"Dog Man" Unleashes $35 Million Opening Weekend
Universal Pictures' animated caper "Dog Man" has made a strong debut, raking in an estimated $10.8 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,885 locations. This marks the largest opening day gross of the year to date.
Projections indicate a $35 million opening weekend for "Dog Man," outperforming the $23 million debut of "Captain America: The First Epic Movie" in 2017. With a modest budget of $40 million, "Dog Man" has already achieved a solid start, aided by positive reviews and an enthusiastic Cinema Score grade of A.
As the first family-friendly release since "Mufasa: The Lion King" and "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," "Dog Man" benefits from minimal competition for young audiences. The only major challenge on the horizon is Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World," rated PG-13, on February 14.
The film stars a voice cast led by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, and Isla Fisher, and follows a police officer and his canine sidekick who fuse into a crime-fighting hybrid.
"Companion" Scares Up Solid Second Place
Warner Bros. and New Line's horror satire "Companion" has captured an estimated $4 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,285 locations. Made with a budget of $10 million, "Companion" holds a strong position to turn a profit.
Positive reviews and a B+ Cinema Score rating have helped generate buzz, with the film potentially exceeding $10 million in its opening weekend. "Companion" stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid and centers on a woodland retreat that descends into violence.
"Mufasa: The Lion King" Maintains Strong Hold
Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King" continues to hold third place, earning an estimated $1.3 million on Friday. Despite the debut of "Dog Man," the CG-animated musical maintains a presence in the market, projected to drop only 23% this weekend.
Since its soft opening in December, "Mufasa" has outperformed "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" in terms of longevity, potentially surpassing its total domestic gross this weekend.