A sequel-packed March box office is gearing up for a better weekend this time around, as momentum builds for Keanu Reeves’ fourth visit to John Wick’s well.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (NYSE:LGF.A) (NYSE:LGF.B) It is winning the best reviews of the four-film assassin franchise, suggesting it’s ready to inject some life into theater receipts after the expensive Shazam! fury of the gods (NASDAQ:WBD) got off to a very disappointing start.
The new john wick It grossed $8.9 million in Thursday previews, a solid total and a franchise record (the third movie pulled in $5.9 million in said previews), and that suggests it’s headed for a domestic opening of $65. million to $70 million and a worldwide weekend exceeding $100 million.
Unlike many franchises, john wick seems to be building strength as he goes. The first movie, from 2014, grossed $43 million; John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 it reached $92 million domestic; and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in 2019 it grossed $171 million and a worldwide total of $327.8 million.
The film, and what it means for smaller studio Lions Gate (LGF.A) (LGF.B), prompted Benchmark to reiterate a strongly optimistic view of the company, saying it’s the unusual film that is “significant to the perception of the actions of a study”. “
Meanwhile, after his stumble out of the gate, the new Shazam it is likely to lose several million dollars in its second year, and there may be similar declines for scream VI (STOP) (STOP) and creed III (United Artists/AMZN).
And with a strong action movie opening, john wick it can also hold up well into a second weekend: next Friday will bring wide drama premieres A good person (United Artists/AMZN) and Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (FOR FOR).
Movie tickers: AMC Entertainment (AMC); Cineworld (OTCPK: CNNWQ); Cinemark (CNK); (IMAX); Framework (MCS); International Reading (RDI); Cineplex (CGX: CA); National Film Media (NCMI).