Markiplier’s self-financed feature take on the video game Iron Lung broke out with $3.5M in previews on Thursday night, we’re told. Meanwhile, Sam Raimi’s genre pic Send Help from 20th Century Studios saw $2.2M.
Iron Lung went into the weekend with $6M in presales and is expected to do around $9M-$10M. We hear that the movie cost under $3M and its P&A was bare-bones with an Instagram post from the YouTuber and a one-sheet printed for its North American debut. Iron Lung held previews on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Send Help‘s previews are in line with 2023’s Evil Dead Rise ($2.5M previews, $24.5M opening) and last year’s The Amateur ($2M, $14.8M opening) and higher than M. Night Shyamalan’s A Knock at the Cabin ($1.5M, $14.1M opening in 2023). Send Help‘s numbers include sneaks from last weekend.
Meanwhile, Amazon MGM Studios’ Melania documentary from Brett Ratner didn’t hold any previews. Showtimes start today following Thursday night’s premiere in Washington D.C. The movie follows the 20 days before Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration.
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On Thursday, Black Bear’s second theatrical release, Shelter, took in $385K from 2,000 theaters. Outlook for the Jason Statham movie is around $5M+.
There’s new of another snowstorm brewing in Mid-Atlantic, but we understand it’s not going to throw ticket sales off this weekend a la last weekend. In addition, we’re not hearing about any circuits closing due to Friday’s anti-ICE national protest.
Top five for the week:
1. Mercy (AMZ) 3,468 theaters, Wk $14.6M/Wk 1
2. Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th) 3,150 theaters, Wk $9.1M (-57%)/Total $380.1M/Wk 6
3. Zootopia 2 (Dis) 2,930 Wk $7.4M (-49%)/Total $403.1M/Wk 9
4. The Housemaid (LG) 3,007 theaters, Wk $5.9M (-53%), Total $117.1M/Wk 6
5. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Sony) 3,506 theaters, Wk $4.9M (-71%)/Total $22M/Wk 2
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