Man Takes the Fall and Lands $28.5M, Phantom Menace Returns

In a blast from the past, the 1980s and 90s made a comeback at the weekend box office with Universal’s “The Fall Guy” taking the top spot with $28.5 million. The film, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by David Leitch, is a modern adaptation of the popular TV show from the ’80s. Despite its No. 1 finish, “The Fall Guy” fell slightly short of initial expectations of $30-35 million.

In a surprising twist, Disney’s re-release of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” came in at No. 2 with $8.1 million, showing the enduring popularity of the iconic franchise. The weekend box office numbers were down significantly compared to previous years, with a 53 percent drop from the same frame last year.

“The Fall Guy” has been praised for its homage to the stunt community and Gosling’s performance as a retired stuntman on a mission to find a missing A-list star. With an A- CinemaScore from audiences and positive reviews, Universal is hoping for strong word of mouth to boost the film’s performance in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, “The Phantom Menace” made a surprising comeback, edging out other new releases like “Challengers” and “Tarot.” The film’s resurgence can be attributed to a growing appreciation among fans, as well as the upcoming Disney+ series featuring Ewan McGregor reprising his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

As the summer movie season kicks off, audiences can expect more exciting releases and box office surprises in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest box office hits and misses.