Retiring Guy's Digest: USA box office: "Worst Memorial Day weekend result in 43 years"

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

USA box office: "Worst Memorial Day weekend result in 43 years"

2020 and 2021 submitted their doctor excuses to the director's office.

(Qualifier: after adjusting for inflation.)

USA box office on the 3rd weekend of May 2024 is down 33% compared to last year when "The Little Mermaid" was the top-grossing movie. "Furiosa: A Mad Max Story" squeaked by "The Garfield Movie" for the top spot this weekend.

And it's down 44% compared to the 2018 peak when "Aladdin" ruled the weekend box office.

Source: Box Office Mojo

New York Times, 5/26/2024

“Furiosa,” which cost $168 million to make, not including tens of millions of dollars in marketing costs, collected an estimated $25.6 million in the United States and Canada from Thursday night to Sunday. Box office analysts expected the film to take in about $5.4 million on Monday, for a holiday-weekend total of $31 million.
That would be the worst Memorial Day weekend result in 43 years after adjusting for inflation — ever since “Bustin’ Loose,” a comedic drama starring Richard Pryor, collected $24 million in 1981. (Box office records exclude 2020, when most theaters were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.)
The franchise’s previous chapter, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” took in $45.4 million in 2015, or roughly $61 million in today’s dollars — and that was without the benefit of a holiday weekend.
Hollywood had high expectations for “Furiosa,” which Warner Bros. premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; the movie received exceptional reviews. On Sunday, however, it was unclear whether “Furiosa” would manage even first place at the box office.

More box office posts:

2024

Memorial Day weekend (Friday-Sunday). (5/26)

Box office woes continue for Hollywood at start of 2024 Memorial Day weekend. (5/25)

3rd weekend of May. (5/19)

2nd weekend of May. (5/12)

1st weekend of May. (5/5)

4th weekend of April. (4/28)

3rd weekend of April. (4/21)

2nd weekend of April. (4/14)

1st weekend of April (4/7)

Easter weekend. (3/31)