It was even bigger overseas with $60 million for a massive global tally of $86 million. Excitement for the re-release certainly bodes well for the studio’s upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” which opens in December and brings back nearly all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on another save-the-planet mission. Gross, who publishes the box office newsletter FranchiseRe.
This marks the third-best opening ever for A24, ranking behind this summer’s juggernaut “Backrooms” ($81.4 million) and Alex Garland’s 2024 dystopian “Civil War” ($25.5 million) and ahead of Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet’s 2025 frenetic sports drama “Marty Supreme” ($15.7 million). The actor is a bona fide star, and he’s carrying this movie.” Indeed, “Primetime” underscores the bankability of Pattinson, whose mighty year at the box office includes the indie hit “The Drama,” Christopher Nolan’s summer blockbuster “The Odyssey” and Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming “Dune: Part III.” Gen Z fueled the turnout for “Primetime,” with 69% of audiences under the age of 30. Moviegoers gave “Primetime” a mixed “B” grade on CinemaScore, which isn’t surprising given the unsettling nature of the film; it revolves around Hansen’s efforts to confront child sexual predators in complex sting operations.
Meanwhile the real-life Hansen was less enthused. After he finally saw the movie, he called it “so bizarre” and “detached from reality.” This weekend’s other newcomers, Paramount’s Brad Pitt-led survival adventure “The Heart of the Beast,” Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s family friendly “Forgotten Island,” struggled in their opening weekends despite great reviews and will need to stick around to justify their budgets. It’s a decent start for an original movie that’s catering to adults.
However, it’s disappointing for a movie carries a hefty $82 million price tag. Theater owners keep about 50% of ticket sales, so “Heart of the Beast” will rely on staying power and interest at the international box office to recoup in its theatrical run. It’s already faring better overseas, with $30.1 million from 63 markets for a global start of $50.1 million.
Reviews and word-of-mouth should help; the film scored an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong “A-” grade on CinemaScore exit polls. David Ayer (“The Beekeeper”) directed “Heart of Beast,” which stars Pitt as a retired veteran who navigates a brutal 58-mile trek to safety after he and his trusted combat dog survive a harrowing plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s also struggling overseas, where it has earned $7.8 million from 34 markets.
Globally, “Forgotten Island” has earned a soft $20.6 million. The PG movie cost $80 million to produce, so Universal needs the family film to enjoy the box office longevity that benefitted recent original animated efforts, such as DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” and Sony’s sports-centric “GOAT,” both of which parlayed positive sentiments into ticket sales in the months after their debuts. Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the story revolves around two best friends who get stranded in a mystical world.
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