan event instead of regular Thursday previews, and the film received generally withering reviews. However, with a wide release in 3,593 locations, it aims to capitalize on the lack of female-centric product at the multiplex. The film's success will depend on strong audience scores, as it faces competition from 'It Ends With Us,' another Hoover adaptation, which is involved in a legal battle over its production.
In the specialty box office, Neon's 'Shelby Oaks' is making its debut in 1,823 locations. Directed by YouTube critic Chris Stuckmann, the found-footage horror film raised $1.4 million via Kickstarter, the highest amount ever for a horror title. Neon provided additional funding, and the film is expected to open in the $2 million to $2.5 million range.
