Zendaya's tennis drama “Challengers” took first place at the domestic box office this weekend, grossing $15 million, as movie theaters still struggle to match last year's ticket sales.
“Challengers” outperformed its closest competitor, the religious drama “Unsung Hero,” which generated $7.75 million, according to Comscore estimates. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” in its fifth weekend, grossed $7.2 million.
“This is a strong opening for a romantic sports drama,” David Gross wrote in film industry newsletter FranchiseRe about “Challengers.” “Dramas don't make great movies, but they can be elevated by a top-notch cast, and Zendaya is doing it.”
Still, the overall theatrical movie market remains weak. Gross said April 2024 is down about 48% compared to pre-pandemic Aprils.
“There remains room for smart, targeted productions that connect with their audiences, but overall programming remains scarce,” Gross wrote. “So far in 2024, we have had 13 large series films. Before the pandemic, we were averaging over 18 during the same period.”
Last summer's Hollywood strikes changed the schedule of movies coming to theaters, delaying titles like “Avengers: Secret Wars” and “Kraven the Hunter” from their scheduled release dates. Box office sales are down 21% compared to the same period last year, according to Comscore.
“We really have a ways to go with the box office,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
“This was a land of opportunity for those movies that might have been overshadowed if there had been a big box office hit in the month of April,” Dergarabedian said.
A year ago, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” ranked first at the weekend domestic box office, grossing $40.8 million during its fourth week in theaters, Dergarabedian said.
The biggest titles will hit theaters soon. The action comedy film “The Fall Guy,” starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, will be released Friday.
