Holiday theater counts: Wonka staves off a rush of newcomers heading into the Christmas weekend

December 21, 2023

As the lone wide release to enter theaters last week, Wonka dominated both the domestic and international box office, scoring a solid $39 million from North American showings, while adding just over $54 million to its previous overseas total of $59 million. The Willy Wonka origin story starring Timothée Chalamet will begin its sophomore frame by adding 10 locations this week, making the musical the widest film in the land with availability in 4,213 cinemas. Wonka will face far stiffer competition however this week at the box office as a bevy of new films make their way into theaters in time for the Christmas holiday.

The largest new arrival this week is the latest from Universal Pictures and Illumination with the release of Migration. Starting out in 3,761 movie houses, the animated feature follows the Mallard family who decide to take their kids on a migratory family trip from New York City to tropical Jamaica. The movie has taken in over $13 million internationally from openings that began on December 7th. The voice cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, and Awkwafina, while Benjamin Renner directs.

Just behind in 3,706 venues comes the much-anticipated Aquaman sequel with the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The film, starring Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson, is the latest and final film in the DC Extended Universe franchise. The original film collected just shy of $68 million in its opening weekend back in 2018, and went on to earn $335 million during its 15-week domestic run, while doing even better overseas as the film tallied $809 million, for a worldwide total of $1.14 billion.

Making its debut in 3,055 theaters is the romantic-comedy, Anyone But You. The film follows Bea and Ben, who, after an amazing first date, find their attraction has turned ice cold—that is until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple. The film stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as Bea and Ben.

Two other films will open in wide release this weekend as Salaar: Cease Fire — Part 1, and wrestling biopic, The Iron Claw make their way into theaters with the former showing in 750 locations. The latter is estimated to open in 2,771 theaters to begin its box office run. Worthy of mention is the wide expansion of Poor Things, which jumps into 800 theaters this weekend.

As Christmas falls on a Monday this year, we see even more films opening this week, including The Color Purple. The period drama is based on the stage musical, which in turn is based on Alice Walker’s classic novel. Beginning its run in 3,152 theaters, the film stars a large and talented ensemble cast which includes Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, and Colman Domingo among others. The film tells the story of Celie, an African American woman living in the American south during the early part of the 20th century.

Also opening on Christmas day is the George Clooney-directed The Boys in the Boat. The biographical sports drama tells the story of the underdog University of Washington men’s rowing team who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The Boys in the Boat will be available in 2,557 locations throughout North America.

Lastly, Adam Driver stars as the legendary car designer, driver, and manufacturer, Enzo Ferrari in the film Ferrari. The auto-racing drama follows the sports car icon in the summer of 1957. Whilst in a volatile marriage, a near bankruptcy, the loss of their son Dino, and as their driver’s passion to win pushes them to the edge, team Ferrari enters the dangerous 1,000-mile race across Italy, known as the Mille Miglia. We will update the theater count when it is received.

Theater Counts for December 22

Estimates for December 25

Filed under: Theater Counts, DC Extended Universe, Elizabeth Banks, George Clooney, Taraji P. Henson, Patrick Wilson, Jason Momoa, Adam Driver, Colman Domingo, Kumail Nanjiani, Glen Powell, Benjamin Renner, Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet, Awkwafina, Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino