As spring break approaches, the weekend box office is set to offer a mixed bag of releases. 20th Century Studios' highly anticipated “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is expected to make a splash with a $50 million-plus opening in May. Meanwhile, A24's “Civil War” is currently holding the top spot with $27 million and will face competition from Universal's “Abigail.” Both films are expected to bring in around $12 million each, though “Civil War” is looking at a significant 53% decline in box office earnings.
“Abigail,” directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, follows the story of a group of kidnappers who abduct a powerful underworld figure's 12-year-old daughter, Abigail. As the captors realize they are trapped inside an isolated mansion with a far from normal little girl, tensions rise, and mysterious events unfold. The film stars Melissa Barrera, Angus Cloud, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, and Kevin Durand. With an R rating, “Abigail” is currently receiving positive reviews, boasting an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On the other hand, Lionsgate's “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” directed by Guy Ritchie, offers a different narrative based on declassified British war department files and inspired by true events. The movie depicts the formation of the first special forces organization during WWII by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and author Ian Fleming. Starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, and others, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” received an A- CinemaScore during previews and is expected to open with mid single-digit earnings.
Additionally, Sony/Crunchyroll's anime “Spy x Family Code: White” directed by Takashi Katagiri presents an action-packed story following secret agent Twilight, his assassin wife Yor, and their telepathic daughter Anya on a new mission. The film, based on a popular manga series, will be available in Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English. With 4 p.m. Thursday previews in 1,870 theaters, “Spy x Family Code: White” is poised to attract a diverse audience of anime fans.
As the weekend approaches, box office predictions for “Abigail,” “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” and “Spy x Family Code: White” vary. While “Abigail” and “Spy x Family Code: White” are expected to perform similarly with around $12 million in earnings, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” might surpass initial estimates with a potentially higher opening. With diverse offerings in terms of genres and target audiences, the upcoming releases cater to different viewer preferences, ensuring a range of options for moviegoers.
The weekend box office preview provides a glimpse into the upcoming releases and box office predictions for “Abigail,” “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” and “Spy x Family Code: White.” While each film offers a unique narrative and appeal to diverse audiences, it remains to be seen how they will fare at the box office. As movie theaters reopen and audiences return to cinemas, the weekend box office landscape is set to offer a mix of genres and storytelling styles for film enthusiasts to enjoy.