While the domestic box office is reviving after a period of COVID restrictions, it appears that not every film series is benefiting from the return of moviegoers. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the next installment in Warner Bros.’ prequel series to the “Harry Potter” blockbuster, is off to a shaky start, with a record-low opening weekend for a Wizarding World film expected.
The third “Fantastic Beasts” opened to $20.1 million in 4,753 North American theatres on Friday and Thursday night previews, the lowest opening day total for a “Potter”-related film. Industry observers predict a three-day launch in the $40 million range, with some room for growth.
That isn’t the worst opening weekend for a 2022 theatrical movie, but it is a poor start for a film franchise that is expected to be a box office monster. The production budget for “Secrets of Dumbledore” is a hefty $200 million, which has been inflated by COVID-related delays and safety concerns.
To give the wizarding sequel a successful run, Warner Bros. will have to go to international viewers. “Secrets of Dumbledore” is expected to gross more than $175 million worldwide by Sunday.
“Secrets of Dumbledore” follows the “Fantastic Beasts” series’ downward trend. The first film, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” opened to $74 million in the United States in 2016, while the sequel, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” debuted to $62 million in 2018. While it’s easy to dismiss “Secrets of Dumbledore” as a victim of a post-pandemic theatrical landscape, things aren’t quite that simple.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and last week’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2″ are just a few examples of sequels that have done better than their predecessors in recent months. “Fantastic Beasts” does not appear to elicit the same amount of enthusiasm among audiences.
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“Secrets of Dumbledore” follows the “Fantastic Beasts” series’ downward trend. The first film, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” opened to $74 million in the United States in 2016, while the sequel, “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” debuted to $62 million in 2018. While it’s easy to dismiss “Secrets of Dumbledore” as a victim of a post-pandemic theatrical landscape, things aren’t quite that simple.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and last week’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 2″ are just a few examples of sequels that have done better than their predecessors in recent months. “Fantastic Beasts” does not appear to elicit the same amount of enthusiasm among audiences.
“Fantastic Beasts” has turned into a nightmare for Warner Bros., after “Potter” author and franchise creator J.K. Rowling received substantial criticism from the LGBTQIA+ community for her remarks on sex and gender identity. Since the 2018 sequel, Warner Bros.
Has replaced original actor Johnny Depp in the part of the wicked Grindelwald with Mads Mikkelsen, citing the actor’s involvement in a domestic violence scandal. With the studio’s box office numbers continuing to decline, it may need to reassess how it tackles the Wizarding World in the future.
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