The Christmas Eve box office demonstrated a mixed bag of results this year, bringing in $25 million, which reflects a 19% decrease from Monday’s impressive collection of $30.9 million. However, shining through this dip is the fact that this year’s figures outperformed last year’s Christmas Eve collection by a notable 34%, which stood at only $18.6 million on a Sunday—a day that is typically perilous for cinema attendance. The holiday season is gearing up for increased activity, with forecasts predicting surging ticket sales over the coming week.
One of the most notable entries to the box office is the new James Mangold-directed biopic about Bob Dylan, titled *A Complete Unknown*. The film kicked off its preview screenings with a promising $1.4 million at 2,835 locations, including Imax theaters, and on track to achieve a solid 5-day opening of $15 million. Interestingly, the preview data also accounts for early showings at Alamo Drafthouse cinemas, providing a somewhat skewed but optimistic outlook for the film’s overall performance.
Critics and audiences alike are responding positively to *A Complete Unknown*, with a remarkable 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This biographical film, which carries a hefty production budget of between $60 million to $70 million, aims to recoup costs by capitalizing on the post-strike moviegoing excitement during the holiday season.
When considering its competition, *A Complete Unknown* finds itself in a relatively favorable landscape compared to previous music biopics. For context, Paramount’s *Rocketman* grossed approximately $2.3 million in previews in May 2019, leading to a final opening weekend of $25.7 million. Similarly, Warner Bros.’ *Elvis* enjoyed a $3.5 million preview debut in June 2022, culminating in a $31.2 million opening. The early figures for Mangold’s film suggest that it could be positioned well within this context despite its unique release conditions.
As for the day’s cinematic leaders, Paramount’s *Sonic the Hedgehog 3* took the top spot with a notable $7.5 million, totaling $77.6 million in its first week. Disney’s *Mufasa* closely followed, raking in $7.1 million, bringing its first-week total to $49.6 million. Other contenders in the lineup include Universal’s *Wicked*, which garnered $3.2 million, and Disney’s *Moana 2*, which brought in $3 million.
The performance of *Gladiator II* hovers around $955,000, with a cumulative total of $156.1 million over five weeks—though its numbers seem to reflect a gradual decline. The evolving landscape of the holiday box office continues to be dynamic, underpinning the importance of audience preferences in shaping the success of competing films.
With the initial figures released, additional updates from titles like Amazon MGM’s *The Fire Inside* and A24’s *Babygirl* are anticipated. It appears that while some films may struggle to capture significant earnings, others are poised for breakout performances, embodying the ever-changing nature of the film industry in a season ripe with opportunities.