Paramount Pictures‘ musical biopic, “Bob Marley: One Love,” exceeded expectations as it claimed the top spot at the box office with a stellar $27.7 million opening weekend.
In contrast, Sony’s “Madame Web,” a Marvel character-centered film, struggled with one of the lowest debuts for the genre.
Both films were released on Tuesday to capture Valentine’s Day audiences, and despite initial predictions favoring “Madame Web,” “One Love” emerged as the preferred choice, even with mixed reviews. Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir and backed by the Marley estate, the film’s performance paralleled successful musical biopics like “Rocketman” and “Elvis.”
Paramount anticipates a total gross of $51 million over the first six days.
Chris Aronson, Paramount’s distribution chief, highlighted the broad appeal of “One Love,” noting a diverse audience, particularly with a significant portion under 25. Ziggy Marley expressed gratitude, stating, “We thank the people for embracing this film and in so doing helping to highlight the message of one love.”
In contrast, “Madame Web” faced a disappointing fate, estimating a $15.2 million weekend and a six-day haul of $25.8 million.
With a lackluster “C+” CinemaScore and unfavorable critic reviews, the superhero film struggled to overcome negative buzz.
The article also notes the challenging start to the 2024 box office for Hollywood, citing a 15% decline in ticket sales compared to 2023. The upcoming release of “Dune: Part Two” on March 1 is anticipated to boost industry fortunes.
The weekend’s estimated ticket sales for the top 10 movies in U.S. and Canadian theaters are as follows:
1.”Bob Marley: One Love” – $27.7 million.
2. “Madame Web” – $15.2 million.
3. “Argylle” – $4.7 million.
4. “Migration” – $3.8 million.
5. “The Chosen,” Episodes 4-6 – $3.4 million.
6. “Wonka” – $3.4 million.
7. “The Beekeeper” – $3.3 million.
8. “Anyone But You” – $2.4 million.
9. “Lisa Frankenstein” – $2 million.
10. “Land of Bad” – $1.8 million.