‘Furiosa’ Sees $3.5M, ‘Garfield The Movie’ $1.9M In Previews As Memorial Day Weekend Box Office Begins

Warner Bros./Everett

Despite more movies in the marketplace, we’re still feeling the aftermath of the strikes. How is that? Many aren’t in the habit of moviegoing yet, and while content is king, neither of this weekend’s releases are expected to create a stampede: one is a prequel/spinoff with a new actress to a beloved Oscar winning cult movie, and the other is a family movie of an age-old comic-strip cat who eats lasagna. Don’t expect a $200M+ four-day weekend like the last two Memorial Day holiday frames have delivered.

Warner Bros’ Geroge Miller prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga did $3.5M at 3,400 locations that began previews at 3PM.

2015’s Max Max Fury Road posted previews of $3.7M back in May 2015 off showtimes that began at 7PM and went on to open to $45.4M, No. 2 that weekend. The movie legged out to a 3.3x multiple. That’s the hope here for this movie that has Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy stepping in for Charlize Theron in this desert dystopian epic about Mad Max’s sidekick (depending on who you ask — Furiosa is arguably The Boss of the last film). Furiosa is expected to post $40M in its four day.

Unlike Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, last year’s big Hollywood premiere at Cannes which was knifed by critics, Furiosa won many over with 89% certified fresh on RT. Knock on wood, Furiosa on the Rotten Tomatoes audience meter is 96%. Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak exits on the Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth movie is also very strong at 4 1/2 stars and a 70% recommend. Men at 68% gave the pic an 87% score while women at 32% gave it 81%. Hopefully all good word of mouth pays off during the Friday through Sunday span.

Meanwhile Alcon/Sony’s The Garfield Movie posted $1.9M in shows that started at 2PM yesterday at 3,243 locations. That’s a tad higher than IF’s previews last Thursday of $1.75M. Garfield is expected to do $30M+ over four days. Garfield is 37% Rotten with RT critics. General audiences numbered 58%, parents 19% and kids under 12 were 23%. General audience gave the animated pic 3 1/2 stars while parents and kids awarded it 4 1/2 stars. Overall, women outnumber men for Garfield at 55% to 45%.

Angels Studios’ Sight received 4 1/2 stars and a 68% definite recommend. Female heavy at 64%. The over 55+ demo arrived at 47% — no surprise here for a faith-based movie.

Elsewhere, Paramount’s IF ends week one with $42.5M, which is 8% behind the last PG live-action title, Hop, which posted a first week’s take of $46.4M. That Universal movie which was also had CGI animation mixed in, ended its U.S./Canada at $108M. No sequel was greenlit for the big screen. IF is hoping to ease -50% off its $33.7M opening. Hop was down -43%. Keep in mind Hop was an Easter title that played three weeks into the Holy weekend.