Disney’s ENCANTO stays ahead of the pack by grossing $12.7M, a drop of 53% from its opening weekend results last week. Sony’s GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE took second place with $10.4M and third place went to MGM’s HOUSE OF GUCCI with $6.8M. Without any new wide releases, these results matched the 1-2-3 finish of last weekend. The three-day total for all titles was only $51.4M. The first week of December has become one of the weakest weeks of the year, as audiences take a breather after two consecutive holiday weeks. Studios take a pause to save up their best products for the Christmas holiday rush, which will begin next week.
With three full weeks to go, we now begin the final sprint in our 2021 vs. 2019 comparison. Next week, Steven Spielberg brings WEST SIDE STORY back to the big screen, with the football drama NATIONAL CHAMPIONS also entering the competition. Much is expected from WEST SIDE STORY, which is drawing much critical acclaim. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS is a late addition to the holiday schedule and is not expected to contribute significantly. In 2019, JUMANJI 2 opened to a whopping $59M three-day gross, and this year no one expects comparable results from WEST SIDE STORY.
One week later on 12/17, the most anticipated movie of 2021 will hit theatres, SPIDERMAN NO WAY HOME. Advanced ticket sales are crashing the Internet, setting records for the pandemic era. SPIDEY will match up directly with STAR WARS: EPISODE IX – THE RISE OF SKYWALKER which pulled in a huge three-day number of $177M. If SPIDER-MAN gets a little help from NIGHTMARE ALLEY, this week in 2021 might reach 80% of the same week in 2019. On 12/22, SING 2, THE MATRIX RESURRECTION, THE KING’S MAN, and A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN will all debut, with the potential to produce results on par with the same week in 2019. A strong close to 2021, should put the fourth quarter of 2021 at or near 70% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019.