Amazon MGM Studios’ film “Challengers” is projected to earn $6.2 million on Friday, including the nearly $2 million from previews. This will bring the movie’s total to $15 million across 3,477 theaters. The film is expected to attract a younger demographic, specifically 18- to 34-year-olds, tonight, and it is anticipated to have a strong hold throughout the weekend, including Sunday.
‘Challengers’ Review: A Zendaya-Led Dramedy About Love And Rivalry Across The Tennis Court
Zendaya takes center stage in Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, ‘Challengers.’ This captivating dramedy explores the themes of love and rivalry within the world of professional tennis. Guadagnino, known for his visually stunning films like ‘Call Me By Your Name,’ delivers another visually striking masterpiece with ‘Challengers.’
The film follows the story of two talented tennis players, played by Zendaya and an equally brilliant co-star. As they navigate their way through the competitive world of tennis, they must confront their own personal demons and forge an unexpected bond along the way.
Guadagnino’s direction brings a unique and artistic flair to the film, capturing the intensity and beauty of the tennis matches. The cinematography beautifully showcases the athleticism and grace of the players, while also delving into the emotional depths of their characters.
Zendaya delivers a captivating performance as the lead, showcasing her versatility as an actress. She effortlessly portrays the complexities of her character, capturing both the vulnerability and determination that comes with being a professional athlete.
The film also features a strong supporting cast, with each actor bringing depth and nuance to their respective roles. The chemistry between the characters adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it all the more compelling to watch.
‘Challengers’ is not just a film about tennis; it is a powerful exploration of love, rivalry, and the human spirit. Guadagnino’s masterful storytelling combined with the exceptional performances of the cast make this a must-see film for both tennis enthusiasts and fans of compelling dramas.
Overall, ‘Challengers’ is a triumph for Guadagnino and Zendaya, showcasing their immense talent and ability to create thought-provoking and emotionally resonant films. Whether you’re a fan of tennis or simply appreciate a well-crafted story, ‘Challengers’ is a film that should not be missed.
According to PostTrak from Screen Engine/Comscore, the demo range accounted for 76% of the ticketholders on Thursday night. This makes it the largest and widest opening ever for Luca Guadagnino, the Oscar-nominated Italian filmmaker. It’s worth noting that the film is being shown in Imax and various PLFs, including all the AMC Dolbys.
According to RelishMix, the social media presence of “Challengers” spans across various platforms including TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X, reaching a total of 278.5 million users. This is 60% higher than the average for the romantic movie genre. The film’s social media following surpasses that of “Mean Girls” (264.1M), “Anyone But You” (98.8M), and “Saltburn” (213.9M). Zendaya, one of the stars of the movie, has dedicated a section on her Instagram profile to “Challengers” and recently reminded her fans about the film.
The movie “Challengers” (watch the trailer below) had a hefty price tag of over $50 million and was acquired by Amazon MGM along with Guadagnino’s Timothée Chalamet cannibal love story “Bones and All.” Guadagnino has already secured another film deal with Amazon MGM, a gripping Julia Roberts dramatic thriller titled “After the Hunt,” which is set to be released next year.
Lionsgate/Kingdom Story’s “Unsung Hero” takes second place at the domestic box office, earning $3.4M-$3.9M today and an estimated $7M-$9M for the weekend. The film is currently playing in 2,832 theaters.
In its fifth weekend, the highly anticipated film, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” continues to make waves at the box office. Currently in third place, the movie is being shown at 3,312 locations and has earned an impressive $1.7 million today. Over the course of the three-day weekend, it has accumulated $7 million, marking a 27% decrease from the previous weekend. With a total of $181.5 million, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” continues to captivate audiences.
In its fourth frame, A24’s “Civil War” continues to perform well at the box office, grossing $1.8 million today and a total of $6.2 million, a decrease of 44%. As of Sunday, the film is expected to have a cumulative total of $55.3 million.
Universal’s horror movie “Abigail,” directed by Radio Silence, secures the fifth spot at the box office. The film is currently showing in 3,393 theaters and earns $1.35 million on Friday. Over the three-day weekend, it grosses $4.5 million, experiencing a 56% decrease. After ten days in theaters, “Abigail” has accumulated a total of $18 million.
Roadside Attractions’ film, “Boy Kills World,” has earned $900,000 today and is projected to make $1.9 million for the entire weekend. The movie is currently being shown in 1,993 theaters.
On Thursday, Amazon MGM Studios’ film “Challengers,” featuring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, earned a noteworthy $1.9 million in preview screenings. Although it fell just short of Universal’s “Cocaine Bear,” which made $100,000 more, the anticipation is high for this intriguing romantic comedy set in the world of tennis. With hopes of a $15 million opening weekend, “Challengers” aims to captivate audiences with its blend of romance and sports.
Critics have given high praise to “Challengers” with a 91% certified fresh rating. However, the audience’s response last night was more lukewarm. According to Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak, the film received an average rating of three stars, with 75% of viewers expressing a positive sentiment and only 56% definitively recommending it. The audience composition consisted of 35% women over 25, 25% women under 25, 25% men over 25 (who attended as dates), and 14% men under 25. Surprisingly, it was not Zendaya’s female fans who enjoyed the movie the most, but rather men over 25, with a staggering 80% approval rating.
The movie “Unsung Hero”, directed by Joel Smallbone and Richard L. Ramsey, had an impressive box office gross of $470K yesterday. This faith-based film, which is expanding to 2,832 sites today, was made for a budget of $6M before marketing expenses. It is expected to earn around the same amount at the box office. “Unsung Hero” tells the inspiring story of David Smallbone, who moved from Australia to the U.S. with his wife and seven kids, and went on to become a five-time Grammy-winning artist of For King + Country, along with Rebecca St. James.
Early audience reactions for “Unsung Hero” have been extremely positive, with the film receiving a five-star rating and a 96% positive response in Thursday PostTrak exits. An impressive 86% of viewers also said they would definitely recommend the movie. The audience composition from last night’s showing consisted of 66% female viewers, with 48% of them being over the age of 55.
Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes for “Unsung Hero” currently stand at 60% fresh, while audience reviews are at a perfect 100%. This indicates a positive reception from viewers, who have found the film to be highly enjoyable and inspiring.
Early industry estimates suggest that Roadside Attractions’ movie, “Boy Kills World,” is projected to earn around $500K during previews. This action-packed film, which was acquired out of the TIFF Midnight program by Lionsgate’s sister label, is expected to have a single-digit opening. While the Rotten Tomatoes reviews stand at 63% fresh, the audience score is slightly lower at 60%. PostTrak moviegoers gave the film an average rating of 3 stars, with 66% expressing positivity and a 67% turnout of male viewers.
Here’s what the rest of Thursday and the week looks like:
1. The film “Civil War” (A24) is currently showing in 3,929 theaters. On Thursday, it made $874K, which is a decrease of 8% from Wednesday’s earnings. In total, the movie has made $15M so far and has reached a total of $48.8M in its second week.
2. The movie “Abigail” continues to perform well at the box office, with a strong opening weekend of $13.5 million. It is currently showing in 3,384 theaters and has made $646,000 on Thursday alone, marking a decrease of only 11% compared to its previous day’s earnings. This is a promising start for the film in its first week of release.
3. Godzilla x King (Leg/WB) continued its box office dominance in its fourth week, grossing $615K on Thursday. The film was shown in 3,658 theaters, bringing its total earnings to $174.4M.
4. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (LG) is showing in 2,845 theaters this week. On Thursday, it made $500K, which is a 19% decrease compared to the previous day. So far, in its first week, it has earned $11.5M.
5. Kung Fu Panda 4 (Uni) is currently showing in 2,955 theaters. It earned $317K on Thursday, which is a 6% decrease compared to the previous day. So far, the movie has made $6M in its seventh week, with a total gross of $181.4M.
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