Jason Statham’s latest action thriller, “A Working Man,” took the box office by storm over the weekend, securing the top spot with a $15.2 million opening. Directed by David Ayer, the mastermind behind “Suicide Squad,” the Amazon MGM production outperformed Disney’s “Snow White,” which saw a shocking 66% drop, falling to second place with just $14.2 million in its second week.
“A Working Man” Packs a Punch at the Box Office
Statham, known for his high-octane roles, portrays a decorated military veteran who returns to action after human traffickers kidnap his boss’s daughter. Despite earning mixed reviews and a “B” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, the movie’s solid opening signals continued interest in Statham’s brand of gritty, action-packed storytelling. The film’s start is slightly below Ayer and Statham’s previous Amazon MGM project, “The Beekeeper,” which opened to $16 million and eventually raked in $66 million domestically and $162 million globally.
“Snow White” Struggles to Stay Afloat
Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake, starring Rachel Zegler as the iconic princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has grossed $66.8 million domestically and $143.1 million worldwide to date. However, with a production budget of over $250 million (excluding marketing costs), the film needs sustained box office strength to avoid becoming a financial disaster. Industry insiders suggest that Zegler’s outspoken political comments may have negatively impacted audience reception. As if that wasn’t enough, “Snow White” is about to face tough competition from Warner Bros.’ much-anticipated “A Minecraft Movie,” which opens next weekend.
Faith-Based Surprise: “The Chosen: Last Supper” Takes No. 3 Spot
In a surprising twist, “The Chosen: Last Supper,” a faith-based TV series about Jesus and his disciples, secured the third spot with an impressive $11.5 million from 2,235 theaters. Distributed by Fathom Events, the series’ fifth season is being screened in cinemas, offering audiences two-week runs of new episodes.
“The Woman in the Yard” and “Death of a Unicorn” Underwhelm
Universal and Blumhouse’s horror flick, “The Woman in the Yard,” debuted at No. 4 with $9.4 million but failed to impress critics and audiences alike, receiving a dismal “C-” on CinemaScore and a 39% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Danielle Deadwyler stars in the chilling story of a family that encounters a mysterious woman who delivers an ominous message.
A24’s surrealist horror comedy, “Death of a Unicorn,” starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, rounded out the top five with $5.8 million. While these numbers surpassed A24’s last wide release, “Opus,” which struggled with only $1.8 million, the results were still modest given the star-studded cast and quirky premise.
Limited Release Highlights
In limited release, Bleecker Street’s “The Friend,” starring Naomi Watts, premiered in just two New York theaters, earning $66,853 for an impressive per-screen average of $33,426. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics opted for a wider release of “The Penguin Lessons,” a dramedy featuring Steve Coogan, which collected $1.2 million across 1,017 screens.
Box Office Blues: Overall Revenues Lag Behind Pre-Pandemic Numbers
Despite “A Working Man’s” success, overall box office revenues remain 7% behind 2024 levels and a staggering 39% behind 2019 numbers, highlighting the industry’s continued struggle to bounce back from the pandemic.
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