In a resounding victory at the box office, Paramount’s “Mean Girls” musical emerged as the reigning queen with a stellar $32 million debut over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, following a weekend haul of $28 million.
Fueled by the enduring popularity of the 2004 film and its widespread cultural impact, the musical adaptation, which cost a modest $36 million, was initially intended for release on Paramount+. However, enthusiastic test screenings prompted the studio to opt for a theatrical release. TikTok also played a pivotal role in keeping the Plastics relevant, contributing to the musical’s success.
Internationally, “Mean Girls” raked in $6.5 million from 16 territories, marking less than half of its anticipated global footprint. The film is set to open in the U.K. and New Zealand next weekend, with subsequent releases in other major territories.
The majority of ticket buyers, unsurprisingly, were 76% female, and 60% were under the age of 25. Despite a mixed “B+” CinemaScore, attributed in part to some audience members being unaware of its musical nature, Paramount shared exit poll data indicating that 75% of viewers were aware of the musical aspect before purchasing tickets. Chris Aronson, the studio’s distribution chief, sees the opening weekend success as a testament to Tina Fey’s iconic property, believing that her contemporary twist resonated well with moviegoers.
Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., “Mean Girls” maintains the essence of Tina Fey’s original screenplay, offering a Gen Z polish to the story of Cady Heron, played by Angourie Rice, navigating the challenging terrain of high school.
In second place at the box office, David Ayer’s action thriller, “The Beekeeper,” debuted impressively with $19.1 million over the holiday weekend, securing a worldwide tally of $39.1 million, including $20.4 million from 49 international territories. Starring Jason Statham as Adam Clay, the film received a “B+” CinemaScore and favorable audience reception, particularly overseas.
Contrastingly, Sony and Legendary’s biblical satire, “The Book of Clarence,” faced a challenging start, securing the ninth spot with a mere $3.1 million over the weekend. The film, directed by Jeymes Samuel and starring LaKeith Stanfield, carries a $40 million budget, making a robust international performance crucial for its financial success.
Holiday holdovers rounded out the box office charts, with Warner Bros.’ fantasy musical “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet, claiming third place with $11 million, surpassing $500 million globally. Sony’s R-rated comedy “Anyone but You” secured the fourth spot with $8.5 million, demonstrating a steady climb at the box office. Universal and Illumination’s animated comedy “Migration” glided to fifth place with $8.3 million through Monday.
Meanwhile, A24’s holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” achieved a solid turnout, surpassing $1 million while playing on only 25 screens. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the film, based on Martin Amis’ novel, premiered at Cannes and appears to be entering the awards race as it continues its national rollout over the coming weeks.
