Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Eyes $15 Million Opening Week

Niko Tavernise/MGM

FRIDAY MIDDAY : Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers look at $6.2 million today (this includes the nearly $2 million in previews), which will allow the film to be released $15 million in 3,477 rooms. How is it? An influx of 18-34 year olds is expected this evening with a strong hold for Sunday. Last night, that demo lineup accounted for 76 percent of the picture’s ticket holders, according to Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak. It’s easily the biggest and widest opening ever for Oscar-nominated Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino. Remember this tennis movie has some Imax and some PLF, basically all AMC Dolby.

RelishMix reports that Challengers now boasts a social media following of TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X at 278.5 million, 60% ahead of romantic film genre standards. The social media universe of this photo is ahead of mean girls (264.1 million), Anyone but you (98.8 M), and Zenaday’s comrade Euphoria the star’s other Amazon MGM Studios film, Salt burn (213.9 million). Zendaya has a dedicated story on her Instagram dedicated to Challengers and today she reminded her fans about the film in her story:

Challengers cost more than $50 million and was purchased by Amazon MGM Studios in combination with Timothee Chalamet’s cannibalistic love story by Guadagnino, Bones and all. Guadagnino already has another film planned at Amazon MGM Studios, the Julia Roberts drama thriller After the hunt scheduled for release next year.

In second place is Lionsgate/Kingdom Story’s Unsung Hero with $3.4 million to $3.9 million today, and $7 million to $9 million for the weekend at 2,832.

Legendary/Warner Bros.’ fifth weekend of Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom is in third position out of 3,312 locations with $1.7 million today, and 7 million dollars for the 3 days, -27%, for a cumulative total of $181.5 million.

The fourth is the third image of the A24. Civil war on 3,518 sites with $1.8 million today, and $6.2 million-44%, for a current cume by Sunday $55.3 million.

Fifth place goes to the Universal-directed horror film Radio Silence Abigail in 3,393 theaters with a Friday of $1.35 million3 days of $4.5 million-56%, and ten days of $18 million.

Roadside Attractions A boy kills the world arrive at $900,000 Today, $1.9 million for the weekend in 1,993 theaters.

FRIDAY AM: Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers, starring Zendaya and directed by Luca Guadagnino, directed $1.9 million in previews Thursday, a figure $100,000 lower than Universal’s Cocaine Bear did. The sexy tennis romantic comedy hopes to open to $15 million for the weekend.

Critics love it Challengers at 91% certified fresh, but last night’s audience was mediocre 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% went out as well as women under 25 at 25% but men over 25 were dragged in as dates at 25%, men under 25 years at 14%. It was not Zendaya’s female fans who liked the film the most, but men over 25 at 80%.

Overall, the best demo ratings for Challengers came from the 25-34 year old group (80%, presented at 37%) and the 45-54 year old group (score of 82%, presented at 4%). Originally, the film was scheduled to be released in mid-September after a world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but was pushed back to this weekend due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Regardless of this film’s number, it was a smart move because it got Zendaya’s global push to her 184 million fans on Instagram.

Elsewhere, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story’s Unsung Hero do $1.67 million in previews. It’s important to note that for both films, not all of their bread was made last night from the previews, but it does include the money for the advance screening.

The based on faith Unsung Hero brought in $470,000 yesterday. The Joel Smallbone and Richard L. Ramsey-directed film, now playing at 2,832 locations, was made for $6 million before P&A and will earn that much at the BO. Unsung Hero follows David Smallbone, who moves from Australia to the United States with seven children and his wife and becomes a five-time Grammy-winning artist from For King + Country, and Rebecca St. James. PostTrak comes out early Thursday, Unsung Hero got five stars, 96% positive and 86% definite recommendation. Last night’s audience was made up of 66% women, including 48% over 55 years old. Unsung Hero are 60% fresh with 100% audiences.

Early Industry Estimates for Roadside Attraction Previews A boy kills the world the movie is here $500,000. The uber-action film from sister label Lionsgate, acquired from TIFF Midnight, is eyeing a single-digit opening. RT opinions are 63% fresh, audiences are 60%. PostTrak moviegoers were hard on the film with 3 stars, 66% positive, and 67% male participation.

The rest of Thursday and the week goes as follows:

1.) Civil war (A24) 3,929 theaters, Thursday $874,000 (-8% from Wednesday), week $15 million, total $48.8 million/week 2

2.) Abigail (Uni) 3,384 theaters, Thursday $646,000 (-11%), week $13.5M, week 1

3.) Godzilla x King (Leg/WB) 3,658 theaters Thursday $615,000 (-3%), week $12.3 million, total $174.4 million/week 4

4.) Ministry of War without a gentleman (LG) 2,845 theaters, Thursday $500,000 (-19%), week $11.5 million/week 1

5.) Kung Fu Panda 4 (Uni) 2,955 theaters, Thursday $317,000 (-6%), week $6M, total $181.4M/week 7