The highly anticipated Sony Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter has started strong, with Thursday previews generating $15M+/- and setting it up for a solid performance despite initial expectations of around $30M. However, its performance pales in comparison to its competitor, Warner Bros/New Line’s Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which opened with just $6M-$7M.
Meanwhile, Wicked continues to outshine Moana 2, taking the top spot for the second week in a row. With a running cume of $330.1M and grossing $3.3M on Monday and $4.67M on Tuesday, the musical holds strong against its animated counterpart, which trails behind with $306M.
Kraven the Hunter, directed by J.C. Chandor, stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Russell Crowe in a story about a ruthless gangster father’s son who seeks vengeance and becomes the greatest hunter in the world. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, including Deadline’s Pete Hammond, the film is facing stiff competition from Lord of the Rings.
Lord of the Rings, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, marks the first animated adaptation on J.R.R. Tolkien’s property since 1978 and follows the story of the House of Helm Hammerhand, set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy. Despite its promising start, the film’s opening is in line with recent Sony Crunchy Roll films that failed to impress.
As the holiday season continues, both Kraven the Hunter and Lord of the Rings are expected to share screens with Paramount’s Interstellar re-release, as well as other movies like Moana 2 and Wicked. While Sonic 3 is eagerly awaited by fans, some viewers are opting for a second showing of Wicked, making it a top contender in the box office battle.
Source: https://deadline.com/2024/12/moana-2-kraven-the-hunter-lord-of-the-rings-box-office-1236201279