Universal’s action-romance film “The Fall Guy” didn’t have a strong start at the summer box office. Starring Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stuntman pursuing a talented director played by Emily Blunt, the movie earned $10.4 million on its opening day. This total includes $3 million from preview screenings. Based on current projections, the film is expected to have a three-day opening of $28 million, falling short of industry expectations that predicted a debut in the low-to-mid 30’s.
How ‘The Fall Guy’ transformed from a dark noir to a captivating love story by harnessing the power of stunts.
Universal has not achieved the desired success with Ryan Gosling’s popularity after his role in “Barbie” and the positive reviews for “Fall Guy” from its premiere at the SXSW Festival. Despite having a production budget of $130 million, the film does not have the same financial expectations as other big summer releases. However, it still needs to recoup a substantial amount. Although “Fall Guy” is director David Leitch’s most expensive project after his “Fast & Furious” spin-off, it may struggle to match the $30 million domestic opening of his previous film, “Bullet Train,” which had a lower production cost of $40 million.
Releasing in the first weekend of May, “The Fall Guy” is also burdened with high expectations. This particular calendar slot has typically been reserved for blockbuster films, especially those from Marvel Studios. For instance, two years ago, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” debuted with a staggering $187 million, while last year, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” raked in $118 million. Originally, “Deadpool & Wolverine” was supposed to occupy this weekend, but production delays due to last year’s strikes forced a postponement.
Universal wasted no time in moving “The Fall Guy” to the newly vacant slot, strategically positioning it as a summer blockbuster. However, if the film fails to open with earnings below $30 million, it may not live up to its blockbuster status. Despite positive reviews and favorable feedback from early ticket buyers, as indicated by Cinema Score’s “A-” grade, the North American theatrical industry is already facing a revenue decline of nearly 20% compared to last year. This less-than-promising start to the busiest season for exhibitors is not a good sign.
Riding on the popularity of the 80s TV series, “The Fall Guy,” Gosling takes on the role of a daredevil stuntman. In this action-packed film, he joins forces with his ex-lover, played by Blunt, who is now a director. Together, they set out to uncover a mysterious conspiracy surrounding the vanishing of a renowned movie star, portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Joining the star-studded cast are Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke, Stephanie Hsu, and Teresa Palmer.
How ‘The Fall Guy’ Scored Taylor Swift and Kiss for its Soundtrack — and the Alanis Morissette Karaoke Moment That Didn’t Make the Final Cut
Sony is set to release the horror film “Tarot” this weekend in 3,104 locations. The film, produced by Screen Gems, has already earned $2.5 million from Friday and preview screenings, and is projected to secure a fourth-place finish. Despite receiving negative reviews and a “C-” grade on Cinema Score, “Tarot” is still attracting younger audiences, thanks to its PG-13 rating and $8 million production budget.
America’s love for Gungans and droids is still going strong, as evidenced by Disney’s 25th anniversary re-release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.” The film is expected to secure a third-place finish for the weekend, having already earned $2.4 million on Friday from 2,700 locations. It’s worth noting that today is “Star Wars” day, so may the fourth be with you. Interestingly, “The Phantom Menace” is outperforming the re-release of “Return of the Jedi” from a year ago, which only managed to earn $4.6 million in its first three-day frame.
In the second spot, Amazon MGM’s “Challengers” continues to perform well in its second week. The tennis drama, which revolves around a love triangle, earned $2.5 million on Friday, representing a 59% decline from its opening day. It is expected that the film starring Zendaya will reach a domestic total of over $30 million by Sunday.
In its sixth weekend, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” from Legendary Entertainment secures fifth place. The film continues to perform well, adding another $4.2 million to its domestic box office total, which now stands at an impressive $187 million. With this strong performance, it is expected to surpass Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” and become the second-highest grossing North American release of the year.
Ryan Gosling is still haunted by a dance move that ended up becoming the iconic poster for the movie ‘La La Land’. In a recent interview, the actor expressed his desire for a do-over, stating that the move killed the energy of the film.
