Title: Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office Prospects: Napoleon and Wish Set to Captivate Audiences
Subtitle: Sony Pictures and Apple’s “Napoleon” and Disney’s “Wish” Look Promising for Thanksgiving Weekend
As the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, movie theaters are eagerly anticipating the release of two highly anticipated films that are expected to bring robust energy to the box office. With the potential to attract both adult moviegoers and families looking for a fairy tale-like experience, “Napoleon” and “Wish” are poised to make their mark during the holiday frame.
“Napoleon,” produced by Sony Pictures and Apple, is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2023. Boasting a star-studded cast that includes Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, this historical epic is sure to draw attention. Director Ridley Scott’s fan base adds to the anticipation, with adults expected to flock to the theaters during the long weekend. Projections for the opening weekend range from $17M to $23M for the three-day period and $23M to $34M for the five-day stretch.
Pre-sales for “Napoleon” have already surpassed those of other highly-anticipated films such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “The Creator.” This early success bodes well for its prospects at the box office. Critics have given the film a fresh-but-modest approval rating of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating favorable reception.
Not to be outdone, Disney is releasing “Wish” on the same day. With projected opening weekend ranges of $35M to $44M for the three-day period and $49M to $66M for the five-day extravaganza, “Wish” aims to enchant audiences of all ages. Drawing on Disney’s timeless appeal to multiple generations, the film returns to the beloved fairy tale-like template that has proven successful in the past. Historically, Disney’s Thanksgiving releases have performed exceptionally well.
Pre-sales for “Wish” are outperforming previous family-friendly films such as “Trolls Band Together” and “Encanto” in key sample markets, indicating strong interest from audiences. Although critics have given the film a lukewarm approval rating of 49% on Rotten Tomatoes, the enduring popularity of Disney’s animated movies is expected to resonate with viewers.
Disney’s strategic shift towards streaming during the pandemic has left some questioning the studio’s big-screen success. However, other animation studios have shown that capturing the magic of the movie theater experience is still possible.
The current projections for Thanksgiving weekend call for a 33% increase from the comparable weekend in 2022, signaling a positive trend for the industry. However, there is a 37% decrease compared to the same weekend in 2019, before the pandemic disrupted theatrical releases.
With the release of “Napoleon” and “Wish” on the horizon, the Thanksgiving weekend promises to be an exciting time for movie lovers. Audiences can look forward to the magic of the big screen, as these films aim to captivate and entertain viewers of all ages.
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*This article has been created for Heartland Magazine*
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