‘The Wild Robot’ exceeds its programming to rally for a $35M debut

Hello! Welcome to The Box Office Report for the weekend of Sept. 27-29, 2024.

1. The Wild Robot

Weekend gross: $35M
Total domestic gross: $35M
Last weekend: New release
Percent drop: NA

I was worried about The Wild Robot’s box office performance going into the weekend. Projections had fallen from the mid-$30 million range down to $25 million. The estimated drop was enough that TheWrap was already writing on Thursday afternoon about how DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures were hoping that The Wild Robot could turn a $25 million debut into something bigger by following the slow-and-steady performance of Elemental.

Thanks to stellar word-of-mouth and reviews, though, The Wild Robot bounced back to a $35 million opening weekend. This was enough to shake off the comparisons to Transformers One’s disappointing debut and claim the No. 1 spot this weekend.

Hopefully The Wild Robot can keep chugging along at the box office. This movie is a masterpiece.

2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Weekend gross: $16M
Total domestic gross: $250.1M
Last weekend: 1st
Percent drop: 38

With $16 million over its fourth weekend in theaters, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice became the sixth movie to cross the $250 million mark in 2024. The film can now set Twisters, another legacy sequel, in its sights to move up a spot in the 2024 rankings. The Beetlejuice sequel is roughly $17.5 million away from catching up to the second Twisters movie.