“Barbenheimer” fever grips the box office as two films, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” continue to draw audiences and dominate the charts, according to reports. Meanwhile, Disney’s latest release, “The Haunted Mansion,” is projected to settle for third place at the box office.
In a surprising turn of events, “The Haunted Mansion” managed to rake in $3.1 million in Thursday previews, showing some promise for the film. However, it pales in comparison to the massive $21.2 million earned by “Barbie” and the respectable $10 million earned by “Oppenheimer” on the same day.
Directed by Justin Simien, “The Haunted Mansion” draws inspiration from the iconic Disneyland theme park ride. Industry experts are predicting that the film will earn around $25 million to $30 million during its opening weekend. Despite these optimistic projections, the film faces an uphill battle due to its whopping $150 million budget before marketing costs, raising concerns about its profitability at the box office.
“The Haunted Mansion” boasts an impressive cast, including renowned actors LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Jared Leto. However, whether their star power will be enough to entice audiences remains to be seen.
On the other hand, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” are expected to have strong second weekends. According to industry insiders, “Barbie” is projected to earn between $65 million and $85 million, while “Oppenheimer” is estimated to bring in $35 million to $45 million.
Joining the competition is another new release, the A24 horror film “Talk to Me,” which is anticipated to earn a respectable $4 million to $5 million during its debut weekend.
As the “Barbenheimer” craze continues, moviegoers will have multiple options to choose from at the box office. Will “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” continue their box office reign, or will “The Haunted Mansion” manage to overcome its budget obstacle and capture audience attention? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates on Heartland Magazine.
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