Box Office: $3.5 Million in Previews for “Furiosa”
This holiday weekend, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is racing to the top of the movie office.
Preview sales for George Miller’s R-rated prequel to “Mad Max: Fury Road” have brought in $3.5 million. The four-day Memorial Day weekend box office for the Warner Bros. action movie is predicted to gross between $40 and $45 million, which is about the same as the three-day gross for “Fury Road” in 2015.
“Fury Road,” which starred Charlize Theron as the fierce driving Imperator Furiosa and starring Tom Hardy as wasteland warrior Max Rockatansky, debuted with $45.4 million after earning $3.7 million in Thursday previews.
Rewinding time, “Furiosa” has Anya Taylor-Joy as a younger Theron character. It depicts her transformation into a courageous markswoman for the villainous Immortan Joe and his War Boys, who are later seen in “Fury Road.” In addition, Chris Hemsworth plays the role of Dementus, the boss of a group of motorbike warriors.
Reviews following the film’s Cannes premiere have been largely good, although “Fury Road’s” level of success will be difficult to duplicate. With a $380 million global box office haul, the previous film is remembered as one of the greatest action films of the decade, if not ever. It received ten Oscar nominations, including best picture and director, and took home six wins in the categories of production design, sound editing, cosmetics and hairstyle design, editing, and costume design. With production and marketing expenses of $168 million, “Furiosa” must perform well at the international box office.
The animated “The Garfield Movie,” from Sony and Alcon, which features Chris Pratt as the voice of the orange tabby, is also opening this weekend. It grossed $1.925 in previews and is predicted to debut with $30 million to $35 million, placing it in second place. John Krasinkski’s “IF,” starring Ryan Reynolds, took first place at the box office last week. In its second week, it is expected to bring in an additional $15 million to $17 million.
