As the dust settles on another weekend of cinematic battles, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ emerges victorious atop the box office charts for the second successive week. The musical biopic, with its harmonic blend of culture, history, and melody, continues to enchant audiences worldwide, firmly holding its No. 1 spot against an onslaught of newcomers.
Starring the talented Kingsley Ben-Adir and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the Paramount film sings the story of reggae legend Bob Marley during the creation of his influential 1977 album, ‘Exodus,’ and the lead-up to his poignant homecoming concert in Jamaica. Astoundingly, the film pulled in a robust $13.5 million in domestic gross across North America this week, swiftly surpassing its $70 million production budget with total earnings ramping up to an impressive $72 million.
The sound and spirit of Marley’s music, a cultural cornerstone, continue to resonate with people across all walks of life, something that Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, emphasizes. “Some of his greatest hits came out nearly 50 years ago, but his music still resonates through this film,” he observed, highlighting the timeless appeal of Bob Marley’s work.
Trailing ‘One Love’ by nearly $2 million, ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training’ sliced into second place. This latest installment from the fan-favorite Japanese anime series managed to debut at $11.7 million from Crunchyroll and Sony, achieving this feat with screenings in 1,949 locations, notably fewer than ‘One Love’s 3,597 and ‘Ordinary Angels’ 3,020. ‘Ordinary Angels,’ the faith-based drama starring Hilary Swank, graced third place with an estimated $6.5 million.
It’s worth noting that these robust performances come during a period devoid of blockbuster giants. Dergarabedian mentioned, “There might not be any huge blockbuster films recently, but there some real gems out there for moviegoers to see.”
One film that seems to be struggling to capture the attention it anticipated is Marvel’s ‘Madame Web.’ Despite the star power of Dakota Johnson, this superhero spinoff has thus far failed to weave a web of success, amassing a slightly disappointing $35 million, with just $6 million from the weekend.
In a look at the remainder of the box office, ‘Migration’ glides into fifth after its 10th weekend, adding $3 million to a soaring $120 million domestic total. With ‘Argylle’ in sixth and ‘Wonka’ with Timothée Chalamet in seventh, ‘Drive-Away Dolls,’ ‘The Beekeeper,’ and the Christian series ‘The Chosen’ complete the weekend’s top ten.
However, the reign of ‘One Love’ may soon face a formidable challenger. Dune: Part Two’s impending release looms like a cinematic sandstorm over the tranquil box office landscape, with Dergarabedian predicting a significant stirring of the still waters. “It’s the calm before the sandstorm,” he anticipates.
As the figures settle, here are the estimated ticket sales according to Comscore for U.S. and Canadian theatres from Friday through Sunday:
1. Bob Marley: One Love, $13.5 million.
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training, $11.7 million.
3. Ordinary Angels, $6.5 million.
4. Madame Web, $6 million.
5. Migration, $3 million.
6. Argylle, $2.8 million.
7. Wonka, $2.5 million.
8. Drive-Away Dolls, $2.4 million.
9. The Beekeeper, $1.9 million.
10. The Chosen, Episodes 4-6, $1.7 million.
The box office battle field may be diverse, but ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the music legend, proving that a well-crafted biographical film can entrance audiences as much as the blockbuster spectacles. With Monday’s final numbers awaited, the industry holds its breath for a shakeup that only the sands of Arrakis could predictably stir.
