Box Office: ‘Transformers One’ Getting Squeezed by ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ in Unexpectedly Close Battle

Box Office: ‘Transformers One’ Getting Squeezed by ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ in Unexpectedly Close Battle

As a seasoned gamer and movie enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless franchises over the years, I must admit, I find myself both surprised and intrigued by the current box office battle between ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and ‘Transformers One’.


On an unexpected turn, it’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice who is putting pressure on the Bots at the weekend movie earnings.

In its initial projections, Transformers One was anticipated to gross between $30 million and $35 million in North America. However, current estimates suggest it will only make around $26 million. This means that the Paramount and Hasbro film is now neck-and-neck with Warner Bros.’ Beetlejuice sequel, which is currently in its third weekend.

As of Saturday morning, Transformers One had a small lead, with the difference between the two films being approximately $500,000 to $1 million.

Despite receiving praise, positive buzz, excellent audience ratings, and promising box office potential, the unexpected news of underperformance was still to be expected by Paramount and Hasbro, as they recognized that going back to the franchise’s origins with a CGI-animated film suitable for families (rated PG) instead of a live-action blockbuster aimed at mature audiences (rated PG-13) carried inherent risks.

For quite some time now, Paramount has been making attempts to reboot the iconic movie series inspired by the widely loved Hasbro toys.

Under the direction of John Cooley, a former member of Pixar Studios, this movie delves into the past to explain how Optimus Prime and Megatron, two legendary Transformers, transformed from being best buddies into sworn enemies. Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry provide the voices for these characters, while Keegan-Michael Key, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm, and others lend their vocal talents to the production as well.

In his movie review for The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Scheck stated, “This is a refreshed version of the franchise.

Paramount’s task now is to ensure that “Transformers One” has a successful run at the box office. They aim to achieve this by appealing not only to families but also to general moviegoers who frequent cinemas. The film, which cost $75 million to produce (excluding marketing expenses), will also be released in international markets, but the overseas earnings won’t be disclosed until Sunday.

Two other films released over the weekend are struggling more compared to others. The Lionsgate movie featuring Halle Berry, titled “Never Let Go,” is projected to earn approximately $4 million and land in fourth position. On the other hand, “The Substance” from Mubi, starring Demi Moore, is expected to open with less than $3 million, placing it sixth.

Numbers will be updated Sunday.

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2024-09-21 19:24