Universal's recent release, “The Fall Guy,” starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, had a lackluster start at the box office, pulling in $3.15M from early showings and Wednesday advance screenings. The movie is projected to make around $35M-$40M over its opening weekend. This sluggish start can be attributed to delays in the production of feature films due to strikes in the industry.
Originally set for a March 1 release date, “The Fall Guy” was pushed back by Universal to this weekend in response to Disney and Marvel Studios moving the release of “Deadpool & Wolverine” to the end of July, which some now consider to be the true start of the summer blockbuster season. Despite the reshuffling, Universal had high hopes for the film, with a strong presence at events like SXSW and CinemaCon to build anticipation.
“The Fall Guy” has garnered positive reviews, boasting an 85% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film, which has a budget of $130M before marketing costs, is being shown in 4,002 theaters including PLF and Imax screenings. The movie's appeal lies in its nostalgic throwback to action titles of the '70s and '80s, with a sense of humor and style reminiscent of classics like “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Every Which Way but Loose.”
In addition to “The Fall Guy,” other films vying for audience attention include Sony/Screen Gems' “Tarot” and Disney's re-release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary. “Tarot,” targeted at a young female audience, is expected to make $5M-$6M despite lackluster reviews. On the other hand, “The Phantom Menace” has generated solid advance sales and will be shown in 2,600 theaters with additional premium formats.
In the midst of these new releases, other films in the box office landscape are holding their ground. Amazon MGM Studios' “Challenger” directed by Luca Guadagnino has earned $21.8M after its first week, while Lionsgate's “Unsung Hero” follows closely behind with $10.1M. Legendary/Warner Bros' “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and A24's “Civil War” are also maintaining their presence in theaters, with steady box office numbers despite competition.
While “The Fall Guy” may have had a slow start at the box office, it remains to be seen how the film will perform over the coming weeks. With a mix of nostalgia, star power, and positive reviews, the movie has the potential to attract a wide audience and establish itself as a summer hit. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how this film, along with its competitors, fare in the ever-evolving world of cinema.