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"Dog Man" Leads a Quiet Box Office Weekend
In a slow winter weekend at the box office, Dog Man managed to hold onto its top spot, despite a significant drop in earnings. The animated Universal Pictures film, based on Dav Pilkey’s beloved graphic novel series, brought in an estimated $13.7 million in ticket sales. This marks the second consecutive week that Dog Man has led the box office, even though its earnings fell by 62% compared to its opening weekend. However, with a modest production budget of $40 million, the film has already grossed $54.1 million domestically in just two weeks, proving to be a solid performer for DreamWorks Animation.
The quiet weekend was typical for the film industry during the Super Bowl, as Hollywood often scales back its releases to avoid competing with the massive television audience tuning in for the big game. Last year, for instance, Apple’s Argylle debuted over the same weekend, but with little fanfare. Instead of releasing major films, studios often focus on promoting their upcoming blockbusters through high-profile trailers aired during the event.
"Heart Eyes" and "Love Hurts" Trail Behind
Two new releases, Heart Eyes and Love Hurts, failed to dethrone Dog Man, instead vying for second and third place, respectively.
Heart Eyes, a horror-romantic comedy mashup from Spyglass Media Group and distributed by Sony, took second place with $8.5 million from 3,102 theaters. Directed by Josh Ruben and starring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, the film received positive reviews from critics but failed to fully win over audiences. Moviegoers gave it a “B-” CinemaScore, indicating a lukewarm reception. With a budget of $18 million, the film’s modest opening suggests it may struggle to make a significant impact in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Love Hurts, an action comedy starring Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, debuted with a disappointing $5.8 million from 3,055 theaters. This marks Quan’s first major film role since his Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Despite its promising cast, the movie failed to resonate with audiences, earning a “C+” CinemaScore. Like Heart Eyes, Love Hurts was produced on a modest budget of $18 million, which may help it recover, but its lackluster opening doesn’t bode well for its box office prospects.
Super Bowl Weekend Slows Down the Box Office
The Super Bowl weekend is traditionally a slow period for movie theaters, as millions of viewers stay home to watch the event. This year was no exception, with Dog Man being one of the few films to see any meaningful success. The film’s $13.7 million haul, while lower than its opening weekend, was still enough to keep it at the top of the box office chart.
Given the Super Bowl’s dominance over the weekend, it’s not surprising that both Heart Eyes and Love Hurts underperformed. Studios often avoid releasing major films during this time, instead opting to promote their upcoming releases through trailers aired during the broadcast. For example, last year, Apple released Argylle over the same weekend, but the film received widespread criticism and failed to make an impact at the box office.
Next Weekend Promises a Box Office Boost
While this weekend was quiet, the box office is expected to roar back to life next weekend with the release of two highly anticipated films: Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World and Sony’s Paddington in Peru. Both films are expected to draw large audiences and potentially set new records for 2024. Captain America: Brave New World is the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has consistently produced blockbuster hits. Paddington in Peru, on the other hand, is the third film in the beloved Paddington franchise, which has won over audiences with its charm and heartwarming storylines. Both films are expected to dominate the box office in the coming weeks, marking the beginning of a busy and lucrative period for movie theaters.
A Detailed Look at the Weekend’s Top 10 Films
The estimated box office earnings for the weekend of Friday, February 9, through Sunday, February 11, were as follows:
- Dog Man ($13.7 million)
- Heart Eyes ($8.5 million)
- Love Hurts ($5.8 million)
- Mufasa: The Lion King ($3.9 million)
- Companion ($3 million)
- One of Them Days ($3 million)
- Becoming Led Zeppelin ($2.6 million)
- Flight Risk ($2.6 million)
- Sonic the Hedgehog ($1.8 million)
- Moana 3 ($1.5 million)
The Role of CinemaScore in Understanding Audience Reception
The CinemaScore ratings for Heart Eyes and Love Hurts provide valuable insights into audience reception. While critics praised Heart Eyes for its unique blend of horror and romantic comedy, moviegoers were less enthusiastic, giving it a “B-” grade. This discrepancy suggests that while the film may appeal to fans of the genre, it may not have broad appeal. On the other hand, Love Hurts received a “C+” CinemaScore, indicating that audiences were even less impressed with the film’s execution. These ratings are important for studios, as they can influence word-of-mouth and, ultimately, the film’s long-term performance at the box office.
In conclusion, this weekend’s box office was dominated by Dog Man, which continued to perform well despite a steep drop in earnings. The underwhelming performances of Heart Eyes and Love Hurts highlight the challenges of releasing films during the Super Bowl weekend. However, with the release of Captain America: Brave New World and Paddington in Peru on the horizon, the box office is set to rebound next weekend. As the box office continues to evolve in 2024, these figures provide a snapshot of the current state of the film industry and offer insights into what audiences are—and aren’t—responding to. Final domestic figures for the weekend will be released on Monday, offering an even clearer picture of the box office landscape.
