As we head into the final stretch of the summer season, the Hollywood box office is heating up with several highly anticipated films set to hit the big screen. Disney is once again expected to dominate the box office with its latest offering, Alien: Romulus from 20th Century Studios. With a running box office of $50.6M, the film is expected to edge out Deadpool & Wolverine’s fifth weekend with a projected $18M to $17M. On the other hand, It Ends with Us from Sony/Wayfarer Studios is poised to become Blake Lively’s highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office, surpassing Green Lantern’s $116.6M.
The upcoming weekend will see three new studio wide releases entering the fray, but all are expected to open in the single-digit millions. This raises the question of whether the holdovers will continue to reign supreme despite the overindexing trend seen this summer. However, with late August marking the back-to-school season, many moviegoers are now focused on other priorities. Comscore reports that 33% of K-12 students are back in school, while 58% of colleges have resumed classes.
Amazon MGM Studios is set to release Blink Twice, a thriller directed by Zoe Kravitz and starring Channing Tatum. Despite a strong cast and positive critical reception (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film is not expected to match Tatum’s usual box office numbers. The storyline follows tech billionaire Slater King as he invites cocktail waitress Frida to his private island, only for her to uncover dark secrets that threaten her life. The movie also features a stellar supporting cast including Alia Shawkat, Simon Rex, and Geena Davis.
In addition to Blink Twice, Lionsgate is releasing a reboot of The Crow starring Bill Skarsgård. The film, based on the original graphic novel, follows Eric and Shelly as they seek vengeance from beyond the grave. Meanwhile, Sony is releasing The Forge, a faith-based film directed by Alex Kendrick. The movie follows Isaiah as he navigates life after high school and strives to make better decisions for his future.
As the summer box office season draws to a close, moviegoers can expect a mix of action-packed blockbusters, thrilling dramas, and faith-based narratives to hit theaters. While some films are poised to make a splash, others may struggle to find their footing amidst stiff competition. Ultimately, the success of each movie will depend on a variety of factors, including audience reception, critical reviews, and overall box office performance.