“Lisa Frankenstein” failed to captivate audiences at the North American box office during its opening weekend. This horror comedy, penned by Diablo Cody and featuring Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse, raked in $3.8 million, as per studio estimates on Sunday. It secured the second spot in a rather sluggish weekend, trailing behind the spy thriller “Argylle.”
Taking the lead was Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle,” which grossed a modest \(6.5 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to \)28.8 million over two weekends. Despite its \(200 million budget, this production marked Apple’s first major theatrical disappointment. The film, managed by Universal Pictures for the streaming platform, screened across 3,605 venues and amassed \)60.1 million globally thus far.
Meanwhile, “Lisa Frankenstein” was distributed by Focus Features in 3,144 locations. Directed by Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, this 1980s-themed reinterpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic received predominantly negative reviews, scoring a mere 49% on Rotten Tomatoes. AP’s Mark Kennedy described it as a “patchwork creation—pieced together from previous films, incoherent, and lacking in substance.”
Demographically, the audience for “Lisa Frankenstein” skewed predominantly female (61%) and under 35 years old (71%). Despite the lackluster opening weekend, the film’s production costs were relatively restrained at $13 million.
Notably, “Lisa Frankenstein” is set in the same narrative universe as “Jennifer’s Body,” another Cody creation directed by Karyn Kusama. Although “Jennifer’s Body” initially received mixed reviews in 2009, it has since garnered a cult following and renewed appreciation.
In the wider box office landscape, “The Beekeeper” secured the third spot with an additional \(3.5 million in its fifth week, while the faith-based series “The Chosen” premiered its fourth season’s first three episodes, earning \)3.2 million. “Wonka” rounded out the top five with $3.1 million in ticket sales.
Looking at the bigger picture, this weekend marked a notably sluggish period for the industry, with total earnings amounting to approximately $40 million—a nearly 25% decline from the previous year. Various factors, including the heightened focus on the football game, contributed to this downturn, emphasizing the unique circumstances of this year’s entertainment landscape.
Despite the subdued weekend, the upcoming release of films like “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Madame Web” may inject some vitality into theaters. However, the real upturn is anticipated with the arrival of “Dune: Part Two” on March 1, signaling a potential resurgence in box office activity.
As the industry navigates through these fluctuations, the future remains uncertain yet hopeful, with expectations of recovery on the horizon.