Let the Mother’s Day contest begin at the box office.
Video game adaptation Mortal Kombat II has started off its North American run with $5.2 million in Thursday previews and early Imax screening held on Wednesday. While some tracking services showed the male-fueled martial arts sequel opening to $45 million or more, New Line and parent company Warner Bros. are predicting a far more conservative launch in the $35 million range to $40 million range for a worldwide bow anywhere between $65 million and $80 million.
In 2021, Mortal Kombat was by all accounts a resounding hit on streaming when launching simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max due to the ongoing pandemic. The violent pic debuted to $23 million, including $5.5 million in previews and early screenings, on its way to topping out at $42 million domestically and $84.4 million globally.
Simon McQuoid returning to helm Mortal Kombat II from a script by Jeremy Slater and Karl Urban joining the franchise as fan favorite character Johnny Cage, a washed up ’90s action star called to take part in a tournament that will determine the fate of Earthrealm.
It remains to be seen whether McQuoid’s film can topple The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is a natural fit for Mother’s Day and is fast on its way to becoming the biggest female-led film since Warner Bros.’ Barbie in 2023 after kicking off the summer box office last weekend in high style. Prada 2 has been enjoying brisk weekday business, including crossing the $300 million mark globally on Wednesday and $100 million on Thursday in North America.
And don’t forget about Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, which added another milestone to its list of accomplishments on Thursday when dancing past the $200 million mark domestically as it prepares to overtake Bohemian Rhapsody ($216.7 million) sometime over the weekend and become the top-grossing music biopic of all time in North America, not adjusted for inflation. And don’t be surprised if its worldwide cume is close to $500 million by Sunday.
Other new Mother’s Day offerings, in addition to Mortal Kombat II, include Paramount’s new concert film Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), which James Cameron and the artist co-directed. Tracking has the film — which has $2.2 million already banked from Thursday previews and special early Imax screenings hosted April 29 — opening anywhere from $6 million to $9 million. Cameron pioneered special 3D cameras designed to make moviegoers feel as if they were part of a live experience that he used when filming Eilish.
One wild card is Amazon MGM’s critically adored The Sheep Detectives, which grossed $1 million in Thursday previews for a projected opening in the $12 million to $15 million range domestically. The comedy-mystery follows a flock of talking sheep who are determined to solve the suspicious death of their beloved shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman, who read them detective novels on a regular basis despite having no idea they could understand him. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, directors of 2026 box office hit Project Hail Mary, are among the film’s executive producers.
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