With ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Leading Box Office, Gerard Butler Returns to Save the Day

Gerard Butler proved himself to be one of the most dependable action release draws with “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” (Lionsgate). A little ahead of expectations, it opened at number one with $15,5 million and took the lead in “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Disney).

Early in the year, it’s good to see a routine sequel surpassing expectations. It was marginally better than the first one, which debuted in January 2018 (at maybe 20% cheaper ticket prices). With enough word-of-mouth, the first movie tripled its first weekend’s earnings and made $45 million; the $40 million sequel has a chance to do the same.

The 2018 movie was a three for its weekend, though. Two new films that came out this weekend last year were “Mean Girls” and “The Beekeeper,” both of which did better financially than “Pantera.”. “.”.

The calendar plays a big role. Many years, including 2023, the second weekend in January falls before the four-day Martin Luther King Birthday holiday, which promotes the first wave of big releases (such as Universal’s “Wolf Man” next week).

Additionally, the Oscar nominations are scheduled for next weekend. Due to the terrible and ongoing fires in Los Angeles, the event that was originally scheduled for January 17 has been postponed to January 19. This also throws off the plans of numerous distributors who hope to profit from anticipated nods. A number of candidates have already grown this week. The best-performing film is, predictably, “The Brutalist” (A24), which barely missed the top 10 in just 66 theaters. It made close to $10.4 million, with over $20,000 per theater.

The weekend brings in roughly $77 million, which is 23 percent less than the previous year. However, due to strong holiday holdovers, 2025 is 22 percent more than 2024. Aside from “Musafa,” these include “Moana 2” (Disney) 5 adding another $6.5 million, “Nosferatu” (Focus) 4 with $6.8 million, and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” (Paramount) 3 with $11 million. Overall, the late-year output was impressive, with seven films—including “Wicked” (Universal) and “Moana 2″—generating over $400 million. That compensates for many of the shortcomings of recent releases.

In its third weekend, “Nosferatu,” which is currently at an unexpected $81 million, dropped 48%, which is a respectable hold for a horror film. Two other luxury releases on December 25th fared better. Six “A Complete Unknown” (Searchlight) has made $5 million, or 39% of the $50 million total. “8 “Babygirl” (A24) dropped just 31%, totaling $31 million and $21 million.

Included in the top 10 this week are the Telugu-language Indian film “Game Changer” (Shloka), which has made $1.09 million in 800 theaters, and “The Last Showgirl” (Roadside Attractions), which came in at number ten with $1,533,000 in 870. Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis received SAG nominations shortly after the latter’s premiere, which helped the drama with a budget of less than $2 million. It is among the movies hoping to win more Oscars.

Several other movies positioned themselves to benefit from the awards this weekend. With Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a rare triple best actress winner from the New York/Los Angeles/National Society of Film Critics, Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths” (Bleecker Street) had a modest beginning with $166,000 in 22 theaters. The Amazon MGM film “Nickel Boys,” which may receive a big boost in the future, was shown in 26 theaters.

Weak expansions were seen in two Paramount platform releases. In 20 years, “September 5” made $60,000. “Better Man” only made $1.05 million in 1,587. In its initial widespread release, Pedro Almodovar’s “The Room Next Door” brought in $256,000. With the addition of $303,000 and the doubling of its theaters, “Flow” (Janus/Sideshow), which is receiving significant award attention, has now surpassed $3 million.

“Extremely Unique Dynamic” (Strand) debuted to an astounding $37,000 at the Laemmle NoHo 7, which is not a typical platform location, despite the fires in Los Angeles. This self-described microbudget Meta-Asian-stoner-coming-of-age-bromantic dramedy about two friends trying to make a movie clicked thanks to amazing grassroots and creative marketing that targeted Asian-American and gay audiences. It’s the best weekend gross the theater has ever had.

The Top 10.

1. Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 59; Est. for Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (Lionsgate). spending plan: $40 million.

$15,500,000 across 3,003 theaters; average PTA per theater: $5,153; total: $15,500,000.

2. Week 4 of Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney): Final Weekend 1.

$13,200,000 in 3,620 (-305) theaters (-44 percent); PTA: $3,646; total: $188,777,000.

3. . Last weekend 2 of Week 4 of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount).

In 3,582 (-164) theaters, $11,000,000 (-48 percent); PTA: $; total: $204,515,000.

4. . Week 3 of Nosferatu (Focus); final weekend 3.

In 3,082 (-50) theaters, $6,800,000 (-48 percent); PTA: $2,206; total: $81,807,000.

5. Week 7 of Disney’s Moana 2: Final Weekend 4.

$6,500,000 (-48%) in 3,170 (-175) theaters; cumulative: $434,855,000; PTA: $2,050.

6. Week 3: A Complete Unknown (Searchlight); Final Weekend 6.

In 2,815 (-20) theaters, $5,000,000 (-39 percent); PTA: $1,776; total: $50,848,000.

7. . Last weekend was the fifth week of Wicked (Universal), which is also available on PVOD.

$2,967 (-120) theaters; PTA: $1,685; total: $458,900,000. $5,000,000 (-50 percent).

8. . Week 3 of Babygirl (A24): Last Weekend 7.

In 1,887 (-277) theaters, $3,098,000 (-31 percent); PTA: $1,642; total: $21,738,000.

9. . Est. Game Changer (Shloka) NEW. The budget is $5 million.

$1,895,000 in 800 theaters; $2,394 for the PTA; $1,895,000 overall.

Ten. Roadside Attractions: The Last Showgirl (New) Metacritic: 66; Est. $2,000,000 is the budget.

$870 theaters; PTA: $1,762; total: $1,533,000.

“Hard Truths”.

other independent/specialized titles.

Starting with the ones that opened this week, movies (limited and expanded versions of limited) are arranged by week of release; only movies with gross receipts exceeding $5,000 are listed beyond the first three weeks. Initial film festivals and metacritic scores are documented when they are accessible.

AVAILABILITY (platform).

Metacritic: 88 for Hard Truths (Bleecker Street) NEW; upcoming festivals include Toronto and New York in 2024.

In 22 theaters, $165,625; PTA: $7,528.

Exceptionally Original Dynamic (Strand) NEW: Sonoma 2024 is one of the festivals.

PTA: $37,000; $37,000 in one theater.

Hazard (RBL/Emphatic) NEW: Woodstock 2024 is one of the festivals.

In 24 theaters, $27,600; PTA: $1,150.

leftovers.

First Week of The Damned (Vertical).

A total of $1,255,000; PTA: $330; 563 (-169) theaters: $186,000.

Amazon MGM’s “The Fire Inside” Week 3.

$307,998 in 1,010 (-1,022) theaters; PTA: $301; total: $7,861,000.

Better Man Week 3 (Paramount).

In 1,587 (+1,581) theaters, $1,050,000; cumulative: $1,150,000; PTA: $.

Week 3 of Vermiglio (Sideshow/Janus).

Total: $69,691; PTA: $1,563; 19+16 theaters: $29,700.

Week Four of The Brutalist (A24).

$1,388,000 across 66+58 theaters; cumulative: $2,742,000; PTA: $20,408.

Week 4 of The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics).

In 44+38 theaters, $255,985; total: $598,714.

Week 4 of The Count of Monte Cristo (Goldwyn).

In 93 theaters, $105,000 (no change); total: $445,325.

Fifth Week of Nickel Boys (MGM Amazon).

$112,219 in 26+8 theaters; $578,297 total.

Week 5: September 5 (Paramount).

$60,000 in 20+7 theaters; $374,000 total.

Week 7: The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon).

$31,000 across 19 (-1) theaters; total: $363,442.

Week 8 of Flow (Janus/Sideshow); also available on PVOD.

$3003,400 in 200+73 theaters; $3,008,000 total.

Week 9 of All We Imagine as Light (Janus/Sideshow).

$52,600 across 51+7 theaters; total: $843,861.

Week Eleven of A Real Pain (Searchlight); also available on PVOD.

$8,029,000 total; $118,000 in 70 (-35) theaters.

Week 12 of Conclave (Focus); available on PVOD and streaming as well.

$60,000 in 68+12 theaters; $31,504,000 total.

Week 13 of Anora (Neon); also on PVOD.

$14,554,000 total; $90,000 in 111+6 theaters.