The recent cinematic offering, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' is encountering significant challenges at the box office during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. This new entry in the acclaimed zombie series finds itself in a tough competition with the sustained popularity of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' which continues to draw large audiences. Despite receiving favorable critical reception and strong audience scores, 'The Bone Temple's' initial earnings are notably below both its projected figures and the impressive opening performance of its predecessor, highlighting the competitive landscape of current cinema releases.
Released just seven months after its last installment revitalized the zombie genre, 'The Bone Temple' aimed to captivate audiences once more. However, the film managed to secure $5.6 million on Friday, with expectations of reaching approximately $15 million over the four-day holiday weekend. This performance trails significantly behind the original '28 Years' film, which debuted with a $30 million three-day total in June, and falls short of the $20 million initially forecast for 'Bone Temple' for the weekend.
Meanwhile, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' now in its fifth week of release, continues to be a formidable presence. It garnered $3.2 million on Friday and is on track to earn around $17 million for the extended weekend, potentially securing the top spot. To date, 'Avatar 3' has accumulated an impressive $353.4 million domestically and over $1.23 billion globally, showcasing its enduring appeal.
The '28 Years Later' series, conceived by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, saw 'The Bone Temple' directed by Nia DaCosta. This film is the second part of a planned trilogy, with Sony confirming a third installment to be directed by Boyle and featuring Cillian Murphy, star of the original '28 Days Later.' Sony executives are optimistic that strong word-of-mouth will boost 'Bone Temple's' long-term performance, given its 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an A- CinemaScore, and a 4.5 PostTrak rating. The film boasts a cast including Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry.
Beyond these two major releases, Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet' is expanding its reach after winning Best Drama at the Golden Globes, with Jessie Buckley also clinching the Best Actress award. Having opened in limited release during Thanksgiving, the film is now showing in 718 theaters and is anticipated to add $1.6 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $15 million. Furthermore, Josh Safdie’s 'Marty Supreme' has emerged as an unexpected success since its Christmas release, with Timothée Chalamet's Golden Globe win for Best Actor expected to further boost its earnings, potentially pushing its domestic total to $80 million with an estimated $6.9 million this weekend.
In summary, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' faces an uphill battle against the established success of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and other awards-season contenders. Despite critical acclaim and positive audience feedback, its box office performance indicates a challenging market. The film industry is currently witnessing a dynamic interplay between new releases and enduring blockbusters, with awards recognition also playing a crucial role in shaping audience choices and box office outcomes for various cinematic offerings.