Universal's animated sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Amazon MGM's sci-fi hit Project Hail Mary have once again dominated the North American box office this weekend, firmly holding their top positions. Meanwhile, the new horror release Lee Cronin's The Mummy struggled to make an impact, debuting in a distant third place during its opening frame.
Top Performers Maintain Strong Hold
According to studio estimates released on Sunday, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie added another $35 million domestically during its third weekend in theaters. This marks the film's third consecutive weekend at number one, bringing its cumulative global earnings to an impressive $747.5 million.
Project Hail Mary demonstrated remarkable staying power in its fifth weekend, dropping only 15% to earn $20.5 million. The film has now accumulated $285.1 million domestically and $573.1 million worldwide. The Amazon MGM production recently regained access to IMAX screens after temporarily ceding them to the Mario sequel for two weeks.
Industry Support for Hail Mary
Filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, alongside star Ryan Gosling, made a special appearance at the industry trade show CinemaCon last week. They personally thanked theater owners for their support in helping Project Hail Mary become the highest-earning original film of the year to date.
The Mummy's Disappointing Debut
Lee Cronin's The Mummy, which opened wide across 3,404 locations, managed only $13.5 million in its opening weekend. The R-rated horror film, directed by the filmmaker behind Evil Dead Rise and produced by Jason Blum's Blumhouse and James Wan's Atomic Monster, failed to resonate with either critics or general audiences.
The film currently holds a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a lackluster C+ CinemaScore from opening night audiences. Starring Jack Reynor, the story follows a family whose missing daughter reappears in a mummified yet living state. One review for The Associated Press described the film as devolving into "a gross-out bloodfest."
Silver Lining for The Mummy
Despite its weak domestic performance, the film carries a relatively modest production budget of approximately $22 million. With an additional $20.5 million from international markets, Lee Cronin's The Mummy has already achieved a worldwide total of $34 million, putting it on track to potentially turn a profit.
Other Notable Releases
The action movie Normal, starring Bob Odenkirk as a visiting sheriff in a Midwestern town, also opened this weekend with an estimated $2.7 million. Directed by Ben Wheatley and released by Magnolia, the film received better critical reception with a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but similarly earned a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, who were predominantly male at 65%.
Several high-profile limited and art house releases also debuted this weekend. Focus Features' documentary Lorne, about legendary producer Lorne Michaels, opened in 414 theaters across North America and earned approximately $270,000. Meanwhile, A24's Mother Mary, directed by David Lowery and starring Anne Hathaway as a tormented pop star alongside Michaela Coel as her estranged designer, opened on just five screens but managed $168,063.
Box Office Trends and Future Prospects
According to data from Comscore, the overall North American box office is up approximately 16% compared to the same period last year. The industry anticipates significant momentum building next weekend with the arrival of the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael.
Early tracking suggests the Lionsgate release could earn more than $60 million during its opening weekend in North America, with some projections reaching as high as $75 to $90 million. Such numbers would establish Michael as the biggest opening ever for a musical biopic, surpassing the current record held by Straight Outta Compton, which debuted to $60 million in 2015. For context, Bohemian Rhapsody opened to $50 million before eventually earning over $910 million worldwide.
