Photo Credit: The Breeze
The picture “The Woman King,” starring Oscar winner Viola Davis, had a strong second weekend in theaters, grossing more than $11.2 million in American ticket sales from Friday to Sunday.
While sales are down 42% from the first weekend, the rate is still higher than for blockbuster films. According to data, many blockbuster films have a 50% to 70% decrease in their second weekend.
“Proof that ″The Woman King’ is in it for the long haul is reflected in its 42% second-weekend drop. As expected, great word of mouth and awards season buzz has helped the film to become a must-see movie event,” Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said.
Analysts believe that if “The Woman King” continues to sell tickets at its current rate, it won’t be long until profit meets the $50 million production budget and exceeds sales projections. Furthermore, box office observers compared “The Woman King” to other films, such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has garnered popularity among a wide range of consumers in recent months.
Other projects, such as “Don’t Worry Darling,” are expected to generate roughly $19.2 million in its launch weekend, which is more than half its $35 million production budget.
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Low-budget films charging ahead
Productions such as “The Woman King” and “Don’t Worry Darling” demonstrate low-budget films that are becoming popular in theaters. The anticipated popularity of these types of films is a favorable indicator for theater owners. While their revenue is not yet on par with worldwide blockbusters like “Avatar” or “Avengers,” the proceeds from these films provide extra funds to theaters.
The epidemic has dramatically limited the number of films released in theaters, costing billions of dollars. As a result, films and movies have moved to internet streaming platforms so they may be released on time. However, film productions have begun to air in theaters now that limitations have been lifted.
However, the number of films playing in theaters remains low compared to the pre-pandemic period. Only over 2,000 films premiered in 2022, a 40% decrease from the volume in 2019.
BoxOffice.com chief analyst Shawn Robbins said, ″‘The Woman King’ is another great example of original content connecting with and inspiring moviegoers on its course for a lengthy box office run that could be capped by award season nominations in the months ahead.”
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“The Woman King” represents women’s struggles
After witnessing the film and its storyline, Oyeronke Oyebanji, a Nigerian feminist, shared numerous of her thoughts.
“As a Nigerian feminist, I have always been curious about how feminism has evolved in my country and culture. So naturally, I was curious to see “The Woman King,” the new movie about an all-female troop of warriors in a 19th-century West African kingdom,” she said.
“I’m not surprised by what I saw. But I am sad to report that the inequalities faced by the women in the movie do indeed reflect the struggles that women today face in many parts of the world, including West Africa.”
Oyebanji went on to say that the film exposes how entrenched gender inequality has been throughout history and that it is exacerbated for women of color, who are discriminated against not just because they are women, but also because of their skin color.
“By exploring the lives of these bold women, the film illustrates how the lack of equal rights for women is a problem that has lasted for centuries. While I was deeply inspired to see an all-female army led by a strong woman, I was also dismayed by the inequalities that these soldiers had to suffer. Unlike their male counterparts, the Agojie women were not allowed to marry or become parents as, in theory, they belonged to the king,” Oyebanji said.
Meanwhile, Viola Davis, who acted in and produced the film, expressed her admiration for it, saying she was moved by its message.
“What felt different was ownership, agency, controlling my voice. It’s our story. There is no white savior in the movie. There’s none. We save ourselves,” shared Davis.
Source: CNBC
