The weekend box office saw some surprising results, with Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice clinging to the top spot for a third consecutive weekend. Despite facing stiff competition from Transformers One, the animated prequel to the iconic Transformers franchise, Burton's spooky sequel edged out its rivals, earning $26M over the weekend. This brings its domestic haul to an impressive $220M, although international audiences have been less receptive, with just $85M from global markets. The film, made on a $90M budget, has more than recouped its costs, proving once again that Burton's signature gothic humor strikes a chord with American audiences.
In contrast, Transformers One opened with a disappointing $25M, far below its projected $35M–$40M range. After a promising $3.5M in Thursday previews, the film's performance sputtered, failing to meet expectations. With a production budget of $75M, this underperformance raises concerns about the film's ability to break even. While Transformers movies have traditionally been box-office juggernauts, this prequel didn't generate the buzz the studio had hoped for.
Adding to the weekend's letdowns was Alexandre Aja's Never Let Go, starring Halle Berry, which grossed a meager $4M against its $20M budget. The thriller failed to capture audiences, deepening Lionsgate's struggles after a tough year with films like Borderlands and The Crow.
Next weekend's lineup, including The Wild Robot, could shake things up. Tracking at around $30M, it could be the one to finally knock “The Juice” from the top spot. Until then, Tim Burton's dark and whimsical world reigns supreme.
