MovieChat Forums > Challengers (2024) Discussion > ‘Challengers’ Serves Biggest U.S. Openin...

‘Challengers’ Serves Biggest U.S. Opening To Luca Guadagnino At $15M; Best For Zendaya Live-Action Non-IP Pic

posted 12 days ago by Satan2016 (23526)
11 replies | jump to latest

Zendaya & Luca Guadagnino Movie ‘Challengers’ Takes $1.9M Previews
https://deadline.com/2024/04/box-office-challengers-zendaya-1235896116/

Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers, starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, made $1.9 million in previews Thursday, a figure $100,000 shy of what Universal’s Cocaine Bear did. The sexy tennis rom-com is hoping to open to $15M for the weekend.

Critics love Challengers at 91% certified fresh, but last night’s audiences were so-so on it with three stars on Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak at 3 1/2 stars, 75% positive and a 56% definite recommend. Women over 25 at 35% came out as well as women under 25 at 25%, but guys over 25 got pulled along as dates at 25%, with men under 25 at 14%. It wasn’t Zendaya’s girl fans who liked the movie the most, but men over 25 at 80%.

[–] Satan2016 (23526) 11 days ago

SATURDAY AM: Luca Guadaganino’s Zendaya movie, Challengers, is still eyeing a $15.2M opening. Friday/previews stayed the course at $6.2M, and Amazon MGM Studios believes that Saturday will only ease -17% from that with $5.1M.

The movie gets a B+ CinemaScore, which isn’t shabby for this two-hour, 11-minute sexy romantic comedy. Imax and PLFs are driving 40% of the gross, which is amazing on a nonaction/franchise title such as this.

Amazon MGM Studios owns international, and Warners is the partner to distribute abroad on this $50M+ Amy Pascal production. The pic is going wide overseas. It’s not just English-speaking territories, ala Amazon MGM’s Saltburn. Challengers opened in Australia/New Zealand last weekend with $765K, and it expands to 51 territories this weekend.

No surprise here, but 55% of PostTrak audiences said the main reason why they went to see the movie was Zendaya.

[–] Satan2016 (23526) 10 days ago

SUNDAY AM: Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers is being called at a $15M opening, which is officially the biggest opening ever for Oscar nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino. It’s also the best we’ve seen from Zendaya for a live-action, original, non-IP movie. Friday/previews are $6.2M, Saturday was $5M, -19% and the studio has the confidence that Sunday will come in at $3.78M.

[–] redban (5259) 10 days ago

$55 million budget (about 20% of the budget come from Zendaya’s salary alone). They need $165 mil to make a profit

[–] Satan2016 (23526) 10 days ago

$25m WW. Too stupid to Google?
Bullshit! $110m is the break even point now.

[–] redban (5259) 10 days ago

Worldwide profits often include gross that won’t go to the studios and film-makers’ bottom line. They get very little money if a movie does well in China

The budget was $55 million. They often need 2-3x the budget to get a profit (most say 2.5x the budget)

[–] AzureSeb (469) 10 days ago

They paid Zendaya $10 million, and the film still couldn't cross $20 million in its opening weekend. How embarrassing. It's more proof that a large social media following isn't enough to get people in seats. I guess she got a bit too cocky. She should stick to supporting roles that play no part in the success of a film (Dune, Spider-Man).

[–] Satan2016 (23526) 10 days ago

$25m WW. Too stupid to Google?

[–] darkpast (8087) 10 days ago

spin doctor

[–] Satan2016 (23526) 10 days ago

Retarded Troll on Crack!

[–] darkpast (8087) 10 days ago

zendeya pr machine, she has no non ip movies , the only original movie she has been in was greatest showman, a hugh jackman movie where she is is fourth or fifth lead

[–] AzureSeb (469) 10 days ago

Internationally, the film has opened with $10m on 6,344 screens in 52 markets, lol.