Weekend Box Office: "Mean Girls" Dominates with $11.7 Million

NEW YORK — In a quiet weekend at the movies, "Mean Girls" once again claimed the top spot at the box office, earning $11.7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday. As Oscar nominations are just around the corner, a few awards contenders also made their presence felt.

Paramount Pictures' Tina Fey-scripted musical "Mean Girls" continued to perform well, surpassing the $50 million mark in its two-week run, with an additional $16.2 million internationally. The film is currently outpacing the original "Mean Girls" from 2004.

This weekend saw only one new release in wide distribution: "I.S.S." This modestly budgeted sci-fi thriller, starring Ariana DeBose, explores the potential consequences if war were to break out between the U.S. and Russia aboard the International Space Station. "I.S.S." debuted with $3 million on 2,518 screens for Bleecker Street. However, the film received mixed reviews and lacked significant marketing, resulting in a less-than-enthusiastic response from audiences, who gave it a "C-" CinemaScore.

January is typically a slow period for moviegoers, and this weekend was no exception. With limited options available, the top 10 films collectively generated just $51.3 million at the box office, according to Comscore.

Looking ahead, next weekend's release schedule also appears thin, potentially signaling a challenging trend for Hollywood in 2024. Production delays caused by strikes last year have left significant gaps in this year's movie calendar.

In second place, the Jason Statham thriller "The Beekeeper," from Amazon's MGM Studios, grossed $8.5 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $31.1 million. Warner Bros.' "Wonka," which has been a smash hit in theaters for six weeks, took the third spot with $6.4 million in ticket sales, accumulating a domestic total of $187.2 million.

Sony Pictures' "Anyone But You," a romantic comedy starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, continued to perform well, reaching over $100 million globally in its fifth week of release. It is now the highest-grossing R-rated romantic comedy since 2016's "Bridget Jones's Baby." The film earned $5.4 million domestically, securing the fourth position.

Much of the weekend's attention was focused on the expanding pool of awards contenders.

Ava DuVernay’s "Origin" Strong Start at the Box Office

Yorgos Lanthimos’ "Poor Things" Continues to Thrive

Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark fantasy film "Poor Things" starring Emma Stone continues to captivate audiences. The movie expanded its reach to an additional 820 theaters, resulting in a gross of $2 million from a total of 1,400 locations. Since its debut, "Poor Things" has been steadily gaining momentum, earning an impressive $33.7 million worldwide in its seven weeks of release.

Cord Jefferson’s "American Fiction" Seeks Oscar Boost

The thought-provoking drama "American Fiction," featuring Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist, expanded its screening to 850 screens and managed to bring in an encouraging $1.8 million. With a total earning of $8 million in just six weeks, the film eagerly awaits Tuesday's Oscar nominations, hoping for an added boost to its success.

Jonathan Glazer’s "The Zone of Interest" Shows Promise

Jonathan Glazer's Auschwitz film "The Zone of Interest" had a promising weekend at the box office. Expanding its presence to 82 screens, the movie grossed an impressive $447,684 for A24. This strong performance indicates the growing interest in this thought-provoking and poignant film.

"The Color Purple" Struggles to Maintain Momentum

Despite its critical acclaim and support from esteemed producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, "The Color Purple" has experienced a significant decline in its popularity among moviegoers. Directed by Blitz Bazawule and starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks, this Warner Bros. musical has faced a steep drop in its box office revenue. In its fourth week of release, the film managed to gross just $720,000. Its domestic total currently stands at $59.3 million, falling short of the initial expectations for this $100-million budgeted film.

Box Office Top 10

Here are the estimated ticket sales for the weekend at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. "Mean Girls" - $11.7 million
2. "The Beekeeper" - $8.5 million
3. "Wonka" - $6.4 million
4. "Anyone But You" - $5.4 million
5. "Migration" - $5.3 million
6. "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" - $3.7 million
7. "I.S.S." - $3 million
8. "Night Swim" - $2.7 million
9. "The Boys in the Boat" - $2.5 million
10. "Poor Things" - $2 million