NEW YORK – Jason Statham's latest action thriller, "A Working Man," has surprisingly claimed the top spot at the box office, surpassing Disney's "Snow White," according to Sunday's studio estimates. This unexpected victory marks a significant shift in the cinematic landscape.
Despite initial projections favoring "Snow White" to maintain its lead in U.S. and Canadian theaters after its debut, the live-action remake faltered. The film experienced a steep decline in its second weekend, plummeting by 66% amidst negative reviews and public disapproval.
Meanwhile, Amazon MGM Studios' "A Working Man," helmed by director David Ayer and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, exceeded expectations with a $15.2 million opening. This film reunites Statham and Ayer, building on the success of their previous collaboration, "The Beekeeper," which grossed $162 million worldwide. In "A Working Man," Statham portrays a construction worker harboring a clandestine military background.
Although "A Working Man" garnered mixed reviews and a "B" CinemaScore from audiences, its performance highlights Statham's consistent appeal and box office draw. The film's debut mirrors that of "The Beekeeper," which launched with $16.5 million.
However, the more significant story may be the rapid decline of "Snow White." The Marc Webb-directed film, starring Rachel Zegler, was anticipated to rejuvenate movie theaters following a sluggish start to 2025. With a production budget exceeding $250 million, the film's global earnings of $143.1 million over two weeks indicate it has become a financial disappointment.
Looking ahead, Warner Bros.' "A Minecraft Movie" is poised to dominate next weekend, targeting a similar family demographic as "Snow White."
Several new releases also entered the scene, including A24's "Death of a Unicorn," Universal and Blumhouse's "The Woman in the Yard," and Fathom's "Chosen: The Last Supper," but none achieved substantial success.
"The Chosen: The Last Supper" performed best among the newcomers, earning $11.5 million across 2,235 theaters. The Christian TV series, currently in its fifth season, consistently drives ticket sales prior to streaming releases, with more episodes scheduled for theatrical release throughout April.
"Death of a Unicorn," a horror-comedy featuring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd, garnered $5.8 million from 3,050 theaters, depicting a father and daughter's encounter with a unicorn on the road.
Blumhouse's "The Woman in the Yard," a more traditional horror offering starring Danielle Deadwyler, debuted with $9.4 million in 2,842 cinemas. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film centers on a mysterious woman who repeatedly appears in a family's yard. Despite a modest $12 million budget, critics have largely criticized the film.
A standout success of the weekend was the re-release of the 1997 Studio Ghibli classic, "Princess Mononoke," which grossed $4 million across 347 IMAX screens. Distributor GKids hailed this as a triumph of human artistry over technology, especially given recent advancements in AI-driven animation reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's style.
Sony Pictures Classic's "The Penguin Lesson," starring Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce, opened with $1.2 million in 1,017 theaters. The film follows an Englishman teaching in Argentina in 1976 who rescues a penguin affected by an oil spill.
Overall, Hollywood's first quarter of 2025 reflects a downturn in ticket sales, with an 11% decrease compared to the same period in 2024 and a nearly 40% drop from 2019, according to Comscore.
"Hopefully 'Minecraft' can help the marketplace level up since after some underwhelming weekends at the box office we need to get some momentum back at the multiplex," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
Based on estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, Comscore presents the following box office rankings, pending final domestic figures due Monday:
1. "A Working Man," $15.2 million
2. "Snow White," $14.2 million.
3. "The Chosen: Last Supper," $11.5 million.
4. "The Woman in the Yard," $9.5 million.
5. "Death of a Unicorn," $5.8 million.
6. "Princess Mononoke," $4 million.
7. "Captain America: Brave New World," $2.8 million.
8. "Black Bag," $2.2 million.
9. "Mickey 17," $1.9 million.
10. "Novocaine," $1.5 million.