Not only is Godzilla king of the monsters, but he’s poised to be king of the box office this weekend after roaring his way to a solid $6.3 million from Thursday night preview showings. This total is a bit under the $9.3 million of the last movie from 2014, which then opened to $93 million, but represents a leap over the $3.7 million total for KONG: SKULL ISLAND in 2017, which went on to open to $61 million.
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Current projections have the movie easily winning the weekend, poised to rake in anywhere between $50-55 million. While it’s Thursday total comes between the last two entries in Warner Bros.’ monster movie universe, this would give it the lowest opening weekend of the three. Though Godzilla has the name brand going for it, it still has competition from Disney’s latest hit, ALADDIN, Paramount’s rock biopic ROCKETMAN, and Blumhouse’s new thriller, MA.
As for the new releases, ROCKETMAN pulled in about $2.3 million from Thursday shows, which comes in below another rock ‘n’ roll biopic, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, which made $3.9 million before a $51 million weekend. Considering it’s going up against some heavy hitters this weekend, ROCKETMAN’s weekend prospects have been hard to pin down. Modest projections have it around the $20-25 million range, while others go as high as $35-40 million, thinking it will do well with audiences who are looking for more than chaotic summer action and family movies. Reviews have also been kind, as it sits with a terrific 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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KING OF THE MONSTERS is the direct sequel to the 2014 monster mash, which despite opening very well dropped significantly in later weekends due to poor audience word of mouth and other big blockbuster releases. KOTM hopes to have a better hold with the action level upped and greater teases of the impending GODZILLA VS. KONG in March. The new movie stars Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ken Watanabe, Thomas Middleditch, Sally Hawkins, Zhang Ziyi and Charles Dance.
Having seen the movie last night I can testify to the fact that this movie should have no trouble winning the weekend, what with all the monster action it indeed delivers on. Now, can I say it will win over any new fans or anyone who was not down with the last movie? Probably not. While the effects and chaos are dialed way up the same problems still persist, and chances are you're already firmly in one camp or another. Still…monster fights!
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, ROCKETMAN and MA are all in theaters today.