‘M3gan’ Beats Box Office Predictions, Sailing Into Second Place

Hollywood has a new scream queen.

“M3gan,” a campy PG-13 horror movie starring a mean-girl robot (insert snotty hair flip here), sold an estimated $30.2 million in tickets in the United States and Canada over the weekend, or about 30 percent more than box office analysts had predicted. Universal Pictures, which released the $12 million horror comedy, has already fast-tracked a sequel.

Reviews were 94 percent positive, according to Rotten Tomatoes. That level of critical response alone made “M3gan” something of a triumph: When it comes to well-worn movie concepts, the killer doll is right up there with “mediocre guy attracts supermodel.” Coming up with a fresh take is almost impossible. (Chucky is 35 years old and has been the focus of eight movies and a TV series. The demonic Annabelle has headlined three films since 2014.)

Horror movies continue to do well in theaters — in contrast to sophisticated dramas, which have struggled — because they are fun to experience in the dark with strangers. “Young moviegoers want to see them with their friends, on the big screen, for the maximum thrill,” said David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter on box office numbers. About 44 percent of the audience for “M3gan” was under 24, according to Universal.

“M3gan” is also notable because it reflects the manner in which comedy has evolved as a theatrical offering. Traditional comedies have struggled to sell tickets. But comedy has become a bigger part of other types of movies, with Marvel superhero spectacles as the obvious example. In some ways, “M3gan” is a comedy disguised as a horror film; the four-foot robot doll humorously breaks into song, exhibits weird dance moves and wryly throws shade — when she’s not murdering.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/movies/m3gan-box-office.html