At the box office this weekend, “The Fall Guy” is making waves with a debut in the top spot, although it’s slightly below initial expectations. The film, starring Zendaya, is projected to open with $28 million, down from earlier forecasts that placed it in the $30-$35 million range. Despite this, it earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences, suggesting potential for positive word of mouth to boost its performance in the weeks ahead.
International Box Office and Budget Details
“The Fall Guy” has a reported net budget of $130 million when factoring in incentives for shooting in Australia. Overseas, the film is expected to bring in an additional $25.8 million over the weekend, bringing its global earnings to $65.4 million. This figure marks a decrease compared to last year’s box office numbers, reflecting the impact of changing audience preferences and market conditions.
Film Synopsis and Cast
Directed by David Leitch, “The Fall Guy” stars Ryan Gosling as a stuntman on a mission to find a missing movie star. Emily Blunt plays the director in the film, adding a romantic subplot to the action-packed narrative. The ensemble cast also includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham, and Stephanie Hsu. The film premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) in March and has an 83 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Marketing and Themes
Universal Pictures has positioned “The Fall Guy” as a tribute to Hollywood and the stunt community, leveraging a stunt-centric premiere, fight-focused TV appearances, and theme park promotions. Based on the 1980s TV series, the film capitalizes on Gosling’s popularity following his acclaimed role in “Barbie” and standout moments at major award shows.
Other Box Office Highlights
Meanwhile, “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, maintains a solid performance in its second weekend, with a projected second-place finish and cumulative earnings of $30.5 million.
In contrast, Sony’s horror feature “Tarot” debuts with a lower audience reception, marked by a C- CinemaScore and an 8 per cent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The re-release of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” for its 25th anniversary is expected to secure third place with $7.5 million, coinciding with the Star Wars-themed May the Fourth holiday.
