‘Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,’ ‘Napoleon’
Courtesy of Everett Collection
There’s high drama at the Thanksgiving box office.
Heading into the long holiday corridor, Disney Animation’s original event pic, Wish, was anticipated to dominate. However, it may be trumped by Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Napoleon from Apple Original Films and Sony.
The Hunger Games prequel is projected to rule the holiday chart in North America with a gross of over $40 million for the Wednesday to Sunday corridor, following an $11.4 million haul on Friday. The movie is expected to finish Sunday with a 10-day domestic total of almost $100 million.
Ridley Scott’s new historical epic Napoleon is in a close race with Wish for No. 2. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the historical drama grossed $8.4 million on Friday, projected for a five-day debut of $32 million to $33 million. The performance is particularly impressive considering it only earned a B- CinemaScore from moviegoers and has a majority of ticket buyers aged 35 and older.
Napoleon is the second major theatrical endeavor from Apple Original Films after Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and fully financed by Apple with Sony as its global distribution and marketing partner. Both films have Oscar ambitions. Heading into the Thanksgiving frame, Napoleon was expected to earn a holiday total of $22 million to $25 million.
Wish, an original story with no affiliated IP, was predicted to top the Thanksgiving chart with a five-day haul of $45 million to $50 million. It is now projecting a five-day gross of $32 million to $33 million. Disney is hopeful for a prolonged run throughout December and the year-end holidays for Wish, encouraged by an A- CinemaScore and strong PostTrak exits.
Universal and Illumination’s Trolls Band Together is aiming for a fourth-place finish with an estimated five-day gross of $25.5 million.
TriStar and Spyglass Media’s ‘Thanksgiving’ will round out the top five in its second weekend with an estimated five-day cume of $11.4 million.
At the awards box office, Focus Features’ The Holdovers is expected to come in seventh with five-day holiday earnings in the $4 million range.
Searchlight’s Next Goal Wins and MGM/Amazon’s Saltburn are each aiming for five-day grosses in the $2.7 million range.
