Do you think noisemakers and confetti poppers work underwater? I certainly hope so, because as of Tuesday, January 1st, James Wan's AQUAMAN achieved a $200 million domestic milestone and then some. On New Year's Day, Warner Bros. and DC's oceanic adventure netted a total of $16.8 million, which brings the North American total for the Jason Momoa and Amber Heard-starrer to $216.3 million for a grand total of almost $800 million worldwide. With these impressive totals now confirmed, AQUAMAN stands as the fourth best New Year's Day earner behind STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS ($34 million), James Cameron's AVATAR ($25 million), and MEET THE FOCKERS ($18 million).
AQUAMAN's latest numbers have the bombastic brine-covered blockbuster earning nearly $100 million more than Disney's MARRY POPPINS RETURNS, which held onto the holiday weekend's No. 2 slot with $8.6 million earned for a domestic total of $114.5 million to date. The fanciful Disney sequel has already hit the $100 million mark domestically, resulting in $200 million earned at the global box office. While some might find those numbers to be a bit light for Disney's latest live-action extravaganza, the studio hopes that MARY POPPINS RETURNS will enjoy a long residency in theaters, all while picking up dollars like so many items strewn about an untidy English manor.
Meanwhile, Paramount's BUMBLEBEE celebrated New Year's Day by adding $7 million to its domestic gas tank, which has made $90 million globally, so far. While reviews for the film have been mostly positive, some would argue that the TRANSFORMERS spinoff was run off the road by films like AQUAMAN and MARY POPPINS RETURNS. You've heard the saying that "timing is everything," correct? I suppose that this would prove true for BUMBLEBEE, which despite being helmed by Laika Studios creative Travis Knight, would have faired better if released at another time.
AQUAMAN, starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Jason Patrick, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, Ludi Lin, Micheal Beach, Randall Park, and Julie Andrews is hauling dollars in like crazy at the box office right now. Contribute to its coffers by checking the movie out at a theater near you today.