BoxOffice News & Analysis
5 articles
Market Mood
Disney (DIS) Star Wars Film Hits $12M Preview Sales, Lowest Ever
Disney's (DIS) 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' achieved $12 million in Thursday night preview sales, marking the lowest in the franchise's history. The previous low was $14.1 million set by 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' in 2018. Analysts predict the film could generate approximately $80 million over the three-day opening weekend and $95 million for the four-day Memorial Day holiday, with some estimates suggesting up to $115 million. The film's production cost is estimated at $165 million, indicating a lower profitability threshold compared to other entries in the Star Wars franchise.
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IMAX (IMAX) Shares Rise 10% Amid Potential Sale Talks
IMAX (IMAX) shares increased approximately 10% in after-hours trading following reports of the company exploring a potential sale. The company has had 'preliminary talks' with potential buyers, though no official offers have been made. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond, who recently returned from medical leave, previously mentioned to shareholders that he was open to a potential sale. In 2024, IMAX generated a record $1.28 billion in global box office revenue, marking a 40% increase compared to 2023 and exceeding its prior record from 2019.
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Summer Box Office Sales Exceed $160 Million, Up 88% from 2025
Over the weekend, domestic ticket sales reached $161 million, an 88% increase from the same period in 2025. The film 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' led the weekend with $41.6 million in its second week, followed by 'Mortal Kombat II' with $38.5 million in its opening weekend, and 'Michael' completing the lineup with $37.9 million in its third week. The overall U.S. box office for 2026 has generated $3.02 billion, marking a 16% increase year-over-year. These trends indicate that the summer box office is poised for strong performance, aided by returning films and favorable holdover strength.
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Disney's D2 Film Earns $77 Million Opening Weekend Revenue
Disney's 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' grossed approximately $77 million domestically during its opening weekend, marking the third-highest debut of 2023. This figure almost triples the $27.5 million opening of the original film in 2006. The sequel also garnered over $150 million internationally, bringing its global earnings to around $233 million in just three days. This performance represents 72% of the original film's total box office during its entire run, highlighting the strong audience interest in nostalgic properties.
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Paramount and Warner Bros. Seek Animation Expansion Amidst Market Competition
Paramount and Warner Bros. are merging, aiming to strengthen their film slate against competitors like Disney and Universal, which dominate the animated film sector. Since 2016, Paramount has released eight animated features, generating $1.1 billion globally, while Warner Bros. released the same number, grossing $1.3 billion. In contrast, Disney's 21 animated features earned $14.1 billion. The demand for kid-friendly content is highlighted as critical to box office success, with Paramount and Warner Bros. holding 27% of the domestic box office in 2025, just behind Disney's 28%. The merger requires a strategic focus on building an animated film portfolio.
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