Source: Comscore
Special Thanks to Paul Dergarabedian

Comscore has announced the official Domestic and Global box office estimates for the weekend of December 24, 2023, as compiled by the company’s theatrical measurement services. As the trusted official standard for real-time worldwide box office reporting, Comscore provides the only theater-level reporting in the world. Customers are able to analyze admissions and gross results around the world using Comscore's suite of products.

GODZILLA MINUS ONE's North American run is winding down, with the film losing 637 screens this past week. The movie dropped to 9th place in the US box office, with a domestic total to date of $40.357.817. GODZILLA MINUS ONE has also dropped out of the Top 10 for international box office.

Please note this weekend’s overall total estimated 3-day Domestic box office is $94.6M and YTD 2023 (at $8.725B through Sunday) is up 21% vs. 2022.

Read on for the official reports from Comscore...

Comscore – Domestic Box Office Estimates – December 24, 2023, by Paul Dergarabedian 

Notable Domestic Openers: 

• In the top spot, Warner Bros.’ AQUAMAN AND THE LOST CITY opened in 3,706 locations to a 3-day weekend debut of $28.1 million with an expected $40.0 million for 4-days. The film earned $80.1 million internationally for a global debut of $120.1 million. Having failed to defeat Aquaman (Jason Momoa) the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. The film is directed by James Wan and also stars Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson & Temuera Morrison. 
• Opening in the 3^rd position, Universal’s release of Illumination Entertainment’s PG-rated family animated film MIGRATION opened domestically in 3,761 locations to a 3-day weekend debut of $12.31 million with an expected 4-day gross of $17.06 million. The film is now at $34.270 million globally. This new original film is a modern-day comedy following a family of ducks who convince their over-protective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime as they attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, and ultimately down to the Bahamas. The film is produced by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and directed by Oscar® nominee Benjamin Renner (Ernest et Célestine) with an original screenplay by Mike White (School of Rock, White Lotus). 
• Opening in the 4^th spot, Sony’s reports Columbia’s R-rated comedy ANYONE BUT YOU opened this weekend in 3,055 locations to a 3-day debut of $6.235 million with an expected 4-day gross of $8.8 – $9.0 million. In this edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold - until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple. The film is directed and co-written by Will Gluck 
• Rounding out the Top 5, Prathyangira Cinemas opened Indian cinema title SAALAR PART 1 – CEASEFIRE in 802 locations to a weekend debut of $5,481,000 with an expected $6,306,000 for the 4-day period. The action drama stars Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu and is directed by Prashanth Neel. 
• A24 opened THE IRON CLAW in 2,774 locations to a weekend debut of $5,059,776 with an expected $7,533,626 for the 4-days. The R-rated drama tells the true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports. The film stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Lily James, Harris Dickinson and is directed by Sean Durkin. 
• Yash Raj Films released Indian cinema title DUNKI in 686 theaters on Thursday and enjoyed a 3-day weekend debut of $2,712,811 with an expected $3,853,2269 for the 4-days for a domestic cume through Sunday of $3,590,286 and through Monday of $4,730,744. The film is a delightful collaboration between two of the most loved artists of our generation, SRK and Raju Hirani and this time they are all set to treat the audiences with another charming gem, full of heart and humor. Drawn from real-life experiences, The film is a saga of love and friendship that brings together these wildly disparate stories and provides hilarious and heart-breaking answers. 
• Searchlight opened ALL OF US STRANGERS in 4 theaters to a weekend debut of $132k with an expected $188k for the 4-days. The film is coming in with a $33,034 per screen average, one of the best of the season, and ahead of many other special award openings. Directed and written by Andrew Haigh the R-rated drama tells the story of Adam (Andrew Scott) who one night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before. 

 

 Notable Domestic Holdovers:

• In the second spot, Warner Bros.’ WONKA now in weekend 2 in 4,213 theaters took in $17.7 million for the 3-days with an expected $26.065 million for the 4-day period for a domestic cume through Sunday of $75,202,717 and an expected cume through Monday of $83.568 million. The worldwide cume to date is now at $254.9m (includes Monday estimates for the Domestic Holiday Weekend).The film is based on characters by Roald Dahl, inspired especially by one of Dahl's most beloved characters, Willy Wonka, and takes place before the events of “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory” and features an amazing cast including Timothée Chalamet in the title role, Rowan Atkinson, Tom Davis, Sally Hawkins, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman, Matt Lucas, Simon Farnaby, Keegan-Michael Key and is directed by Paul King. 
• Searchlight reports awards contender POOR THINGS now in weekend 3 expanded to 800 theaters and came in at $2.1M for the 3-day weekend, and $3.0M for the 4-day, for an estimated cume through Sunday of $5,050,219 and an estimated cume through Monday of $6.0 million. From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). 
• MGM reports AMERICAN FICTION expanded in weekend 2 to 40 locations (up 33) earning $418k for the weekend with an expected $556k for the 4-days and a domestic cume through Sunday of $740k and an expected cume through Monday of $878k. Starring Jeffrey Wright, the film is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who is fed up with the establishment profiting from 'Black' entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. 
• A24’s ZONE OF INTEREST now in weekend 2 in 6 theaters took in $89,931 for the 3-days and an expected $140,675 for 4-days and now has a domestic cume through Sunday of $300,232 and through Monday of $350,976. This historical drama tells the story of the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. The film stars Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Ralph Herforth, Freya Kreutzkam, Max Beck and is directed by Jonathan Glazer. 

 

IMAX Domestic/Global Highlights (Courtesy of IMAX)

• AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM rules over the IMAX Network, powering the 4-day holiday weekend to $16M of global IMAX box office. 
• 2023 now stands as IMAX’s highest grossing year EVER at the Domestic Box Office. 
• Warner Bros./DC’s AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM dives into 1,522 IMAX screens around the world, unearthing $14M of global IMAX box office for the 4-day holiday weekend.  North America earns $4.1M of IMAX box office including Christmas day, indexing at 10% of the overall total.  China uncovers $6M of IMAX box office, indexing at 17% of the Middle Kingdom’s total.  International markets outside of China contribute $3.9M of IMAX box office. 
• Toho’s SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE launches on 50 IMAX screens in Japan, capturing $825k of IMAX box office for the 4-day weekend. 
• In South Korea, Lotte’s NORYANG: THE SEA OF DEATH delivers $450k of IMAX box office from 21 screens in its debut, including Christmas day.  
• Hombale Films’ SALAAR opens to $225k of IMAX box office for the 4-day weekend from 50 IMAX screens in India and the Middle East. 
• Next week sees a trio of titles releasing on the IMAX Network in China: JOHNNY KEEP WALKING and SHINING FOR ONE THING both from Maoyan, and TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR distributed by Alibaba.  The rest of the world will continue to play AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM and WONKA.