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In a tight competition for the box-office crown, “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” and “Barbie” are currently neck and neck, with the video game adaptation barely surpassing Greta Gerwig’s popular sensation, according to studio estimates on Sunday.
Sony Pictures reported that “Gran Turismo” debuted with $17.3 million over the weekend, while Warner Bros. estimated that “Barbie,” now in its sixth week, earned $17.1 million. These figures may change once the final ticket sales are calculated on Monday.
However, due to a few exceptional circumstances, it is highly likely that “Barbie” sold more tickets than any other film from Friday to Sunday, even if “Gran Turismo” claims victory.
One reason for this is the unique weekend in multiplexes. U.S. movie theaters celebrated the second annual National Cinema Day on Sunday, offering $4 tickets for all films and showtimes across the country.
“Barbie” was expected to dominate during this discount day, benefiting from repeat viewings. With domestic ticket sales totaling $594.8 million, “Barbie” has surpassed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”($574 million) as the highest-grossing domestic hit of the year. Moreover, with $1.34 billion worldwide, “Barbie” will soon outperform the leading global tally of $1.35 million set by “Mario.”
National Cinema Day aims to attract moviegoers to theaters during a traditionally slow period while making up for lost ticket revenue by selling more popcorn. Last year’s event drew 8.1 million moviegoers, making it the busiest day of the year for theaters. Warner Bros. estimates that “Barbie” earned $7.8 million on Sunday, suggesting that almost 2 million people watched the film on that day.
So, which movie triumphed over the weekend?
“Barbie,” asserts Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “Without any doubt.”
Nonetheless, “Gran Turismo” holds a slight and debatable advantage in terms of gross earnings. Sony includes a substantial $3.9 million from preview screenings held before Thursday and an additional $1.4 million from Thursday previews when calculating the weekend totals for “Gran Turismo.” This accounting practice, although common in Hollywood, has extended the definition of an opening “weekend.”
Jeff Goldstein states, “We’ve made a big issue of it only because ‘Barbie’ has had outstanding performance. Denying it the number one spot, which would have marked its fifth consecutive weekend at the top since release, doesn’t feel fair to the ‘Barbie’ filmmakers who truly deserve the recognition.”
Sony executives have chosen not to comment.
In terms of box-office performance, “Gran Turismo” had a decent start considering its $60 million production budget. The film, which depicts a young man’s journey from being a gaming enthusiast to becoming a professional racer, has resonated well with audiences. Moviegoers have rewarded the Neill Blomkamp-directed movie with an “A” CinemaScore.
The ongoing strike involving actors and screenwriters has prevented studios from promoting films with their casts. To generate buzz for “Gran Turismo,” Sony organized several weeks of preview screenings and fan events.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, comments, “While every movie aspires to be the number one film, ultimately, ‘Barbie’ is an unequivocal global blockbuster. Regardless of the outcome this weekend, ‘Barbie’ will always be a winner. Sony, unable to rely on stars for promotional purposes, had to depend on the audience to become the film’s marketing voice.”
In its second week, last week’s top film, the DC Comics release “Blue Beetle,” slipped to third place, earning $12.8 million. The Warner Bros. film has accumulated $46.3 million in two weeks, marking another disappointment for DC.
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” followed in fourth place with $9 million in its sixth week. Similar to its companion film “Barbenheimer,” this Universal Pictures release has performed impressively well beyond the typical lifespan of most films in theaters. “Oppenheimer” has surpassed $300 million domestically and reached $777.1 million globally.
A few other new releases also debuted in theaters. MGM’s “Bottoms,” a high-school comedy, had a strong start in limited release, averaging $51,600 per location across 10 theaters. The Liam Neeson thriller “Retribution” premiered with $3.3 million in 1,750 theaters on behalf of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.
Sports drama “The Hill,” starring Dennis Quaid, launched with $2.5 million from 1,570 locations through Briarcliff and Open Road. Additionally, “Golda,” featuring Helen Mirren as the former Israeli prime minister, debuted with $2 million in 883 theaters under Bleecker Street.
According to Comscore, the North American box office is now just $70 million short of reaching $4 billion for the summer. Following a fluctuating season that saw major releases like “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “The Flash,” and “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One” falling short of expectations, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have sparked a rebound. If the box office hits $4 billion this summer, it will be the first time since 2019.
The following figures reflect estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to Comscore. Final domestic numbers will be released on Monday.
1. “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” – $17.3 million
2. “Barbie” – $17.1 million
3. “Blue Beetle” – $12.8 million
4. “Oppenheimer” – $9 million
5. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” – $6.1 million
6. “Meg 2: The Trench” – $5.1 million
7. “Strays” – $4.7 million
8. “Retribution” – $3.3 million
9. “The Hill” – $2.5 million
10. “Haunted Mansion” – $2.1 million
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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
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