Chris Pratt’s ‘Mercy’ Tops Box Office, Surpassing ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
A severe winter storm is currently impacting many parts of the United States, affecting box office revenues. Many communities have advised residents to stay indoors, contributing to a significant drop in ticket sales. Analysts predict this weekend’s earnings could be among the lowest of the year.
Chris Pratt’s ‘Mercy’ Takes Box Office Lead
The weekend’s top film is the new thriller ‘Mercy,’ directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Chris Pratt. The film features a gripping narrative where Pratt’s character faces trial for his wife’s murder, with his fate resting in the hands of an artificial intelligence judge.
Box Office Performance
- ‘Mercy’ debuts with an estimated $12.6 million, falling slightly short of the anticipated $15 million.
- It has succeeded in dethroning ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ which had ruled the box office for five consecutive weekends.
- ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is projected to earn around $7 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to approximately $380 million.
Other Films in the Race
- ‘Zootopia 2’ is anticipated to earn about $6 million, thus surpassing the $400 million mark domestically, with a global total exceeding $1.7 billion.
- ‘The Housemaid,’ directed by Paul Feig and featuring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, is expected to collect $6 million, maintaining its position at No. 4.
- ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ faces struggles, likely landing at No. 5 with a projected $4.2 million.
Awards Season Impact
The box office typically experiences an upsurge following major Academy Award nominations. Josh Safdie’s ‘Marty Supreme,’ which has received nine nominations including Best Picture, is set to earn around $3.5 million this weekend.
Director Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet,’ another strong Oscar contender, is likely to be close to breaking into the top 10, projecting around $1.8 million this weekend.
Special Screenings and Anniversaries
The ongoing 25th anniversary re-release of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy is also performing well, projected to earn between $14 million and $15 million.
With these developments, the box office landscape remains tumultuous as various factors continue to influence ticket sales this winter.
