Universal’s new release, “Him,” debuted in second place at the domestic box office on Friday, trailing just behind last weekend’s anime sensation, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle.” Meanwhile, Sony’s cosmic romance adventure, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” has struggled to find its footing, launching outside the top five in a disappointing theatrical performance.
“Him” garnered approximately $6.47 million on its opening day, which includes $2 million from preview screenings across 3,168 locations in North America. The film is also sharing premium large format auditoriums, including Imax, with “Demon Slayer,” benefiting from higher ticket prices. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, this Faustian football tale is now projected to achieve a $15 million opening weekend. While this falls short of initial expectations exceeding $18 million, it’s still a reasonable outcome given its $27 million production budget.
Despite the film’s reasonable financial prospects, the buzz surrounding “Him” has been largely negative. Critics have given the film unfavorable reviews, and audience reactions are not much better, with Cinema Score reporting a dismal C- grade from early viewers. Given that horror films often elicit mixed responses, such a rating raises concerns about the film’s potential for strong box office longevity. Next weekend, “Him” will face competition from Lionsgate’s “The Strangers – Chapter 2,” which could further affect its performance.
In stark contrast, Sony’s “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” managed to gather only $1.4 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,330 locations. This R-rated original fantasy, featuring stars Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, is unlikely to exceed half of its pre-weekend projections of $8 million. With a budget of $45 million for global rights, the film seems poised to struggle in theaters, especially given its lukewarm reception and negative reviews.
Despite Sony’s gamble on originality, the film has failed to resonate with audiences. Originally a Black List script, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” was directed by Kogonada in his first wide release effort. However, it has received largely negative reviews, with audiences giving it a B- grade from Cinema Score. Its theatrical run appears to be short-lived.
On the other hand, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” continues to dominate the box office, bringing in $4.56 million on Friday and is projected for a $16.3 million sophomore weekend. This would mark a significant 77% drop from its opening weekend. The film is set to cross the $100 million mark domestically this weekend, achieving a remarkable milestone as only the 15th film of 2025 to reach this figure. Notably, it recently surpassed “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” to become the highest-grossing anime movie in North America.
Warner Bros. is expected to secure third place with “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” which collected $3.7 million on Friday, bringing its domestic total to $141.9 million. Following closely is Lionsgate’s “The Long Walk,” which earned $1.8 million on Friday, projecting a second weekend total of $6.3 million.
Focus Features’ “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” also performed well, bringing in $1.9 million on Friday, although it is projected for a 66% drop in its second weekend. Meanwhile, Angel Studios debuted “The Senior,” starring Michael Chiklis, which earned $1.25 million across Friday and preview screenings, eyeing a seventh-place finish.
This weekend’s box office shows a clear divide between films that have captured audience interest and those struggling to find their footing. With “Demon Slayer” leading the pack and “Him” and “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” facing significant challenges, the landscape of theatrical releases remains dynamic and unpredictable.
