> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theomnicosm.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Yes, ‘The Marvels’ had the worst opening weekend in MCU history - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-box-office-report-yes-the-marvels/ - Published: 2023-11-13T12:01:38.000Z - Updated: 2024-01-19T15:54:42.000Z - Description: It’s hard to promote a movie when its stars aren’t allowed to do the promoting. - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: Popculturology • The Box Office Report, Popculturology, Marvel, The Marvels Hello! Welcome to **The** **Box Office Report** for the weekend of Nov. 10-12, 2023. ## 1\. The Marvels **Weekend gross:* $47M* **Total domestic gross:* $47M* **Last weekend:* New release* **Percent drop:* NA* Let’s get the headline out of the way: *The Marvels* opened $47 million in North America, the worst debut in Marvel Cinematic Universe history. Worse than *The Incredible Hulk* ($55.4 million in 2008). Worse than *Ant-Man* ($55.4 million in 2008). And way worse than *Captain Marvel* ($153.4 million in 2019). Now that all of that is out of the way, let’s dive in a bit more on what possibly led to *The Marvels*’ $47 million opening weekend. It’s impossible to report on any of this box office news without recognizing that SAG-AFTRA had been on a 118-day strike that only ended this past Thursday. [Marvel Studios wasted little time](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/brie-larson-tom-hiddleston-sag-1235643498/?ref=theomnicosm.com) getting like **Brie Larson**, **Iman Vellani** and **Teyonah Parris** in front of audiences and on TV with *The Tonight Show*, but *The Marvels* never had a shot at a true promotional tour. I’ve seen some outlets point out that the SAG-AFTRA strike wasn’t a curse for all movies. Sure, *Five Nights at Freddy’s* opened with $80 million just two weekends ago, but that one seems to be the exception. The months between *Barbie* and *Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour* were dotted with mediocre debuts from movies like *Gran Turismo* and *The Nun II*. Warner Bros. chose to shift *Dune: Part Two* into next year to avoid having to release a tentpole film without having its cast available for press. We also can’t talk about *The Marvels* without addressing the fact that a very vocal part of the MCU fandom can’t stand it that Larson is part of that universe, much less that she’s in a movie where the three leads are all women (and the movie itself was directed by a woman, **Nia DaCosta**). Some of these “fans” won’t be happy until the MCU returns to the era where every movie is led by a guy named Chris. This sexism is even baked into how some outlets have covered *The Marvels*’ box office troubles. “Keep what’s meant for the cinema in cinemas, and keep what’s meant for in-homes in the home,” [*Deadline*](https://deadline.com/2023/11/box-office-the-marvels-1235599363/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ wrote over the weekend](https://deadline.com/2023/11/box-office-the-marvels-1235599363/?ref=theomnicosm.com). “Meaning, this whole crossover streaming-into-film master plan isn’t working, nor is it really connected in a jaw-dropping way, and with *Ms. Marvel* not being one of the OTT services better series (ala *WandaVision* and *Loki* Season One*)*, there’s a whole quad of fans who either didn’t catch *Ms. Marvel,* or who were too turned off by it that they sure as heck don’t want to see *The Marvels.”* It’s wild how some people are furious that not only does Ms. Marvel exist but she then got to be part of a major MCU movie instead of being relegated to Disney+. Honestly, I think we’re seeing a bit of a course correction for these movies, both in terms of reviews and box office receipts. Look at what happened to *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania*. Its $106.1 million opening weekend quickly turned into a $32 million second weekend (a 70 percent drop!) once word got out that the movie stunk. *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* — a film that people knew was the conclusion to a trilogy — debuted at $118.4 million a few months later, almost $30 million less than *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* opened with six years before. Marvel Studios now has until next July when *Deadpool 3* opens to recalibrate how it promotes the next installment of the MCU. I have a hunch that we’ll see the MCU bounce back at the box office with that one. ****Popculturology** is a free newsletter fueled by my love of pop culture. If you already are a subscriber, ****please consider becoming a supporter** by [upgrading your account](https://www.theomnicosm.com/#/portal/). ## 2\. Five Nights at Freddy’s **Weekend gross:* $9M* **Total domestic gross:* $127.2M* **Last weekend:* 1st* **Percent drop:* 53* Oh yeah, there were other movies this weekend. The drops for *Five Nights at Freddy’s* have been impressive. After an $80 million first weekend, it fell 76 percent for $19 million last weekend before falling 53 percent for just $9 million this weekend. A movie that debuts with $80 million adding just over $27 million by the end of its third weekend isn’t great. ## 3\. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour **Weekend gross:* $5.9M* **Total domestic gross:* $172.5M* **Last weekend:* 2nd* **Percent drop:* 57* I feel like **Taylor Swift** could just leave this movie in theaters for months and we’d keep seeing it bopping along in the top five. ♥️ Follow me on [****Threads**](https://www.threads.net/@billkuchman?ref=theomnicosm.com) and [****Instagram**](https://www.instagram.com/popculturology/?ref=theomnicosm.com). ## 4\. Priscilla **Weekend gross:* $4.8M* **Total domestic gross:* $12.7M* **Last weekend:* 4th* **Percent drop:* 5* In the battle of Presley movies, *Priscilla* only needs another $138.4 million to pass *Elvis*. ## 5\. Killers of the Flower Moon **Weekend gross:* $4.7M* **Total domestic gross:* $59.9M* **Last weekend:* 3rd* **Percent drop:* 32* *Killers of the Flower Moon* now has **Martin Scorsese**’s eighth biggest domestic box office haul (behind *Hugo*’s $73.9 million) along with being the 13th biggest domestic box office haul for **Leonardo DiCaprio** (behind *Gangs of New York*’s $77.7 million). *Box office numbers via* [*The Numbers*](http://www.the-numbers.com/?ref=theomnicosm.com) *based on Sunday estimates.* That’s the end of this edition of ****Popculturology**. Thanks for reading the newsletter. If you already are a subscriber, ****please consider becoming a supporter** by [upgrading your account](https://www.theomnicosm.com/#/portal/).