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Statham’s “A Working Man” Surprises at Box Office, “Snow White” Plummets
NEW YORK — In a surprising turn at the box office, the Jason Statham action thriller “A Working Man” unexpectedly claimed the top spot, surpassing the rapidly weakening “Snow White,” according to studio estimates released Sunday. This weekend’s results highlight the fluctuating fortunes in the movie industry.
“Snow White” Suffers Steep Second-Weekend Drop
Despite initial projections anticipating it would remain the leading film in U.S. and Canadian cinemas, even following a modest opening, Walt Disney Co.’s live-action remake, “Snow White,” faced a sharp decline. Hampered by negative buzz and audience backlash, “Snow White” experienced a significant 66% drop in ticket sales during its second weekend.
“A Working Man” Exceeds Expectations
Meanwhile, Amazon MGM Studios’ “A Working Man,” helmed by director David Ayer, outperformed predictions with a $15.2 million debut. The film, co-written by Sylvester Stallone, marks a reunion for Statham and Ayer after their successful collaboration on last year’s action hit “The Beekeeper” (which grossed $162 million worldwide). In “A Working Man,” Statham portrays a construction worker with a clandestine military past.
Statham’s Box Office Appeal Endures
Although reviews for “A Working Man” have been mixed, and audiences awarded it a “B” CinemaScore, the film’s performance underscores Statham’s consistent draw at the box office – a valuable asset in today’s movie market. “A Working Man” opened on par with “The Beekeeper,” which launched with $16.5 million.
“Snow White’s” Disappointing Performance
A more prominent story, however, may be the swift decrease in audience demand for “Snow White.” The film, directed by Marc Webb and featuring Rachel Zegler, was initially hoped to bolster movie theater attendance after a sluggish start to 2025. Produced at a cost exceeding $250 million, “Snow White” has become a financial disappointment, earning $143.1 million globally in its first two weeks.
Upcoming Releases and Box Office Outlook
Looking ahead, Warner Bros.’ “Minecraft Movie” is anticipated to lead next weekend’s box office, similarly targeting family audiences as “Snow White.”
Other New Releases Make Modest Impact
Several new releases also debuted this weekend, including A24’s “Death of a Unicorn,” Universal and Blumhouse’s “The Woman in the Yard,” and Fathom’s “Chosen: The Last Supper.” However, none of these significantly impacted the overall box office landscape.
“The Chosen: The Last Supper” Shows Strength
“The Chosen: The Last Supper” achieved the strongest performance among the newcomers, earning $11.5 million across 2,235 theaters. This Christian TV series, currently in its fifth season, has consistently generated ticket sales prior to streaming releases. Additional episodes are scheduled for theatrical release throughout April.
“Death of a Unicorn” and “The Woman in the Yard” Debut
“Death of a Unicorn,” a horror-comedy starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd, depicts a father and daughter who accidentally hit a unicorn while driving. The film garnered a modest $5.8 million from 3,050 theaters.
Blumhouse’s “The Woman in the Yard,” a more conventional horror offering starring Danielle Deadwyler, opened with $9.4 million from 2,842 cinemas. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra of “Black Adam” fame, the film centers on a mysterious woman repeatedly appearing in a family’s yard. Despite a low production budget of $12 million, it has received negative reviews from critics.
“Princess Mononoke” Re-release a Success
A notable success story from the weekend was the 1997 Studio Ghibli classic “Princess Mononoke.” The Hayao Miyazaki animated film grossed $4 million from just 347 IMAX screens. Distributor GKids highlighted this as a triumph of human artistry over technology, referencing a recent update to ChatGPT that allows users to create images reminiscent of Studio Ghibli animation.
“The Penguin Lesson” Opens in Limited Release
Sony Pictures Classic’s “The Penguin Lesson,” starring Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce, launched with $1.2 million in 1,017 theaters. Coogan plays an Englishman teaching in Argentina in 1976 who rescues a penguin affected by an oil spill.
Industry Faces Box Office Deficit
Overall, flagging ticket sales have resulted in a significant box-office deficit for Hollywood in the first quarter of 2025. Sales are down 11% compared to the same period in 2024, and nearly 40% lower than 2019, according to Comscore data.
“Hopefully ‘Minecraft’ can aid the marketplace in recovering momentum, as we need to revitalize the multiplex following several underwhelming weekends at the box office,” commented Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
Weekend Box Office Top 10 (Estimated)
The following list presents estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, with final domestic figures due Monday:
- “A Working Man,” $15.2 million
- “Snow White,” $14.2 million
- “The Chosen: Last Supper,” $11.5 million
- “The Woman in the Yard,” $9.5 million
- “Death of a Unicorn,” $5.8 million
- “Princess Mononoke,” $4 million
- “Captain America: Brave New World,” $2.8 million
- “Black Bag,” $2.2 million
- “Mickey 17,” $1.9 million
- “Novocaine,” $1.5 million