Winter Storm’s Impact on Box Office
A significant winter storm is affecting a large portion of the United States, resulting in over 400 theater closures and prompting many communities to advise residents to stay indoors. As a result, weekend box office revenue is projected to hit its lowest point this year so far and to lag behind the same weekend in 2025.
Weekend Box Office Winner: Mercy
The standout film this weekend is Mercy, a new thriller directed by Timur Bekmambetov and featuring Chris Pratt as a man on trial for killing his wife. He discovers that an artificial intelligence judge will determine his fate. MGM Amazon Studios reported an estimated $12.6 million opening before the extent of theater closures was fully assessed.
Global Performance
Internationally, Mercy started strong with an $11.6 million opening.
Reviews and Challenges
However, Mercy faces obstacles in North America beyond the storm, including lukewarm reviews from critics and audience response, indicated by a B- CinemaScore.
Competition: Fire & Ash and Others
The film dethroned James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which finished in second place with an estimated $7 million and a domestic total of $378.5 million, alongside a global total exceeding $1 billion. The animated film Zootopia 2 earned $5.7 million, reaching over $400 million domestically and more than $1.7 billion globally.
Other Notable Films
Director Paul Feig’s The Housemaid remains strong, finishing fourth with an estimated $4.2 million, bringing its domestic total to $115.4 million. In contrast, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple dropped to fifth place, earning $3.6 million for a total of $21.4 million domestically.
Upcoming Releases and Trends
The box office impact of the Academy Awards nominations has waned over the years but still plays a role. Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, nominated for nine Oscars, is projected to finish sixth with $3.5 million. Meanwhile, a reboot of Return to Silent Hill underperformed with $3.3 million, though it was designed to be profitable due to its modest budget.
Special Re-releases
Lastly, Warner Bros. and Fathom are promoting a special 25th-anniversary re-release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which grossed $6.7 million domestically and $12 million internationally, totaling $18.7 million.
