The Haunted Mansion’s box office previews deliver a disappointing debut, while Barbie and Oppenheimer maintain their dominance at the cinemas.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion box office scares up a humdrum debut as Barbie and Oppenheimer continue to dominate cinemas.
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Whose idea was it for several of the summer’s most significant blockbusters to play in theaters simultaneously? Competition is fierce as audiences try to beat the muggy summer heat at cinemas, with films like Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Haunted Mansion occupying screens.
Despite the film’s aggressive PR campaign, Disney‘s Haunted Mansion only scared up $3.1M at the box office in Preview Screenings. The family-friendly comedy inspired by Disney’s world-famous theme park attraction began previews on Wednesday with Dolby Access Screenings at 7 p.m. followed by national previews at 3 p.m. yesterday, earning $3.1M. Analysts predict a $30M launch for Disney’s spooky live-action romp, but if Barbie continues to sell tickets like hotcakes, the ghosts of Phantom Manor could be in for a restless eternal slumber.
Meanwhile, people still see pink as Barbie continues to sing and dance her way to the top of the box office charts. Greta Gerwig’s meta-comedy earned $21.2M on Thursday, ending its first week with $258.3M. Barbie brings audiences from multiple demographics to the theater, with many being surprised and delighted by Gerwig’s stylish depiction of Barbie World.
Oppenheimer is also making headlines with $10M in Thursday earnings, bringing its first-week total to $127.8M. It’s an impressive hold in the face of the overwhelming power of Barbie, which could gross $70M in its second weekend.
Directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People) from a screenplay by Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters), the film has the following synopsis: In this mysterious adventure, a doctor (Dawson) and her 9-year-old son (Dillon) looking to start a new life, move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans, only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for. Desperate for help, they contact a priest (Wilson), who, in turn, enlists the aid of a widowed scientist-turned-failed-paranormal expert (Stanfield), a French Quarter psychic (Haddish), and a crotchety historian (DeVito).
Disney’s Haunted Mansion opened in 1969 after years of toil and compromise for the frightful yet funny theme park experience. The premise for the ride involves guests of the park going inside a spooky manor where they encounter ghosts, ghouls, and other members of the undead community. As you venture through the estate, the building warps and changes its appearance several times. The experience eventually ends with an unforgettable ghostly encounter that makes you think ghosts follow you back to your hotel.
What do you plan to see Haunted Mansion this weekend? If the film fails to perform well, will Disney lose faith in making movies about its famous theme park attractions? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
