NEW YORK – The weekend box office saw the latest DreamWorks Animation family film, “The Wild Robot,” surpass expectations and climb to the number one spot with $35 million in ticket sales across the U.S. and Canada, as reported by studio estimates on Sunday.
Directed by Chris Sanders and based on Peter Brown’s bestseller, “The Wild Robot” tells the story of a shipwrecked robot raising an orphan gosling, resonating well with audiences and earning an A CinemaScore rating.
Industry analysts suggest that “The Wild Robot” is poised for a successful and enduring theatrical run, following a trend set by recent family movies like “Inside Out 2,” which have been driving substantial revenue at the box office.
In contrast, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited and self-financed epic, “Megalopolis,” failed to attract moviegoers, generating only $4 million in its opening weekend. The film, a Roman epic set in modern-day New York, received mixed reviews from critics, resulting in a D+ CinemaScore from audiences.
Despite its underperformance, Coppola remained dedicated to his vision for “Megalopolis,” which he began developing in the late 1970s as a personal exploration of human potential and creativity.
The theatrical landscape also saw Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” slip to the second spot after three weeks at number one, while the Transformers prequel, “Transformers One,” secured third place with $9.3 million in ticket sales on its second weekend.
Additionally, the Indian Telugu-language action film “Devara: Part 1” debuted impressively with $5.1 million in ticket sales, claiming the fourth position at the box office.
Meanwhile, Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” a film depicting the origins of the iconic sketch comedy show, launched in select theaters with a strong per-theater average, hinting at promising nationwide potential in the coming weeks.
Overall, the box office landscape continues to be shaped by a diverse range of films, from family-friendly animations to nostalgic reboots and international offerings, providing audiences with a variety of cinematic experiences to choose from in theaters.