This weekend, Disney's re-release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is set to shake up the box office charts, having already generated an impressive $3.4 million during its preview screenings last night. This limited one-week engagement has sparked considerable interest, despite minimal promotional efforts primarily focused on in-theater marketing. Industry insiders speculate that the film could earn over $20 million during its opening weekend.
The success of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith raises questions about the performance of Amazon MGM Studios' The Accountant 2, which recently garnered $2.5 million from all previews, including a special screening on April 15, coinciding with Tax Day. This sequel is also projected to open with earnings exceeding $20 million. With both films vying for top positions, will The Accountant 2 be pushed out of the No. 2 spot?
In terms of preview performance, The Accountant 2 is compared to films like Den of Thieves 2, which earned $1.5 million, and The Beekeeper starring Jason Statham, which saw $2.4 million strictly from Thursday night showtimes. For context, the original Accountant released in 2016 earned $1.35 million in previews before achieving a $9 million Friday and a total of $24.7 million over its opening weekend.
As of now, The Accountant 2 boasts a Rotten Tomatoes score of 76% certified fresh, with an impressive 92% popcorn score. This film, produced at a cost of $80 million, stands at a higher budget than typical action films such as Den of Thieves 2 and The Beekeeper, which were each made for about $40 million before marketing expenses.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has seen success with Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, which brought in $6 million yesterday, finishing its first week with a total of $77.5 million. This figure surpasses the first-week earnings of The Conjuring ($61.7 million) and significantly exceeds those of Get Out ($49.8 million).
In addition, Trafalgar with Sony Music Vision is presenting the re-release of Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, which opened in 2,550 theaters across 64 countries. In North America alone, the concert film earned $1.29 million from 654 locations last night.
Screen Gems is also in the mix with their R-rated horror film, Until Dawn, which racked up $1 million in Thursday night previews starting at 4 PM across 2,630 locations. Directed by David F. Sandberg—known for his work on the Shazam! franchise and Annabelle: Creation—this film is projected to earn between $8 million and $9 million from a production budget of $15 million. Although reviews for Until Dawn are lukewarm, with a score of 62% fresh, it remains a noteworthy contender in the current box office landscape.
