Despite receiving excellent reviews, Companion is experiencing a disappointingly low opening weekend, while Dog Man continues to dominate the box office as a major hit.
This week, our predictions suggested that Dog Man would significantly impact Companion?s opening performance, and as the weekend progresses, the gap between the two films appears to be widening. Dog Man, an animated spin-off of the popular Captain Underpants franchise, is expected to rake in an impressive $35 million at the weekend box office, far exceeding our initial expectations. In stark contrast, Companion, directed by Drew Hancock, is projected to struggle to surpass the $10 million threshold, landing in a distant second place.
Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining for Companion. The film has garnered outstanding reviews, including praise from our own Tyler Nichols, and boasts a solid B+ CinemaScore, which is commendably high for a horror film. With positive word of mouth, it?s possible that horror enthusiasts will discover this gem in the upcoming weeks. However, Companion will face stiff competition next weekend from the gory romantic comedy Heart Eyes, which has also received favorable reviews. Notably, since Companion has a production budget of only $10 million, it stands a reasonable chance of turning a profit for the studio, particularly once it becomes available for streaming, with expectations of a MAX debut in approximately six weeks.
In addition, the other significant release this weekend, Valiant One, featuring Chase Stokes from Outer Banks, is struggling to make an impact, with projections indicating a meager 0k for the weekend, which likely won?t even place it in the top 10. Meanwhile, Flight Risk, the previous weekend’s champion, is experiencing a decline at the box office. Despite receiving poor word of mouth, a week-to-week drop of 53% is relatively moderate, with estimates suggesting about $5.5 million for this weekend. With a total gross surpassing million, this micro-budget thriller directed by Mel Gibson is on track to deliver a much-needed profit for Lionsgate.
Stay tuned for tomorrow?s comprehensive box office round-up!
