The box office saw lackluster results over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and Donald Trump’s inauguration. Mufasa: The Lion King led the charts but failed to generate significant revenue.
My review for #WolfMan: "An allegory for disease that strips away physical and mental health, Wolf Man is also a family drama, a love story of a sort and a monster movie that never lets go of its humanity." Read the review here: https://t.co/1fVVSnU2VH pic.twitter.com/rz6N4WPhKR
— Richard Crouse (@RichardCrouse) January 17, 2025
@Gaming__Rock Don't panic. Or do. Wolf Man is now playing in theaters
Get tickets: https://t.co/fcdwwfSbIx Reply #unsubscribe to opt-out. pic.twitter.com/O5PFVbKOne
— Blumhouse (@blumhouse) January 17, 2025
This marks the second lowest MLK weekend in the past decade, discounting the pandemic year of 2021, when theaters were closed. Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King topped the box office with a modest $16 million over the four-day weekend, the lowest performance for a No.1 film over the MLK weekend since 1997, when “Beverly Hills Ninja” opened to $12.2 million. Sony’s R-rated comedy “One of Them Days” secured the second spot, grossing over $12 million in its opening weekend.
New for IndieWire, my conversation with Leigh Whannell about writing and directing the @blumhouse WOLF MAN: https://t.co/Uh21cuciuf
— Jim Hemphill (@JimmyHemphill) January 16, 2025
Despite receiving an A- CinemaScore and an 84% positive rating on PostTrak, the film’s performance did not meet higher expectations.
Blumhouse horror struggles at the box office
Blumhouse/Universal’s horror film had a weak showing. It struggled to capture significant audience interest.
‘Wolf Man’ Review: Leigh Whannell’s Reboot Tears a Somber Path Through Werewolf Lore https://t.co/py4mNqo9s3
— Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) January 16, 2025
Mixed word-of-mouth and lackluster reviews impacted its performance. The MLK 4-day weekend has the potential to be a box office powerhouse. Past triumphs include “Bad Boys for Life” in 2020 and “American Sniper” in 2015.
However, this year’s underwhelming lineup of films failed to ignite the same level of audience enthusiasm. Limited attraction and a lack of highly anticipated releases contributed to the disappointing weekend figures. In a period typically known for strong box office returns, this year’s MLK weekend has instead highlighted the industry’s ongoing struggle.
The industry is trying to recover from pandemic-era disruptions and shifts in consumer behavior. The future hope rests on upcoming releases and the ability of studios to generate compelling content that drives moviegoers back to theaters.