- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is estimated to make $40 million domestically over the four-day Christmas weekend.
- Warner Bros. will hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots at the box office with Aquaman 2 and Wonka respectively.
- Poor Things expands to 800 theaters and remains in the Top 10.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to come out on top during the holiday weekend, although the victory may be bittersweet due to poor critical reception. James Wan’s anticipated follow-up to the billion-dollar success Aquaman is struggling with negative reviews and will likely concede the top opening-weekend figures to The Flash with a projected $55 million. As of Christmas Eve, The Lost Kingdom has earned approximately $28.1 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo.
Despite the less-than-stellar domestic performance, there’s a silver lining for the superhero sequel: Christmas Day and the extended weekend are expected to bring in an additional $10 to $12 million, raising its total to around $40 million. Comparatively, The Flash — a widely regarded box office disappointment — raked in $55 million on its opening weekend. Although Aquaman 2 won’t post the worst debut by a DC Extended Universe film — a title held by Wonder Woman 1984’s $16.7 million opening — it’s a far cry from the franchise’s more successful releases.
While Jason Momoa’s final appearance as the King of Atlantis in the DCEU may not leave a lasting domestic impression, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has fared well internationally, doubling its estimated domestic earnings with a whopping $80 million. Including international numbers, the film is projected to reach a global total of around $120 million post-Christmas weekend.
Warner Bros. can still celebrate as its other film, Wonka, is poised to take the No. 2 spot at the weekend box office. Earning $17.7 million through Christmas Eve and boasting a current worldwide total of $255 million, the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory prequel has fared well with audiences. The domestic No. 3 spot goes to newcomer Migration with $12.3 million so far.
Other films finding success over the weekend include Anyone But You ($6.2 million), Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire ($5.5 million), and The Iron Claw ($5.1 million). The expansion of Poor Things to 800 theaters has resulted in a 64.6% increase in earnings, securing its No. 10 spot at the box office with $2.1 million. Finally, limited releases All of Us Strangers, Freud’s Last Session, and Memory each posted impressive per-theater averages, indicating potential success in the future.