Marvel Studios' latest movie, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" saw a sharp decline of 69.8% in ticket sales from its opening weekend to its second weekend, the largest drop in the franchise's history. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, fans gave it an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Box office analysts attribute this drop in sales to the fact that theaters are charging more for opening weekend tickets than subsequent days, as well as an increase in counter-programming from other studios.
Universal's "Cocaine Bear" earned over $23 million in its opening weekend, while Lionsgate's "Jesus Revolution" amassed $15.5 million. These films catered to different audiences, demonstrating the public's desire for a diverse selection of films.
Chief analyst at BoxOffice.com, Shawn Robbins, commented that the decline in ticket sales for "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" is not surprising, as Marvel films have been more heavily frontloaded in recent years. He also noted that this does not mean the franchise is in any trouble, as other Marvel films have seen similar drops in their second weeks but went on to amass huge global ticket sales.
Senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations, Jeff Bock, said that Universal's Snark Universe is alive and well, and that the success of "Cocaine Bear" and other R-rated films shows that audiences are eager for something out of the ordinary. Senior media analyst at Comscore, Paul Dergarabedian, echoed Bock's sentiment, noting that this weekend's box office performance illustrates the demand for movies of all types.