Title: “Disney’s ‘A Haunting in Venice’ Enjoys Strong Start at Box Office, Surpassing Expectations”
In a promising turn of events, 20th Century Studios/Disney’s horror-mystery film, “A Haunting in Venice,” has exceeded expectations with its box office performance. The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh, earned an impressive $5.3 million on Friday, including previews, setting the stage for an estimated three-day total of $14 million.
Although this opening falls short of Branagh’s previous successful adaptation, “Murder on the Orient Express,” it outperforms his most recent endeavor, “Death on the Nile.” Drawing crowds to 3,305 theaters nationwide, “A Haunting in Venice” has captured the attention of moviegoers.
However, the film’s social media presence has not generated the same level of excitement as previous Agatha Christie adaptations by Branagh. With a social media universe of 79.1 million, the buzz surrounding “A Haunting in Venice” is 59% lower than its predecessors.
The marketing campaign for the film has specifically targeted audiences aged 25 and older. Leveraging the social network of 20th Studios and cross-promoting on “Death on the Nile” pages, the producers aim to engage fans of both horror and Hercule Poirot murder mysteries. Fans are particularly curious about the intriguing combination of genres and Tina Fey’s involvement in the project.
Despite positive anticipation, concerns have been voiced online regarding the film’s cinematography and past disappointments with Agatha Christie adaptations. However, early reviews have been comparatively favorable, boasting a certified fresh rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Competing against a range of films, “A Haunting in Venice” is predicted to outperform the second weekend of “The Nun 2.” Projections estimate the latter will earn $4 million, thereby granting the horror-mystery film a potential win for the weekend.
In the current box office landscape, Sony’s action thriller “The Equalizer 3” secures the third position in its third weekend, with an estimated three-day total of $7.3 million and a cumulative earning of $73.7 million. Fourth place goes to Focus Features’ comedy sequel “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” accumulating $4 million in its second weekend, and a total of $17.8 million so far. Warner Bros.’ beloved franchise “Barbie” maintains its position in fifth place during its ninth weekend, bringing in an estimated $3.6 million and accumulating a staggering $625.8 million in total.
With a budget of $60 million, “A Haunting in Venice” was produced more economically compared to “Death on the Nile,” which had a $90 million budget. As the film ventures into its opening weekend, all eyes will be on its performance in the face of competitors.
Other films rounding out the box office are “The Nun 2,” which has earned $41.7 million at the end of its first week; “The Equalizer 3” with a cumulative earning of $66.4 million after two weeks; “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” accumulating $13.8 million after one week; and “Barbie” with an impressive total of $622.1 million after eight weeks.
Additionally, the film “Jawan” earned $367,000 on Thursday and has accrued a total of $9.7 million after one week.
As the weekend progresses and ticket sales continue to pour into theaters, “A Haunting in Venice” remains a contender in the box office, poised to captivate audiences with its haunting yet intriguing story of horror and mystery.
