Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers, starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, made $1.9 million in previews Thursday, a figure $100,000 shy of what Universal’s Cocaine Bear did. The sexy tennis rom-com is hoping to open to $15M for the weekend.
Critics love Challengers at 91% certified fresh, but last night’s audiences were so-so on it with three stars on Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak at 3 1/2 stars, 75% positive and a 56% definite recommend. Women over 25 at 35% came out as well as women under 25 at 25%, but guys over 25 got pulled along as dates at 25%, with men under 25 at 14%. It wasn’t Zendaya’s girl fans who liked the movie the most, but men over 25 at 80%.
Overall best demo grades for Challengers came from the 25-34 bunch (80%, showed up at 37%) and 45-54 folks (82% grade, showed up at 4%). Originally the movie was scheduled to go in mid-September after a Venice Film Festival world premiere, but got pushed to this weekend due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Whatever number this movie comes in at, it was a smart move as it’s had the global push of Zendaya to her 184M Instagram fans.
‘Unsung Hero‘Courtesy of Lionsgate
Elsewhere, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story’s Unsung Hero made $1.67M in previews. It’s important to note that for both films not all their bread was made last night from previews, but includes early advance-screening money.
The faith-based Unsung Hero grossed $470K yesterday. The movie directed by Joel Smallbone & Richard L. Ramsey, which expands to 2,832 sites today, was made for $6M before P&A and will earn about that much at the B.O. Unsung Hero follows David Smallbone, who moves from Australia to U.S. with seven kids and his wife and turns into a five-time Grammy-winning artist of For King + Country, and Rebecca St. James. In early Thursday PostTrak exits, Unsung Hero notched five stars, 96% positive and an 86% definite recommend. Last night’s audience drew 66% female, 48% over 55. RT reviews for Unsung Hero are at 60% fresh with audiences at 100%.
Early industry estimates for previews on Roadside Attractions’ Boy Kills World movie is around $500K. The Lionsgate’s sister label uber-action movie that was acquired out of TIFF Midnight is looking at a single-digit opening. RT reviews are at 63% fresh, audiences are at 60%. PostTrak moviegoers were hard on the film at 3 stars, 66% positive and a 67% guy turnout.
The rest of Thursday and the week is as follows:
1.) Civil War (A24) 3,929 theaters, Thurs $874K (-8% from Wed), Wk $15M, Total $48.8M/Wk 2
2.) Abigail (Uni) 3,384 theaters, Thurs $646K (-11%), Wk $13.5M, Wk 1
3.) Godzilla x King (Leg/WB) 3,658 theaters Thurs $615K (-3%), Wk $12.3M, Total $174.4M/Wk 4
4.) Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (LG) 2,845 theaters, Thurs $500K (-19%), Wk $11.5M/Wk 1
5.) Kung Fu Panda 4 (Uni) 2,955 theaters, Thurs $317K (-6%), Wk $6M, Total $181.4M/Wk 7
