Tron: Ares Sets Course for Over $30 Million Opening Weekend at Friday PM Box Office
Tron: Ares Looks to Dominate Box Office Despite Stiff Competition
Disney’s latest release, Tron: Ares, is projecting an impressive $15 million opening day, targeting a 3-day total in the mid-to-high $30 million range across 4,000 theaters. However, the film will need a strong performance over the weekend to push figures closer to $40 million. The release coincides with Indigenous People’s Day weekend, providing a potential 4-day boost. With MLB playoffs and NFL games potentially drawing male audiences away on Sunday, hopes are high that viewers will flock to theaters on Monday.
Weekend Box Office Lineup Competition Intensifies
Following closely are Warner Bros’ One Battle After Another and Paramount/Miramax’s Roofman, each eying $7-$7.5 million. Roofman is showing at 3,362 locations, and One Battle After Another is in 3,127 theaters, reaching its third weekend with only a 32% decrease from its second week.
Universal’s Gabby’s Dollhouse stands fourth, with 3,039 venues generating $1 million on Friday. Sony Affirm’s Soul on Fire rounds out the top five with a projected weekend total of $2.5-$3 million from 1,720 sites.
Forecast for the Extended Weekend
Despite high hopes, the Columbus Day frame is unlikely to exceed $100 million this year. Post-COVID figures peaked in 2023 when overall box office takings hit $132.9 million, boosted by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Notably, Tron: Ares is aiming to outperform previous films in the franchise, backed by positive audience scores and strong advance ticket sales.
Comparison with Previous Releases
Early previews indicate Tron: Ares has outperformed its predecessor, Tron: Legacy, which had $3.6 million in previews. With previews reaching $4.8 million, the film aligns with recent fan-favorite reboots, hinting at significant box office success. It opens amid fierce competition from major sports events but is buoyed by a positive Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 86%.
Additional Films in the Spotlight
The Channing Tatum-Kirsten Dunst caper, Roofman, generated $1 million from 2,800 opening locations. The film, with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is targeting a $10 million weekend. Meanwhile, Sony/Affirm’s Soul on Fire debuted with $575,000 from 1,450 locations, buoyed by a strong CinemaScore and a five-star PostTrak rating.
Leading Films by the Numbers
| Film | Theaters | Thursday Earnings | Weekend Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl (AMC) | N/A | $34M | Wk 1 |
| One Battle After Another (WB) | 3,634 | $1M | $16.2M/Wk 2 |
| The Smashing Machine (A24) | 3,345 | $316K | $7.7M/Wk 1 |
| Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (Uni) | 3,507 | $298K | $6.6M/Wk 2 |
| The Conjuring: Last Rites (NL/WB) | 2,753 | $370K | $5.76M/Wk 5 |
The upcoming weekend could shape the fall box office narrative, offering insights into the year-end movie landscape amidst varied audience preferences and competing entertainment choices. Stay tuned to Emegypt for more updates on box office developments and entertainment news.
