The movie “Challengers,” starring Zendaya and featuring Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, has garnered $15 million over the weekend.
The steamy tennis drama “Challengers” dominated the box office this weekend, raking in $15 million in ticket sales, as per studio estimates on Sunday. Zendaya and her co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on an extensive global press tour to promote the original film by Italian director Luca Guadagnino, which debuted in 3,477 theaters across the US and Canada.
“We’re extremely pleased with the numbers,” stated Kevin Wilson, head of theatrical distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM. “Considering the audience turnout, it’s very encouraging. It’s not always easy to attract this demographic to cinemas.”
Women accounted for 58% of ticket buyers, with a predominantly younger audience: 41% were aged between 18 and 24. Sales from large-format screens, including IMAX, contributed around 40% of the opening weekend revenue. According to a PostTrak exit poll cited by Deadline, 55% of viewers cited Zendaya as their reason for seeing the film.
Over the weekend, Zendaya movies accounted for approximately 26% of the total box office earnings, thanks to the re-release of Dune: Part Two in IMAX, which grossed nearly $2 million.
At 27 years old, the actor has been involved in some of the most successful film franchises in recent years, including Spider-Man and Dune. While these roles were supporting ones in well-established properties, Zendaya’s striking red carpet appearances often grab headlines. Challengers represents her first significant opportunity to headline a film, and both MGM and Amazon were unwilling to take the risk of releasing it without her.
Originally slated for a fall 2023 release with a grand premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Challengers’ plans were altered when actors went on strike last July. The studio opted to delay the festival premiere and rescheduled the film’s release to this weekend, anticipating that the strike would be resolved by then. Zendaya sported numerous tennis-themed ensembles, styled by Law Roach, during her promotional appearances.
Kevin Wilson acknowledged the importance of Zendaya’s involvement, stating, “It would be difficult to argue for releasing this movie without her support.” He commended the studio’s publicity and marketing teams for coordinating a global tour that generated several viral fashion moments.
Reviews for the R-rated film, which hints at a steamy and competitive love triangle among tennis players, have been largely positive. It currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences on opening day.
Guadagnino’s previous film, Bones and All, starring Zendaya’s Dune co-star Timothée Chalamet, earned $15.2 million during its entire theatrical run. By midweek, Challengers is expected to surpass Call Me By Your Name ($18 million) to become Guadagnino’s highest-grossing film.
For Amazon MGM Studios, the significance extends beyond mere box office earnings, driving downstream value for Amazon, particularly when “Challengers” eventually debuts on Prime Video. “I’ve always believed that theatrical releases are the optimal way to introduce such films,” stated Wilson. “Once the film lands on Prime Video, its performance is expected to surpass what it would have achieved by directly premiering on the platform. Theatrical release is just one aspect of its success.”
Taking second place was the faith-based film “Unsung Hero,” which garnered an estimated $7.8 million from 2,832 locations. Based on the true story of the Smallbone family and their children Rebecca St. James, Joel, and David (for KING + COUNTRY), the Lionsgate production, made on a budget of only $6 million, received a rare A+ CinemaScore and boasts a 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics’ score, however, stands at a more modest 58%. The majority of the audience was female (69%) and over 25 years old (91%).
In third place was “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” grossing $7.2 million in its fifth weekend. A24’s “Civil War” secured the fourth spot with an additional $7 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $56.2 million. Rounding out the top five was the horror film “Abigail,” which earned $5.3 million.
“April 2024 offered a platform for intriguing, innovative, and critically acclaimed films to shine at the box office,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “It was a rewarding month for moviegoers seeking alternatives to the usual summer blockbusters.”
While this year’s box office may not match the dominance of last year’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Dergarabedian emphasized the importance of establishing goodwill with audiences.
The upcoming weekend marks the beginning of the summer movie season with the release of the Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt action-comedy “The Fall Guy.” Ticket sales figures for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters are estimated by Comscore, with final domestic figures yet to be confirmed.