Weeks in and Michael holds like it has no intention of going anywhere. According to Variety, the King of Pop biopic stayed planted at the top of the domestic box office for another weekend, brushing off competition from a horror newcomer and a fashion sequel that’s rewriting its own record books. The rest of the top five filled in around it, but this was once again Michael Jackson’s weekend at the movies.
Word of mouth remains the real story this season. Audiences are sticking with titles they trust, and this weekend’s movie chart standings made that crystal clear.
Michael Holds the Top Spot at the Domestic Box Office
Lionsgate is not complaining. Michael hauled in an estimated $7 million just on Friday, and the Michael Jackson biopic is now projecting a $25 million to $28 million domestic weekend. If those numbers hold, Michael film revenue will have the North American total knocking on the door of $283 million before the weekend is out.
That kind of Michael movie momentum is genuinely rare for a music biopic. The genre typically sees steep second and third weekend drops, but this pop icon movie has defied the pattern at every turn. Repeat viewings are clearly a factor, as is the ongoing fan fascination with the Jackson family story and the strong response to Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle. The fact that Michael holds this firmly at the top several weeks into its theatrical run is nothing short of remarkable.
Michael Holds the Top Spot but Obsession Opens Strong in Second
Focus Features walked away with a genuine surprise this weekend. Obsession landed in second place, earning nearly $6.9 million on Friday and tracking toward roughly $14.5 million domestically by Sunday.
Curry Barker directs a story that starts simply enough. A young man wishes for love and gets something far more sinister in return. The strong debut is proof that original horror keeps earning its place at the box office. Lean budgets and loyal audiences make the genre a reliable moneymaker. Obsession looks ready to add its name to that list.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Crosses the $500 Million Mark
Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 took third place and hit a milestone that the fashion movie sequel has been building toward all summer. The Prada sequel earned $5.3 million on Friday and is projected to bring in around $20 million through Sunday, with the film officially crossing $500 million worldwide as of Friday.
The Devil Wears Prada sequel has benefited enormously from a crossover audience that other films can only dream about. Longtime fans of the original turned out in force, and younger viewers are clearly discovering the franchise for the first time. Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all return, and that reunion alone has carried serious theatrical weight. Prada 2 box office numbers now cement it as one of the summer’s genuine success stories.
Mortal Kombat II Slides to Fourth
Warner Bros. and New Line’s Mortal Kombat II slipped to fourth place in its sophomore weekend, earning $3.7 million Friday with a projected $12.7 million for the full weekend. That represents a sharp drop from its opening frame, though the film’s domestic total is expected to land around $61 million by Sunday.
Video game adaptations remain a mixed bag theatrically. Some recent entries have broken through in a big way. Others fade fast once opening weekend fan turnout thins out, and Mortal Kombat II appears to be trending toward the latter. Meanwhile, Michael holds strong as proof that the right story told well can sustain real theatrical longevity.
The Sheep Detectives Keeps Families Coming Back
Amazon MGM’s The Sheep Detectives rounded out the top five with another steady family weekend. The mystery comedy added $2.45 million on Friday and is expected to reach around $10 million by Sunday, pushing its domestic total to approximately $30 million.
Family films tend to have longer legs than most, and The Sheep Detectives is a good example of why. Parents are always looking for something the kids will actually sit through, and this one has delivered on that front week after week. It should stick around on the charts for a while yet.th.
Final weekend box office numbers will be available tomorrow.
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