30-Year Low for Memorial Day Observance

The Memorial Day box office saw a surprising turn of events this year, with Alcon and Sony’s “The Garfield Movie” claiming the top spot with an estimated four-day gross of $31.9 million. This marks the worst Memorial Day No. 1 opener since “Casper” debuted nearly 30 years ago. However, the race is not over yet, as George Miller’s “Furiosa” is close behind with an estimated $25.6 million for the three-day weekend.

Both films received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, indicating a lukewarm reception. Overall, the Memorial Day box office revenue plummeted to an estimated $127 million to $130 million, a 29-year low. “Furiosa,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy, was expected to open stronger but fell short of expectations.

On the other hand, “Garfield,” voiced by Chris Pratt, performed in line with expectations and has successfully relaunched the franchise. The film cost $60 million to produce and has earned $91.1 million globally so far. Meanwhile, Angel Studios’ “Sight” is expected to gross $3 million to $3.5 million for a seventh-place finish.

In the top five, “IF” continues to hold strong at No. 3 with a domestic total of $63.6 million. Globally, the film has crossed the $100 million mark. “The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is nearing $300 million in worldwide ticket sales, while “The Fall Guy” remains steady despite being available on premium VOD.

Overall, the box office has been struggling due to marquee titles being pushed back, but “The Garfield Movie” and “Furiosa” have provided some much-needed excitement during the holiday weekend.