Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers, starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, made $1.9M in previews, a figure $100K shy of what Universal’s Cocaine Bear did. The tennis sexy romcom is hoping to open to $15M for the weekend.
Critics love Challengers at 91% certified fresh, but last night’s audiences were so-so on it with three stars on Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak at 3 1/2 stars, 75% positive and a 56% definite recommend. Women over 25 at 35% came out as well as womn under 25 at 25%, but guys over 25 got pulled along as dates at 25% with men under 25 at 14%. It wasn’t Zendaya’s girl fans who liked the movie the most, but men over 25 at 80%. Overall best demo grades for Challengers came from the 25-34 bunch (80%, showed up at 37%) and 45-54 folks (82% grade, showed up at 4%). Originally the movie was scheduled to go in mid-September, but got pushed to this weekend due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Whatever number this movie comes in at, it was a smart movie as it’s had the global push of Zendaya to her 184M Instagram fans.
Lionsgate and Kingdom Story’s Unsung Hero made $1.67M in previews. It’s important to note that for both films not all their bread was made last night from previews, but includes early advance screening money.
Faith-based Unsung Hero grossed $470K yesterday. The Joel Smallbone & Richard L. Ramsey direced movie expands to 2,832 sites today. Pic was made for $6M before P&A and will earn about that much at the B.O. Unsung Hero follows David Smallbone who moves from Australia to U.S. with seven kids and his wife and turns into a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist for KING + COUNTRY and Rebecca St. James. In early Thursday PostTrak exits, Unsung Hero notched five stars, 96% positive and an 86% definite recommend. Last night’s audience drew 66% female, 48% over 55.
More..
The post Zendaya & Luca Guadagnino Movie ‘Challengers’ Takes $1.9M Previews, ‘Unsung Hero’ $1.67M – Box Office appeared first on Deadline.