Memorial Day Box Office Recap
The Memorial Day weekend box office of 2023 saw a mix of hits and flops, with some films making a big splash while others struggled to find an audience. Let's take a closer look at the box office results and how each film performed during this holiday weekend.
"The Little Mermaid" stole the show, dominating the box office with a massive debut. The live-action remake of the beloved animated classic is on track to earn $118 million over the four-day holiday, making it the fifth highest Memorial Day opening in history. Audiences, both old fans and new generations, flocked to theaters to experience the magic of Ariel's enchanting tale. The film's stunning visual effects and talented cast, including Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, captured the hearts of viewers and propelled it to box office success.
On the other hand, "Fast X," the tenth installment in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, showed signs of losing momentum in the United States. The film is estimated to bring in around $23 million in its second weekend, totaling $28.7 million over the holiday period. Despite its underwhelming domestic performance, "Fast X" continues to rev up its engine overseas, where it is expected to surpass $500 million at the global box office. While the film faced mixed reviews from critics, its international popularity ensures its position as one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
In third place, "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" maintained a strong presence at the box office, earning $20 million during the weekend and an estimated $25.3 million over the four-day holiday. The film has already amassed an impressive domestic total of $300 million, solidifying its status as a blockbuster hit.
Universal and Illumination's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" secured the fourth spot with $6.3 million over the weekend and an estimated $8.3 million during the holiday period. The film continues to delight audiences with its animated adventures, accumulating a staggering $560.9 million domestically after eight weeks in theaters.
Among the new releases, "You Hurt My Feelings," an A24 arthouse favorite, opened to a modest $1.4 million during the weekend and $1.8 million over the four-day holiday. The film, directed by Nicole Holofcener and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, attracted audiences with its heartfelt storytelling and strong performances.
Unfortunately, not all films found success during the Memorial Day weekend. "The Machine," an action comedy starring Bert Kreischer, struggled with only $4.9 million over the weekend and $5.8 million over the holiday period. "About My Father," based on the life story of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, also failed to make a significant impact, earning $4.3 million during the weekend and $5.3 million over the four-day holiday. Additionally, Gerard Butler's action film "Kandahar" underperformed, collecting a disappointing $2.4 million over the weekend and $3 million during the four-day period.
Overall, the Memorial Day weekend box office of 2023 showcased a wide range of performances. While "The Little Mermaid" and established franchises like "Fast and Furious" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" continued to attract audiences, some new releases struggled to find their footing. As the summer movie season unfolds, it will be interesting to see which films maintain their momentum and which ones will sink at the box office.
