The auto-racing drama Gran Turismo managed to secure the top spot at the weekend box office, narrowly surpassing the enduring success of Barbie.
Weekend Box Office: ‘Gran Turismo’ stalls ‘Barbie’ historic theatre run
As reported by Box Office Pro, several films posted impressively mild weekend declines.
These films include:
- Oppenheimer with a -16% decline;
- Barbie with a -19% decline;
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One with a -24% decline;
- Meg 2: The Trench with a -25% decline;
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with a -29% decline; and
- Haunted Mansion with a -30% decline.
This indicates a strong retention of audience interest across various movie genres.
‘Gran Turismo’ and ‘Barbie’ Neck-and-Neck in Earnings
Sony Pictures’ Gran Turismo made its debut with an estimated $17.3 million, a figure closely trailing Barbie, which earned $17.1 million in its sixth weekend.
Given the proximity of their earnings, the final ranking between these two films might shift once Monday’s actual numbers are released.
In comparison to other auto-racing films and video game adaptations, Gran Turismo demonstrated positive performance, with a 72% increase over Rush from 2013, outperforming titles like Assassin’s Creed and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.
Continued Success for ‘Barbie‘
Despite facing a newcomer at the box office, Warner Bros.’s Barbie managed to maintain its popularity, declining only by 19% in its sixth weekend.
The film’s consistent earnings have led to an impressive climb in the all-time rankings. It now stands as the 14th highest-grossing film of all time domestically, sitting between Incredibles 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
On the international stage, Barbie experienced a decline of 32% in holdover markets. Its total overseas earnings reached $745.5 million, contributing to its impressive global tally of $1.34 billion, making it the 18th highest-grossing film globally.
The film’s achievements include surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie to become the highest-grossing film of 2023.
‘Blue Beetle’ Holds Its Ground
Blue Beetle, Warner Bros.’s superhero film, maintained a strong presence in its second weekend, experiencing a 49% decline in earnings. Despite this drop, the film demonstrated a better holdover compared to several other recent DC Extended Universe films and even the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Guardians of the Galaxy. This performance suggests a degree of stability in audience interest.
The weekend box office results reflect a blend of new releases and the lasting appeal of established films. Gran Turismo managed to debut on a high note, though the closely contested earnings with Barbie indicate a competitive landscape.
