“The Summer movie season kicked off with a lukewarm start as “The Fall Guy,” featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, failed to generate much excitement. The action-comedy, directed by David Leitch and backed by Universal, fell short of expectations with a $28.5 million debut from 4,002 North American venues.
Despite predictions of earning between $30 million to $40 million, the film’s $140 million production cost casts a shadow over its box office performance. To break even, “The Fall Guy” will heavily rely on strong word-of-mouth and international ticket sales. Overseas, it opened to $25.4 million, bringing its global total to $65.4 million.
While the film received positive reviews and an “A-” CinemaScore, its box office prospects remain uncertain. However, there’s optimism fueled by Leitch’s track record with “Bullet Train,” which started slow but ultimately grossed $130 million domestically and $239 million globally.
Universal’s president of domestic distribution, Jim Orr, expressed confidence in the film’s longevity, citing its exciting and charming appeal. Nevertheless, with Marvel absent from the summer lineup for the first time in over a decade, comparisons to previous blockbuster seasons are inevitable. The domestic box office is down over 20% from 2023, prompting exhibitors to pin their hopes on upcoming releases like “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Despicable Me 4” to revitalize ticket sales.
In addition to “The Fall Guy,” Sony and Screen Gem’s horror film “Tarot” made its debut, earning $6.5 million domestically. Despite poor reviews, its low budget of $8 million minimizes the impact of its underwhelming performance.
Meanwhile, Disney and LucasFilm’s re-release of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” marked an impressive second-place finish, grossing $8.1 million domestically. Despite being widely available for home viewing, the 25-year-old film continues to attract audiences.
As for last week’s top performer, “Challengers,” its box office reign faltered as it dropped to third place with $7.65 million. With a budget of roughly $55 million, the film needs to maintain momentum to justify its production costs.
“Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire” rounded out the top five with $4.5 million in its sixth weekend, bringing its global gross to $546 million. Additionally, A24’s “Civil War” continues its strong performance, nearing the $100 million mark worldwide.”
