ENTERTAINMENT

Superheroes and Smurfs: A Weekend at the Movies

North America, USASun Jul 20 2025

This weekend, movie fans witnessed significant shifts at the box office.

"Superman" Maintains Lead, But With a Drop

  • $16.6 million on its second Friday
  • Total: $194.4 million
  • Still outperforming other superhero films like "Thunderbolts"
  • Will it sustain its momentum?

New Releases Face Challenges

"I Know What You Did Last Summer"

  • $5.8 million on Friday
  • Big names, but poor reviews
  • May struggle to retain audience interest

"Smurfs" Stumbles at the Start

  • $4 million on opening day
  • Behind the last "Smurfs" movie
  • High budget, weak reviews
  • Families may not rush to theaters

"Eddington" Underperforms

  • $1.8 million
  • Big stars, but mixed reviews
  • May struggle to find its audience

Winners of the Weekend

"Jurassic World Rebirth"

  • $6.5 million on Friday
  • On track for $275 million
  • One of the top movies of the year

"F1" Holds Strong

  • $2.8 million on Friday
  • Small drop from last week
  • Aiming for $154 million

Conclusion

Movie studios take risks, but not every bet pays off. "Superman" is thriving, while new releases struggle. A hit is never guaranteed.

questions

    How do audience expectations and pre-existing fan bases influence the performance of superhero films?
    How does the 50% drop in 'Superman's' second weekend compare to the typical performance of other superhero films?
    Are the low Cinema Score grades for 'Smurfs' a result of a coordinated campaign by rival studios?

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