Magic Mirror, Who's the Box Office King? Jason Statham, Apparently.
Disney might have hoped for a fairy tale ending, but this weekend's box office proved that audiences are looking for something grittier. ‘A Working Man,' starring Jason Statham, debuted with $15.2 million, outpacing the struggling ‘Snow White,' which fell to second place with a steep 70% drop and $14.2 million in its second weekend.
That's right. A $40 million, R-rated Statham action flick just body-slammed a $270 million Disney remake. Let that sink in.
The Statham Effect: No Frills, Just Fists
‘A Working Man' reunites Statham with director David Ayer, the man behind ‘The Beekeeper.' Like its predecessor, the film banks entirely on Statham's brand of no-nonsense action, proving that his loyal audience will show up regardless of IP attachments. This opening weekend is right in line with ‘The Beekeeper,' signaling that mid-budget action films still have a fighting chance—if the right star is attached.
Meanwhile, ‘Snow White' is turning into one of Disney's biggest financial misfires in years. The studio's strategy of remaking animated classics is starting to show serious cracks, and this latest stumble might finally make execs rethink the formula. Or, at the very least, reconsider their casting choices.
The Rest of the Pack: Faith-Based Surprises and Horror Stumbles
Coming in third was an unexpected contender: ‘The Chosen: The Last Supper,' which pulled a solid $11.5 million. Part of an experimental Amazon MGM Studios deal, this faith-based film's success highlights the growing trend of niche markets thriving in theatrical releases.
Blumhouse's latest horror effort, ‘The Woman in the Yard,' crept into fourth place with $9.4 million—a respectable number, but below the usual double-digit debut the studio is known for. Meanwhile, ‘Death of a Unicorn,' despite starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, floundered with just $5.8 million, proving that a great cast isn't always enough to lure audiences.
Box Office Nostalgia: Miyazaki and the IMAX Effect
One of the weekend's more delightful surprises was Hayao Miyazaki's ‘Princess Mononoke,' which raked in $3.5 million thanks to its stunning new 4K IMAX transfer. It's a testament to the staying power of Studio Ghibli—and perhaps a quiet rebellion against AI-generated animation attempts.
Rounding out the top 10 were films like Steven Soderbergh's ‘Black Bag,' Bong Joon Ho's ‘Mickey 17,' and the Jack Quaid-led action flick ‘Novocaine.' None made major waves, but each carved out its own niche audience.
What's Next? The Minecraft Takeover
Next weekend promises a shake-up, with ‘A Minecraft Movie' tracking for a major debut. Also on the horizon: ‘Freaky Tales' with Pedro Pascal, Finn Wolfhard's horror-comedy ‘Hell of a Summer,' and Michael Shannon's directorial debut ‘Eric Laure.'
Will Jason Statham hold his ground, or will pixelated nostalgia steal the throne? We'll find out soon enough.
What did you see this weekend? Sound off in the comments!
