This past weekend at North American movie theaters was relatively quiet, with Sony's "The Garfield Movie" taking the top spot once again. The animated film earned $14 million in ticket sales, maintaining its lead over Warner Bros.' "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," which settled into third place in a close race with "IF." Both "IF" and "Furiosa" were estimated to have earned $10.8 million, with "IF" getting a slight edge.
"The Garfield Movie" saw a 42% drop in its second weekend in North America but still managed to top the global box office, bringing its worldwide total to $152.2 million. On the other hand, "Furiosa" experienced a 59% decline in ticket sales, adding just under $10.8 million from domestic locations.
Several new releases opened on over 1,000 screens, including Sony/Crunchyroll's anime "Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle," IFC's horror film "In a Violent Nature," Roadside Attractions' comedy "Summer Camp," and Bleecker Street's drama "Ezra." However, none of these films cracked the top five.
Despite the success of individual films, the 2024 box office is struggling compared to previous years, with a 23.9% decrease from last year and a 42.2% decline from 2019. Industry experts like Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, remain optimistic about the potential for a turnaround in the summer months.
Looking ahead, big releases like "Inside Out 2," projected to open to over $85 million, could help boost box office numbers and set the industry back on track. While superhero movies continue to be popular, family-oriented films like "IF" and "The Garfield Movie" have shown staying power and resonated with audiences. As the summer movie season unfolds, industry professionals are hopeful for a resurgence in box office performance.