In a surprising turn of events, the action movie “A Working Man” featuring Jason Statham has taken the top spot at the box office, outperforming the anticipated frontrunner, “Snow White,” which is experiencing a sharp decline in viewership. Despite a lackluster opening, Disney’s live-action adaptation of the classic tale was projected to maintain its leading position in theaters across the United States and Canada. However, following a wave of negative reviews and controversy, “Snow White” saw a dramatic 66% drop in its second weekend.
On the other hand, “A Working Man,” a production from Amazon MGM Studios and directed by David Ayer, surpassed expectations by debuting with $15.2 million in earnings. Co-written by Sylvester Stallone, this film reunites Statham and Ayer after their previous success with “The Beekeeper,” which grossed $162 million globally. This time, Statham takes on the role of a construction worker with a military background.
While opinions on “A Working Man” vary, with the movie earning a “B” CinemaScore from audiences, it highlights Statham’s continued appeal and bankability in the industry. The movie’s opening is similar to “The Beekeeper,” which launched with a $16.5 million debut.
The more significant story may be the swift loss of audience interest in “Snow White.” Directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler, the film was expected to rejuvenate theaters after a slow start to the year. Despite its hefty production budget exceeding $250 million, the film has only amassed $143.1 million globally over two weeks.
Looking ahead, Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie” is anticipated to claim next weekend’s top spot, targeting the family demographic similarly to “Snow White.”
Additionally, three new films premiered over the weekend but failed to make a substantial impact. Among them, “The Chosen: The Last Supper” performed best, earning $11.5 million across 2,235 theaters. This installment of the Christian TV series continues to capture audiences before streaming its latest season.
A24’s “Death of a Unicorn,” a horror comedy featuring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd, generated $5.8 million from 3,050 theaters. The film tells the story of a father and daughter who encounter a unicorn on their travels.
Blumhouse’s “The Woman in the Yard,” with Danielle Deadwyler starring, opened with $9.4 million from 2,842 cinemas. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film centers on a mysterious woman appearing in a family’s yard. Despite its modest $12 million production budget, the film faced negative reviews.
A notable success from the weekend was the 1997 Studio Ghibli classic “Princess Mononoke.” This Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece grossed $4 million across just 347 IMAX screens. The re-release has been described as a testament to humanity’s triumph over technology.
Meanwhile, “The Penguin Lesson,” a Sony Pictures Classic, featuring Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce, opened with $1.2 million in 1,017 theaters. The film follows Coogan’s character, an Englishman teaching in Argentina in 1976, as he rescues a penguin from an oil spill.
As the film industry enters the first quarter of 2025, Hollywood is grappling with a noticeable box-office slump, with sales down 11% compared to the same period in 2024 and nearly 40% lower than in 2019. With the hope that “Minecraft” can revitalize the market, analysts are calling for a resurgence in theater attendance after a series of underwhelming box office weekends.
Top 10 movies by domestic earnings:
The following list, with final domestic figures due soon, reflects estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:
1. “A Working Man,” $15.2 million
2. “Snow White,” $14.2 million
3. “The Chosen: Last Supper,” $11.5 million
4. “The Woman in the Yard,” $9.5 million
5. “Death of a Unicorn,” $5.8 million
6. “Princess Mononoke,” $4 million
7. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $2.8 million
8. “Black Bag,” $2.2 million
9. “Mickey 17,” $1.9 million
10. “Novocaine,” $1.5 million