On a subdued weekend in theaters, Lionsgate’s “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” emerged as the top performer, debuting with $15.5 million in ticket sales across 3,008 North American theaters, according to studio estimates. The sequel to Gerard Butler’s 2018 heist thriller mirrored the original’s opening, which earned $15.2 million seven years ago.
Mid-January, a traditionally slow period for moviegoers, saw even fewer attendees due to the closure of 10 theaters in Los Angeles, the nation’s largest box-office market, amidst ongoing wildfires.
While “Den of Thieves 2”, produced with a budget of $40 million, garnered mixed reviews (58% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences responded positively, giving it a “B+” CinemaScore. This marks Lionsgate’s first No.1 opening since “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in November 2023. Gerard Butler continues to solidify his reputation as a January box-office draw, following the success of “Plane” in 2023, which grossed $32.1 million after its mid-January release.
Another notable debut was the Robbie Williams biopic “Better Man”, directed by Michael Gracey. The film took an unconventional approach, casting a CGI chimpanzee to portray the British pop star. Despite critical praise and Gracey’s previous box-office triumph with “The Greatest Showman” (which grossed $459 million worldwide), “Better Man” struggled to connect with audiences. The Paramount Pictures release grossed only $1.1 million from 1,291 locations, far below expectations.
With $110 million in production costs and a $25 million acquisition by Paramount, “Better Man” becomes one of the more disappointing box-office performers in recent music biopic history.
Key Numbers:
- “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”: $15.5 million (Opening weekend)
- “Better Man”: $1.1 million (Opening weekend)
