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‘Deadpool’ Dominates Box Office While 'Reagan' Exceeds Hopes on Lackluster Labor Day
In a slow conclusion to the summer movie season, Dennis Quaid’s “Reagan” secured the fourth position at the box office this weekend, earning $7.4 million. Despite quiet openings elsewhere, this figure had been a bright spot amidst lower theater attendance.
Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” now a summer blockbuster staple, maintained its dominance at the box office, pulling in $15.2 million over the weekend. The film continues to set records, poised to cross the $600 million domestic mark following the Labor Day holiday. This achievement places it among a rarefied group of films, reinforcing its status as the best-selling R-rated movie in history.
“Reagan,” the only major new release competing against established hits, exceeded expectations with an estimated total of $9.2 million including projections for Monday. Audience reception has been largely positive, earning an A CinemaScore and a remarkable 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, despite critics’ harsher assessment, which resulted in a 19% rating.
The summer movie season, spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day, has exhibited a mix of surprises and disappointments. Notable successes like “Deadpool,” “Despicable Me 4,” and “Inside Out 2” established themselves as fixtures on the charts, securing top ten positions as the season drew to a close.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, this summer’s unpredictability was remarkable. He noted, “If you were to write up a blueprint of perhaps the most unpredictable summer ever, 2024 might be just that.” The cumulative domestic box office for the season reached over $3.6 billion, a slight decline from last year’s $4 billion due in part to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that captivated audiences last summer.
In this weekend’s box office, “Alien: Romulus” claimed the second spot with $9.3 million, while “It Ends With Us” remained steady at No. 3, earning just over $7.4 million. “Twisters” rounded out the top five with $7.2 million, marking a strong seventh week in theaters.
Among other releases, “Afraid,” a horror-thriller featuring an AI antagonist, garnered $3.7 million, indicating modest interest. Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” amassed $4.7 million during its second weekend, while the film “1992” struggled, earning only $1.4 million amid low market enthusiasm.
The rankings reflect a summer characterized by both enduring favorites and fresh titles vying for audience attention. As the season wraps up, final domestic figures will be available Monday, shedding light on the overall performance.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters are as follows:
- “Deadpool & Wolverine,” $15.2 million.
- “Alien: Romulus,” $9.3 million.
- “It Ends With Us,” $7.4 million.
- “Reagan,” $7.4 million.
- “Twisters,” $7.2 million.
- “Blink Twice,” $4.7 million.
- “The Forge,” $4.6 million.
- “Despicable Me 4,” $4.1 million.
- “Afraid,” $3.7 million.
- “Inside Out 2,” $2.8 million.
