Box Office Showdown: "A Working Man" Smashes "Snow White"
In a stunning turn of events, Jason Statham's action-packed thriller “A Working Man” has claimed the top spot at the box office, raking in $15.2 million during its opening weekend. Directed by the talented David Ayer, known for hits like “Suicide Squad,” this film has knocked Disney’s latest live-action offering, “Snow White,” down to the second position, which saw a staggering 66% drop in ticket sales in its second week.
Disney's Struggles with "Snow White"
After a lackluster $45 million debut, “Snow White” fell to No. 2, earning merely $14.2 million across 4,200 theaters. Featuring Rachel Zegler as the beloved princess and Gal Gadot as the menacing Evil Queen, this adaptation has, to date, accumulated $66.8 million domestically and $143.1 million globally. With a jaw-dropping budget exceeding $250 million before marketing costs, this fairy tale adaptation must soon show robust endurance at the box office to justify its hefty investment. The challenge intensifies with the upcoming release of Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie,” which aims to lure family audiences next weekend (Variety).
Reception and Expectations for “A Working Man”
While “A Working Man” has seen mixed reviews and garnered a B grade on CinemaScore, its story is driving action enthusiasts to theaters. In the film, Statham portrays a decorated military veteran who springs back into action after human traffickers kidnap his boss's daughter. Despite this strong opening, it slightly lags behind previous releases from Ayer and Statham, including their collaboration on “The Beekeeper," which launched with $16 million and finished with a respectable $66 million domestically and $162 million globally.
Additional Box Office Highlights
In a landscape bustling with releases, three other films joined the race, albeit without much fanfare. Universal and Blumhouse’s horror flick “The Woman in the Yard,” along with A24’s surrealist venture “Death of a Unicorn” and Fathom’s spiritual offering “The Chosen: Last Supper,” all debuted nationwide but failed to make a significant impact. Overall, box office revenues continue to reflect a downward trend, currently sitting 10.9% lower than in 2024 and a staggering 39% behind 2019, according to Comscore.
“The Chosen: Last Supper” opened in third place with an impressive $11.5 million from 2,235 cinemas, delivering better-than-expected results as Fathom Events embarks on rolling out the show's fifth season in theaters.
Coming in at No. 4, “The Woman in the Yard” collected $9.4 million from 2,842 cinemas during its debut. Despite its intriguing premise involving a family encountering a strange woman with an ominous message, critics and audiences were less than impressed, evidenced by a C- grade on CinemaScore and a 39% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Thankfully, its production costs were only $12 million.
Rounding out the top five is A24’s “Death of a Unicorn,” which grossed $5.8 million from 3,050 theaters. Starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, the film covers the peculiar aftermath of hitting a mythical creature—an unusual twist that seems to resonate better with audiences than A24's last release, which barely crossed the $1.8 million mark (Box Office Mojo).
Future Releases and Limited Releases
In the realm of limited releases, Bleecker Street’s “The Friend” debuted, featuring Naomi Watts in a poignant narrative about adopting her friend's Great Dane after his tragic passing. It opened on two screens in New York, amassing a solid $66,853 with a per-screen average of $33,426. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics opted for a wider distribution for “The Penguin Lessons,” which premiered across 1,017 screens and garnered $1.2 million.
Conclusion
As audiences flock to theaters for action or adventure, “A Working Man’s” victory is a strong signal of shifting preferences in cinema. The dramatic decline of “Snow White” is another reminder that even beloved fairy tales can struggle at the box office. With a busy slate of releases on the horizon, all eyes await the next box office battle. Will Disney's magic regain its shine? Or has the allure of action thrillers become the new favorite for moviegoers?
