Title: Pixar’s “Wish” Faces Stiff Competition from “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” at Thanksgiving Box Office
In a battle for box office supremacy over the Thanksgiving holiday, Disney’s animated film “Wish” finds itself locked in a fierce competition with Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Released for just its second week, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is displaying remarkable resilience, earning $5.9 million on Thanksgiving and pushing its domestic total to a commendable $69.6 million.
Meanwhile, “Wish” delivered a rather disappointing performance, only managing to bring in $3.9 million on Thanksgiving, with a total of $12.2 million since its release. Projections suggest that “Wish” will generate approximately $35 million over the five-day holiday period. Given the whopping $200 million production cost for the film, it is imperative for “Wish” to showcase endurance if it hopes to turn a profit. In contrast, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was made with a budget of $100 million, effectively placing it at an advantage in terms of financial success.
Another highly anticipated film, Apple Original Productions’ “Napoleon,” directed by the renowned Ridley Scott, earned $4.4 million on Thanksgiving. This theatrical release serves as a precursor to the film’s launch on Apple TV+. With a hefty $200 million production cost, “Napoleon” is projected to gross $33 million over the extended holiday period, further cementing Apple’s foray into the entertainment industry.
In other box office news, “Trolls Band Together” is poised to earn an impressive $23.2 million during the five-day stretch, while “Thanksgiving” is expected to contribute $10 million. Combined, these films will lead to a total ticket sales figure of around $190 million for the Thanksgiving period, demonstrating a substantial boost compared to the pandemic-impacted box office. However, despite this more promising outcome, it falls short of the record-setting sales of $315.6 million achieved in 2018.
As the holiday season unfolds, audiences eagerly wait to see which film comes out on top at the box office. Will “Wish” regain its momentum and secure a profitable run, or will “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” maintain its dominant position? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: moviegoers will be treated to a variety of options to satisfy their cinematic cravings during this festive period.
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